TWO members of Largs Kelburn Golf Club defied odds of 17 MILLION TO ONE to fire holes from the same tee on the same round during their regular weekly outing.

George Hutchison, 72, struck a pinpoint 140 yard tee shot to ace the 14th - but that was immediately matched by pal Alistair Mack, 74.

Statisticians put the chance of such a feat at 17 million to one.

George, who lives in Kaim View in Fairlie, said the duo were dumbstuck by the feat on Tuesday morning.

He said: "It was amazing - I have been a full member of Largs in the past and have been a lifestyle member since 2011 but never experienced anything like this.

"I just hit this stoater right up in the air and the ball disappeared into the hole. Alistair then hit his shot and it was just amazing to find the two balls sitting in the same hole."

George, who use to work in Hunterston Power Station, added: "We didn't buy any rounds for anybody as it wasn't a competition - we just go out for the fun of it and if we hit a bad shot, which often happens, we just laugh it off.

"The crazy thing was that after hitting the hole in one, you expect to win the hole, and then Alistair went and followed me in. There can't be too many golfers who have experienced that situation!

"We checked it out online afterwards and two guys in Indian Wells did the same thing a while back and the story said experts put the odds at 17 million to one. I did put a Euromillions ticket on but I think my luck had been used up!"

Alistair, who lives in Arran View Gardens in Seamill, said: "I generally use a nine iron from that tee, but I used an eight as that seemed do work pretty well for George. My shot landed in exactly the same place and followed it in.

"We walked to the green and two balls were inside the hole - nobody could believe it."

Grandfather Alistair, who is also a lifestyle member at Largs Golf Club, and said "I have been playing on and off and just enjoy a fun day out. We play once a week with the same four guys on a Tuesday."

Alastair, who helped build the former Regatta Cafe and ran the facility for seven years, has been in the building trade for most of his life and now runs a garage door business.

He said: "After the holes in one, because of Covid, there was nobody around at the club. We were just sitting there, the four of us, so we couldn't really celebrate. We told the assistant professional at the club and he was amazed. Hopefully we can mark the occasion properly in full at some point when it is safe to do so."

George added: "We had a pint of shandy outside the golf club to celebrate!

"We are just average players who enjoy a hit every week - I wish we had played on Pros Day a few weeks ago as there were prizes for nearest the hole at the 14th - you can't get much nearer than getting it in - twice over!"

Largs Kelburn Golf Club is rated one of the finest courses on the Scottish west coast and is under the careful guidance of head groundkeeper Ian Barr.