John Payne, who said he’s been playing golf for three decades, achieved the feat on July 18 at a local golf course in the U.K.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The longtime player nailed the shot on the sixth hole, a 200-yard par three, despite dealing with deteriorating eyesight.<\/p>\n
CLINT EASTWOOD’S LONGTIME SECRETS OF GOOD HEALTH AND LONGEVITY REVEALED<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n “I didn\u2019t realize that it had gone in,” Payne told news agency SWNS.\u00a0<\/p>\n “It\u2019s 200 yards from the tee to the hole. I never imagined I\u2019d get it in one.”<\/p>\n Proving that age is no barrier to success, John Payne, shown above, hit his first hole-in-one at 90 years old just a day after celebrating his milestone birthday.\u00a0 (Tom Maddick \/ SWNS)<\/p>\n Payne said he hit the ball using his driver, and watched as it struck the downslope of a bunker before rolling straight into the cup.\u00a0<\/p>\n “When I was told I\u2019d hit the perfect shot, I felt magic,” he said. “It is a once-in-a-lifetime shot.”<\/p>\n Payne had been playing that same course<\/a> for 30 years without ever scoring an ace, SWNS reported. \u00a0<\/p>\n JOE BIDEN’S ALLEGED AMBIEN USE SPARKS WARNINGS ABOUT JOBS THAT PROHIBIT SLEEP AIDS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n “Some people have never had one in their life and I can see why,” he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n “I\u2019ve been playing for 30 years and only just got one now. It\u2019s a miracle because it is very difficult.”<\/p>\n Given his poor eyesight<\/a>, Payne didn\u2019t see the ball drop himself.\u00a0<\/p>\n “It is a once-in-a-lifetime shot.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n “You play with other people and their eyesight is much better than mine,” he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n “They gave me a running commentary as the ball landed.”<\/p>\n WARDING OFF ALZHEIMER’S MIGHT MEAN MAKING THESE 11 LIFESTYLE CHANGES<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Payne took up golf in his 60s after retiring from a management career.\u00a0<\/p>\n He now plays regularly with a close-knit group of fellow golfers, he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n “I\u2019ve been playing for 30 years and only just got one now. It\u2019s a miracle because it is very difficult,” said the golfer about his hole-in-one achievement. (Tom Maddick \/ SWNS)<\/p>\n “When you\u2019ve come to the end of your working life, you want to keep busy,” he said. “You want to be out and not cooped up.”<\/p>\n He added, “We play Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings. It\u2019s a nice little group of eight of us.”<\/p>\n While Payne maintains a club handicap of about 26, he said he doesn\u2019t compete in official tournaments anymore.\u00a0<\/p>\n For more Health articles, visit\u00a0<\/strong><\/a>www.foxnews.com\/health<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n “I\u2019m getting too long in the tooth for that,” he joked.<\/p>\n Beyond golf, Payne keeps active with twice-weekly gym sessions, something he says helps keep his joints mobile and his swing in check.\u00a0<\/p>\n “Golf is important, but the gym is important<\/a> for the movement side of things,” he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n “We play Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings. It\u2019s a nice little group of eight of us,” said Payne.\u00a0 (Tom Maddick \/ SWNS)<\/p>\n “As you get older<\/a> you need mobile joints,” he said.<\/p>\n “You need to be able to turn.”<\/p>\n CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Payne celebrated his remarkable hole-in-one with his family, which includes 16 grandchildren and great-grandchildren, SWNS said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Gurj Bowbanks, operations manager at the golf course, said everyone at the club was thrilled for him.\u00a0<\/p>\n “I think we are all in awe of him<\/a>, and he’s put us all to shame,” Bowbanks said, according to the same source.\u00a0<\/p>\n CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n “We are really over the moon for him.”<\/p>\n Payne\u2019s story has reportedly inspired fellow golfers \u2014 and reminded many that it\u2019s never too late to achieve something extraordinary<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"John](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/golfer-sinks-first-hole-in-one-1.jpg\")
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