Chris joins his father and son in the H1 Club

A poignant round of golf for Chris Thomas became a day to treasure when he joined his son and late father with an ace on the same hole to leave a lasting legacy at their historic club.

Thomas, 47, a member at St Augustine’s Golf Club in his home town, Ramsgate, Kent  was competing in the June Stableford at his home club when he found the missing piece to the jigsaw on the 156-yard, par-three 15th.

The six-handicapper said: “On August 7th, 1961, my late father, Major John Thomas – who played off a nine handicap – had a hole-in-one on the 15th at St Augustine’s from 135 yards and I still have the ball mounted in a plaque as a memento. I was lucky to play with my dad about 30 times before he passed away.

“On July 3rd, 2012, my son – aged 16 at the time and playing off five – amazingly achieved an ace on the very same hole. I was so proud to follow in the footsteps of my father and son to make it a family hat-trick, and, to make it extra special, I’ve received a BOSS watch as a permanent reminder.”

Thomas joined the historic golf club – where a runic cross stands near the clubhouse to commemorate St Augustine’s arrival to England – in 1994 after retiring from semi-professional football, and he and his son Joe play rounds of golf together there regularly.

Son Joe added: “I was so excited when I couldn’t find my ball, but looked around anyway, as it often bounces through the green, which is very flat. I couldn’t see it so I had a look in the hole, and there it was.

I am delighted that my grandfather, dad and I can share this special moment.”