Resident pro Matt Adam congratulates Boydie Collyer at Casino golf course.
Susanna Freymark
”Well done.” “Bloody brilliant.” “Congratulations.”
Everywhere Boydie Collyer goes at Casino Golf Club, he is stopped and congratulated for hitting a hole-in-one on the 17th hole yesterday, Tuesday, September 2.
The 17th hole at Casino Golf Club requires an accurate shot over 118metres.
The odds of a hole-in-one for an amateur golfer are 1 in 12,500 (according to the internet) and 1 in 2500 for a professional golfer.
For Boydie this is even more remarkable because he is 92 years old and has only been playing golf for seven years — he took it up when he was 85.
The entire green cheered when Boydie’s ball disappeared down the 17th hole. Boydie couldn’t believe and thought he had missed.
“I’ve never even dreamed about a hole-in-one,” Boydie said.
Boydie on the golf course.
Boydie turned 92 last Friday, August 29. He lives at Ellangowan with his daughter and son-in-law and is a regular golfer at Coraki and Casino clubs.
It isn’t surprising hearing that Boydie took up golf later in life — he’s been busy milking cows and driving buses.
Boydie was born in Ballina and lived at Wardell on a dairy farm until he was seven.
”I don’t want to see another cow,” he said.
His father taught him to milk a cow when Boydie was four years old.
Boydie shows the golf scorecard for his game yesterday.
The family moved to Evans Head and Boydie lived there for 75 years.
”I bought my first truck when I was 14,” he said.
He tried to retire in 1985 but was lured into driving school and charter buses by a mate.
Thirteen years later in 1998 he retired again. But still, he drove charter buses to Barossa Valley and along the Great Ocean Road.
”I used to do charters for golfers and I filled in every now and then,” he said.
Those golfers would impressed now.
Boydie won the Northern Rivers Veterans Masters Championship for over 80s in 2023 and 2024.
Casino Golf Club resident pro Matt Adam said Boydie’s hole-in-one was “all over the course.”
”Everyone wants to achieve a hole-in-one,” Matt said.
Boydie’s golf scorecard. Photos: Susanna Freymark
