Heworth Golf Club member Garry Taylor believed he had more chance of winning the Lottery or being struck by lightning than firing an albatross at his home course.

In fact, the 46-year-old builder was so surprised that he had begun walking back down the fairway to take a second tee shot at the 310-yard, par four 11th hole, fearing his ball was lost, before a playing partner told him to have a look in the hole.

Shortly afterwards, the celebrations began and continued when, incredibly, his four-ball betterball team-mate Eddie Kilmartin sank a putt for an eagle and opponent Bernard Mennell, who recently won a Ford Focus car after a Charity Day ace, took two shots on the green for a birdie.

A delighted Taylor, who plays off a nine handicap and has been a Heworth member for 22 years, later counted the costs of his remarkable shot, paying more than £60 for a clubhouse round of drinks that included one-and-a-half litres of whisky.

He said: "The hole is a dog-leg but we all decided to go over the trees and pond. When we walked up two of the balls were on the green and I haven't even seen that as a member for more than 20 years.

"I knew I had hit a good drive and I thought if there's any justice then one would be mine. When they weren't, I started looking through the back of the green and was in a bit of a paddy because I thought I had lost my ball.

"I was heading back down the fairway when somebody told me to check the hole and then the celebrations began. I've had a hole in one before on a par three ten years ago but it's extra special on a par four.

"It's a feat that is even rare for professional golfers and I could stand on that tee for the rest of my life and not hit the green, never mind put the ball in the hole. I thought I had more chance of winning the Lottery or getting struck by lightning!"

Taylor, who plays golf twice a week, has previously shot a "few eagles" but never come close to the elusive par-four albatross.

Surprisingly, it did not prove enough to secure victory in the match, with Mennell and 23-handicapper Kevin Wilson, who, incidentally, carded a bogey five at the 11th, winning by two shots.

"It was an average round for us otherwise," Taylor laughed.

Updated: 10:50 Friday, July 01, 2005