The Adirondack Journal

September 23, 2006 By Nancy O'Brien CHESTERTOWN - He's 88 years old and it happened at the eighth hole at Green Mansions Golf Club. Fred Culver hit his first-ever hole in one. "I had to play golf for 75 years before I got a hole in one," Culver said. "I used a six iron and after I hit the ball, I saw it go onto the green and it had good direction, but I was sure it was long." Culver was playing a foursome with George Cole, Don Converse and Steve Smith. Cole said he thought the ball went into the hole, but Culver said no, it was long.

Fred Culver at Green Mansions shortly after he hit his first hole in one.

"I went to look for the ball and I couldn't find it and George told me to look in the hole, and there it was!"

Culver has been playing in a league at Green Mansions for 30 years, and anyone who hits a hole in one gets a prize of $150. "The whole course knew in minutes that the old man got a hole in one," Culver said. "I had to buy everybody a drink."

Course owner Ron Walker said in the 10 years that he's been at Green Mansions, there have probably been about 25 instances of a hole in one, usually at the eighth hole. "We get two or three a year," Walker said. "I don't think there's any question that Fred's the oldest golfer to get one." He said there was an 84-year-old golfer that hit one, but Fred beats that age by four years.

"He's by far the oldest guy that every played in our men's league," Walker said. "He's a nine handicapper and at 88, he's still a bogey golfer. That's pretty incredible, but golf is just part of what Fred is; he's a good man all around."

Culver said it must have been divine intervention. "I hit it onto the green, but He put it into the hole," he said.

Culver has thought about quitting the game for the last several years, but then decides to continue. "I've been through three wives and I'm crowding 90, so I'm not feeling as good as I used to," he said. ''But I got lots of hugs and hand shakings that day."

He remembers a good friend of his who made 11 holes in one during his golf career.

From The Adirondack Journal, Warrensburg, NY; September 23, 2006
Denton Publications, Inc.

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