GOLF MAD NINE-YEAR-OLD KATIE HITS HOLE IN ONE

It’s a tradition for any golfer, achieving a hole in one, to stand a round of drinks in the Club House afterwards. But for Katie Thompson it was a case of “ice creams all round please”, because at only nine-years-old, Katie is the youngest person to get a hole in one on the championship Meon Course, at the Marriott Meon Valley Hotel and Country Club.

Proud mum, Philippa, who is operations manager at the hotel said: “Katie was practising with her father, Tim, when she got the hole in one on the 12^th hole. She’s a very keen golfer and would love to become a professional one day. It’s either that or football, she’s very good at that too! We told her she would have to buy everyone an ice cream to celebrate her success.”

The family live in a house in the hotel’s beautiful 225-acre grounds, which means Katie, has plenty of opportunity to practice.

“The 12^th hole is the signature hole on our championship course,” said the hotel’s director of golf, George McMenemy.

“It’s a beautiful par there hole, with a lake and is well known for its steep slope between the elevated tee and the green. According to our records Katie is the youngest person to achieve a hole in one on the course and at such a young age this is a very impressive performance,” he added.