[Photo: Wavebreak Media]
A hole-in-one is supposed to be a celebration, a chance for excitement and usually an expletive or two. Unfortunately, for amateur golfer Zach Holland, an “ace” was the beginning of the end for his time at WingHaven Country Club.
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While competing in a member tournament at WingHaven in Missouri, Holland was caught placing his golf ball in the cup at the par-3 fourth hole and then subsequently lying about his out-of-nowhere ace. The alleged 2-handicapper offered the ball as proof, but after concerns were raised, video security footage clearly revealed the cock and bull story.
Holland also admitted that to tee off at the par-3 fourth hole by himself, he told his group that he needed to take a call from his “mortally ill grandmother” and that he would tee off on the hole ahead of them, eventually meeting up on the green. When the group found Holland, he stated that he “thinned” his shot and didn’t know where the ball went.
The acting PGA of America president and general manager at WingHaven, Nathan Charnes, confirmed all of this to GOLF.com. “WingHaven Country Club is aware of the recent attention surrounding an incident involving a former member during a club event,” Charnes said. “The club promptly addressed the matter.
“We care deeply about the integrity of the game and the experience we provide for our members and guests. Because this situation involved the actions of an individual and has been resolved, we consider it closed and have no further comment.”
Holland, a former college golfer at William Carey University, eventually resigned his membership. In an interview with “The Morning Show” on 101 ESPN St Louis, he admitted that he understood the consequences of his actions.
“There’s no excuse for what I did, and I was completely in the wrong,” Holland said. “There’s really no motivation. Just complete stupidity, and we were giving two shots back to the field and that’s not an excuse. There’s no excuse for what happened.
“I made a terrible mistake. The lack of moral character… I can take the banter and the chatter and the heat because I deserve that from a golf perspective.”
Holland made sure to note that he is “not a cheater on the golf course”.
