On Sunday, July 6, at Park Ridge Golf Course near Wellington in Palm Beach County, 82‑year‑old Delray Beach resident Marty Lerner stepped onto the tee full of hope, but soon found himself at the center of a remarkable turn of events.
As he approached the second hole—a 115‑yard par‑3—Lerner hit his shot cleanly. “When I walked up to the green, we were all looking, and no one’s looking in the cup, of course, until someone says, ‘Why don’t you check the cup?’” Lerner said. “Boom, there it is.” The ball had disappeared into the cup marking his first-ever hole‑in‑one. No sooner had that stunned victory settled in than he moved confidently to the ninth hole, this time facing a 127‑yard shot. To the astonishment of his playing partners, Lerner’s ball again found the bottom of the cup, giving him a second ace in the same round.
Witness Geoff Solomon, who played alongside Lerner that day, later recalled how the group immediately sensed they were witnessing something extraordinary—not once, but twice in a matter of hours. “He celebrated with his friends at lunch after their round,” said Solomon, adding that the atmosphere was charged with disbelief and delight. When asked about the experience, Lerner couldn’t hide his amazement. “Oh, my God. Oh, my God. What are the odds?” he exclaimed. “More than crazy,” Lerner said. “Here I am, a quiet guy retired for seven years, playing golf occasionally. It seems very surreal.”
The Park Ridge pro shop quickly recognized the rarity of the achievement, presenting Lerner with a certificate and registering his name with the National Hole‑In‑One Registry. According to the registry, the odds of making two holes‑in‑one in a single round are approximately 67 million to one . Adding perspective, Golf.com noted that while pros typically face 3,000-to‑1 odds, average players see about 12,500-to‑1—making dual aces in the same round almost unfathomable.
You can watch WPTV’s story here.
Park Ridge’s course manager Sean Steinemann confirmed Lerner’s feat is exceptionally rare—even within that course’s history, only one other golfer had accomplished something similar . Most professional players never register a single hole‑in‑one in their careers, making Lerner’s accomplishment all the more notable given his age and amateur status.
This kind of success isn’t entirely unknown in golf lore. In June 2024, 56‑year‑old Frank Bensel Jr. hit back‑to‑back holes‑in‑one during the U.S. Senior Open—an event the National Hole‑In‑One Registry places at similarly improbable odds of 67 million to one. Even in the world of professional tournaments, two aces in one round remains headline news—notably achieved by players like Brian Harman on the PGA Tour and Dale Whitnell on the DP World Tour.
Back in Wellington, Lerner concluded his round with something no one sees every weekend: two aces at par‑3s of differing distances, witnessed by friends who quickly celebrated over lunch. Lerner’s astonished reaction, followed by the formal recognition from Park Ridge, ensured this achievement would not slip into obscurity.
The National Hole‑In‑One Registry has now officially logged his entry, immortalizing what many have called a “once‑in‑a‑lifetime” event—twice in one round. In the words of Lerner himself: “What are the odds?” Year-end statistics show Florida accounts for only about 3 percent of U.S. hole‑in‑one counts, despite its abundance of courses. That makes two aces in one day here even more extraordinary.
For Lerner, the day combined preparation, precision, and a pinch of the improbable. But for his playing partners and the Park Ridge community, it was a story they’ll retell for years: the moment when an experienced golfer in his eighties hit not one—but two—hole‑in‑ones on a single memorable Sunday afternoon.
Someone needs to give that fellow a ride to the store to pick up some lottery tickets.