When Brian Norris, 94, teed off towards the eighteenth hole at Falmouth Golf Club, he didn’t realise his achievement until he heard the crowd on the club balcony burst into applause.

After making his way over the hill to see for himself, he gave a cheeky bow to the cheering spectators – who couldn’t believe that he had aced the last hole of the course during the Gents Autumn Open competition (October 2).

“It was quite a commotion – we wondered what all the noise was about,” laughed Brian.

Brain did not know he had aced the hole until he heard cheering from the clubhouse balcony. (Image: Louis Greaves/Falmouth Packet)

His friends Gordon Kelly and David Kerwin promptly ordered two bottles of port to celebrate his flush – the sixth hole-in-one of his golfing career, which has spanned more than 50 years.

In the weeks since, club members have pointed out that Brian may have broken a UK record.

Now being verified by Golf England, he is believed to be the oldest person in the country to have hit a hole-in-one.

Current record-holder Jack Ponsford was aged 93 when he aced a hole at Pannal Golf Club, Yorkshire, in 2025.

Brian explained that records must be set during scored competitions, and admitted that there was “a significant amount of luck” to his shot.

Nevertheless, the pensioner managed to drive a ball 160 yards into a hole the size of a coffee cup – on a flag just outside the clubhouse, in full view of around 20 stunned members and visitors.

Just outside the clubhouse, Brian points towards the 18th hole. (Image: Louis Greaves/Falmouth Packet)

Originally from Yorkshire, Brian lives with his wife in Mawnan Smith, having moved to Cornwall to be closer to his son, who was serving at RNAS Culdrose.

Since retiring from his successful career as an industrial rubber and plastics distributor 32 years ago, he has been enjoying playing golf twice a week at Falmouth Golf Club.

Brian said: “It’s a great community here, and a real mixed bunch.”

On achieving a hole-in-one, he added: “Everybody’s competitive, and it’s the one thing that every golfer wants to do.”

Fellow club member David Cuffin said: “He did it – and had a balcony full of people to witness it.”

In a WhatsApp message shared across the club, Gordon Kelly said: “Congratulations Brian, a legend continues to grow!”

Born in March 1932, Brian continues to be an active and spritely member of the community – although he cannot pinpoint the secret to his long life.

He laughed: “If I knew that, I’d be a millionaire!”