Persistence pays off with first hole in one for Innerleithen’s Kim, 83

Apparently taking to heart the advice attributed to Robert the Bruce, the 14th century Scottish king part-buried at Melrose, to try, try and try again if success isn’t initially forthcoming – though, seeing as he only lived to the age of 54, even he might well have given up after 43 years of trying – Kim is cock-a-hoop about that achievement, as are her pals at Innerleithen Golf Club.

The Innerleithen 83-year-old, a member of the club since 1977, has been playing two or three times a week since then, winning numerous competitions along the way, but a hole in one had always eluded her until now.

That achievement is all the more impressive as it came at one of the course’s most challenging holes, its fifth, as golfers have to tee off up a steep hill and can’t even see the green they’re aiming for.

She was playing a friendly nine-hole game with friends Kaye Sutherland and Lorna Ramage at the time, and after teeing off, they headed uphill to play their second shots.

They couldn’t find Kim’s ball at first and after much searching, they were about to give up, assuming it must have got lost far from its target, when they decided to take a look in the hole, and there it was.

That discovery, understandably, prompted much jubilation.

“There was great excitement and Kaye shouted to the rest of us that Kim had got a hole in one,” said club committee member Debby Strain.

“The whole club is delighted for Kim, and all the ladies at Innerleithen golf club hold Kim in the highest regard and congratulate her on her achievement.

“Kim has been playing for 43 years and this is her first hole in one.

“Kim will be 84 in December and is truly amazing. She still plays twice or thrice a week and still plays in competitions, which is a fantastic achievement in itself.

“We wish her well on her hole in one and hope to see many more.

“Well done, Kim.”