Bill Hallright isn't the first Kiwi bloke keen on spending his birthday playing golf but he might just be the oldest.
Bill turned 101 on Thursday and decided to spend it in his happy place.
"Normally, I have two rounds a week - sometimes three," he said.
The retired surgeon knows the nine-hole course in Ellerslie so well, he’s been made an honorary member.
It’s also helped him on the greens too, golf buddy Jim says.
"Three years ago, I did this hole in one," Bill said.
"We spent ten minutes looking for the ball and the ball was in the hole," Jim added.
Away from the course, Bill has lived a long and remarkable life his youngest son Mike Hallright said.
"He's been an amazing father and I have to say the experiences we've had together have been amazing."
Born in the remote Hawke’s Bay town of Wairoa the centenarian trained as a doctor, spending five years in the army medical corps during World War Two.
Bill came to golf late, too busy earlier in life due to the demands of being a surgeon at two Auckland hospitals.
He says there are no similarities between the two disciplines but onlookers who caught wind of his 101 st birthday said “precision” no doubt plays a big part.
And while Bill doesn’t know the secret to such a long life, he certainly knows who his favourite golfer is.
"Lydia Ko, she's magnificent!"
SHARE ME