IT’S the dream of every club golfer to record that elusive hole-in-one at least once in a lifetime.
But for 85-year-old Malcolm Coleman, who plays his golf at The Grange Golf Club in Adelaide, once has never been enough.
Since first picking up a club 60 years ago, Malcolm has achieved the rare feat five times – two aces at The Grange, two at Royal Canberra and another at Tura Beach.
His most recent came on the 109-metre eighth hole on The Grange’s West Course when his well-struck eight-iron found the bottom of the cup.
“You get a bit lucky sometimes,” he said modestly – still glowing from the achievement.
His playing partners that day, Peter Junner and Darryl Stockton, were just as thrilled.
“When Malcolm found his ball in the hole, he was really happy,” Darryl recalled. “I went to give him a hug, and he gave me this big embrace – it was a great moment.”
Yet, for all his remarkable shots, Malcolm’s golfing highlights extend well beyond the aces.
ROYAL AFFAIR: Former Royal Canberra captain Malcolm Coleman (second from left), Royal Canberra GC then president Arthur Fittock (left) with two Royal County Down GC officials at the Royal and Ancient Golf Club in 2004.
Among his most memorable experiences was sharing a round of golf with two-time major champion Sandy Lyle at Metropolitan GC and attending the 250th anniversary of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews in 2004.
“I was invited to play the pro-am before an Australian Open at Metropolitan Golf Club in 1993,” he told Inside Golf.
“When I asked who the professional was, the lady told me it was Sandy Lyle and then asked, ‘Can he play?’ I told her, ‘Well, apart from winning the US Masters and The Open Championship, he’s got some ability’.
“Playing alongside Sandy Lyle was great.
“He is very natural and down to earth and spoke about how he had only arrived from Japan the night before and detailed how his final tournament round there transpired.
“I thought to myself afterwards it was just like sitting around a table at your club with fellow members talking about your round’s ups-and-downs.”
Malcolm laughed as he recalled Lyle’s effortless eagle on a par-5 after taking his caddie’s advice to hit “driver, then six-iron”.
“I told Sandy afterwards, ‘you’re a day too early’.
Born and raised in Adelaide, Malcolm joined The Grange in 1974 and this year celebrated 51 years of consecutive membership.
His career in property valuation took him to Canberra for two decades, where he served as head of the Commonwealth Government’s Property Valuation Office.
There, he joined Royal Canberra Golf Club, eventually becoming club captain.
As captain, he was invited to St Andrews for the Royal and Ancient’s 250th celebration – a global gathering of more than a thousand delegates.
“It was something very special,” he recalled. “We played both the Old Course and the New Course, which was formed in 1893.
“When we finished at the R&A a friend of mine, who went on to become captain and president of Royal Canberra, and his wife joined my wife and myself and we toured Scotland and Ireland.
“Because I was captain of a Royal club I managed to arrange to play Royal County Down, Royal Porthrush, Royal Dornoch, Royal Aberdeen and Royal Dublin (Ireland).
“The wives went shopping while we played golf,” laughed Malcolm. “They were some experiences, for sure.”
ACE: Malcolm Coleman retrieves his golf ball from the hole after acing the eighth hole at The Grange GC.
A qualified New South Wales rules official, Malcolm also served at several leading tournaments including the NSW Open and Australian Open.
These days, he plays three times a week – Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays – walking every round and playing off a 14 handicap. Along the way he has broken his age five times.
“I’m nothing special at any part of the game, just steady,” he said. “Putting’s my strength – I don’t three-putt too often.”
Reflecting on a lifetime in golf, Malcolm says it’s been a journey filled with friendship, opportunity and satisfaction.
“I’ve been lucky,” he said. “I’ve had wonderful experiences as a player, a captain of a club and a rules official.
“I was very fortunate to be able to come back to The Grange where members have a choice of playing two championship golf courses (East and West) every time you play.
“And to still be making holes-in-one at my age is the icing on the cake.”
Chief writer David Newbery has been living, breathing and writing and editing golf for more than 30 years. His extensive knowledge of the game comes from covering golf around the world. Hired by Inside Golf in 2009, David previously worked as the editor of The Golfer for 25 years and before that worked for numerous daily newspapers in Australia and overseas. The Brisbane-based journalist describes his golf game as “a work in progress”, but has had the privilege of playing golf with some of the game’s best players including nine-time major winner Gary Player. David enjoys travelling, reading, music, photography and spending time with family and friends – on and off the golf course. 
