IF golfer Bob Webb has a nickname among his friends at Worcester Golf and Country Club, it ought to be ‘Ace’ because the 69-year-old has just struck his 17th hole-in-one in 40 years of playing the game.

That’s nearly one every two years, which is a staggering feat when many people play a life-time without ever hitting that most magical of golf shots — the hole-in-one.

Standing on the tee at the 149-yard 13th hole at Boughton Park, little did Webb realise he would be buying yet another round of drinks in the bar afterwards.

However, a sweetly-struck seven iron did the business, with the ball bouncing once before rolling into the hole.

Webb, who used to play off a handicap of three when he was younger, but now plays off 13, remembers his first ace quite well.

It was 35 years ago on the 182-yard sixth hole at his home club.

A four iron was used on that occasion with the ball again only bouncing once on the green before rolling in.

Not all his ace achievements have been so straightforward, though, with some bouncing off the back of a bunker before ending up in the cup.

He even once had aces in consecutive weekends on the sixth hole, but his fondest memory is a hole-in-one when he was playing in a fourball match.

“One of my opponents, Russ Cogger, had just notched three back-to-back birdies and the game stood all-square on the old par three 16th.

“Russ hit a cracking shot to within three feet of the pin and he turned to me and said ‘get inside that one, Webby’.

“I replied that to beat his shot, I would have to score a hole-in-one — which I duly did!

“Russ obviously called me a few names and, to make matters worse, he missed his short birdie putt.”

Webb says he has no secret to his success and believes a large slice of luck is also involved.

How long it is until he completes a golf course’s worth of aces, nobody knows.

One thing is certain, though — no one at Boughton Park is betting on him not having to get his wallet out yet again.