Most golfers never experience the rush of a hole-in-one. After all, the statistics for such an achievement are 12 500 to 1. Others like Andrew Manthe have twice defied the odds, even if they have come 20 years apart!

Manthe was 29 when he made his first ace, at West Bank Golf Club in East London in October 2006. 'That one came on the 14th at West Bank during a 3 Jacks and a Jill competition. After that I was so elated that I battled to even finish a hole afterwards!'

These days the 49-year-old plays off a 6-handicap and is a member at the Olivewood Wildlife Estate and Golf Club. 'I don't live there but it would be the most amazing place to own a home in the Eastern Cape. The golf course and facilities are really great and the wildlife that is around the course makes you feel like you are in a game reserve,' he said when discussing his second lifetime hole-in-one.

The achievement sees him join the membership of The Golf Mag's new Hole-In-One Club, which will see one new member receive R50 000 in cash when the competition closes at the end of October.

Manthe described his perfect fluke.

'It was a Wednesday club competition and we were all playing off the white (Club) tees. The 15th, which is our signature hole, was on our back 9. We had shotgun start off the 18th tee. The 15th hole is a beautiful par three where the green is nestled halfway up a slope on the other side of a small ravine and over dense forest. The back of the green has a steep backstop so a ball slightly long will generally feed back down on to the pretty undulating green surface. Anything short, if not in the left bunker, will also feed way down below the green in the rough. So the shot here is definitely to favour a little long. The pin on this day was back right playing 143 metres and there was a gentle breeze off the right. I selected my 8-iron (Callaway Apex).

Warming to the detail of the shot, Manthe said: 'Since the flag was tucked back right of the green, I decided to start the ball towards the centre and if it faded a bit towards the hole it would be good. Actually anywhere on the green I would've been happy with! I got great contact with the 8-iron and the ball flight was lovely and high and started just right of centre, fading slightly towards the hole. As the ball started the descent, it faded less and began to fall straight in line with the flag!

'One of the others said, "wow, that's on a great line!" As we watched to see where it would pitch, all we heard was a loud "THLUCK" sound. One of the playing partners said he was sure it pitched straight in the hole! My playing partners started to high five me on the tee box but I was sceptical because if it did pitch in or catch the flag, the chances it stayed in would be low. I also thought it had gone straight in but wasn't going to celebrate until I could see the ball in the bottom of the cup.

'That drive from the tee box to the green seemed to take forever. We got to the green and I half jogged to have a peek into the hole, and there it was with my distinctive purple dot markings, in the bottom of the hole. It was a slam dunk!

'Once I knew it was definitely in the hole, I could then shout for joy. I remember whistling to my mates on the 14th green behind us, which also overlooks the 15th green, and they also clapped and whistled back. My playing partners were all taking photos and sending them on to our member golf group. Word got out quick and my phone was ringing before we even finished the hole.'

And what happened to the ball? 'I was playing with a Titleist Pro V1 (#2). Once I took the ball from the hole and had done with all the photos, I slipped it into a side pouch of my golf bag so I didn't lose it on the next hole! I have kept the ball and will probably display it in my bar.'

Snyman & Van der Vyver has long been associated with the business of protecting exceptional moments – and when The Golf Mag introduced the Hole‑in‑One Club, the fit was immediate and unmistakable.

'We didn't see this as just a sponsorship,' explains Len Faul of Snyman & Van der Vyver. 'We saw it as an opportunity to support something that genuinely celebrates a golfing achievement — while showcasing a product designed specifically for moments like these. 'A Hole‑in‑One Club and Hole‑in‑One insurance are two sides of the same coin,” says Faul. 'One rewards the achievement. The other makes it possible to reward it properly.'

According to the stats, the chances of the amateur golfer getting a hole-in-one is 1 in 12 500. The odds on a professional doing the same is 2 500 to 1. However, the reality is that when you tee it up on a 'short' hole, you have a chance.

They call it the perfect fluke, but that's because it doesn't discriminate. Your ball ending up in the hole is the only thing that counts, whether by fluke or just a brilliant shot.

Why did this opportunity resonate with you?
Because it's authentic. A Hole‑in‑One isn't luck alone – it's skill, precision and composure. That mirrors what good risk planning is about. We're delighted to support an initiative that honours real achievement rather than chance.

Why was SVDV willing to sponsor a R50 000 cash prize?
Because our Hole‑in‑One insurance product exists for exactly this purpose. It enables meaningful prizes without risk. When The Golf Mag approached us, it felt natural for us to back it properly.

For readers unfamiliar with Hole‑in‑One insurance, how does it work in practice?
It's very straightforward: A specific par three hole is insured on a formal golf day. The tee position and distance are agreed in advance. Play follows the R&A Rules of Golf. Independent witnesses are required. If a hole‑in‑one is made, the insurer pays the prize. For the golfer, nothing changes. The excitement stays exactly where it should be — on the tee.

Why is this concept such a good fit for golf days and competitions?
Because it elevates the experience. A hole‑in‑one prize creates anticipation, attracts participation and becomes the highlight of the day — without burdening organisers with financial risk. That's why this works so well.

SUPPLIED