Golfer resigns from club as cheating scandal erupts over fake hole-in-one

An amateur golfer has resigned his membership at a Missouri country club after admitting to cheating by deliberately faking a hole-in-one during a club tournament.

Zach Holland, a former college golfer who reportedly plays off a 2-handicap, admitted that he placed his ball in the cup on the par-3 4th at WingHaven Country Club in O'Fallon, Missouri, before his playing partners arrived.

Holland then allowed the group to believe he had holed his tee shot during the event, with the incident eventually becoming a viral golf story.

Speaking to 101 ESPN St. Louis, scroll down to the bottom of this page to watch, Holland acknowledged that he had made a serious error and accepted that there would be consequences.

“There’s no excuse for what I did,” Holland said. “I was completely in the wrong.”

Holland explained that he had played the opening three holes with his group before telling his playing partners that he needed to take a personal phone call. 

He subsequently told them he would play the 4th hole ahead of them and meet them at the green to avoid holding up play.

When he rejoined the group, Holland said he claimed to have “thinned” his tee shot and had no idea where the ball had finished.

His playing partners later discovered the ball in the hole and believed Holland had made a genuine ace. 

The group celebrated the apparent hole-in-one before contacting a club superintendent.

The claim began to unravel after WingHaven staff reviewed security footage.

According to Holland, the footage showed him driving towards the 4th green before his scheduled tee time. 

He eventually admitted to club officials that he had staged the hole-in-one and subsequently resigned his membership.

WingHaven confirmed the incident to GOLF.com, with general manager Nathan Charnes saying the club had “promptly addressed the matter”.

The club also stressed its commitment to maintaining the integrity of the game, but declined to provide further details after the matter was resolved.

The tournament reportedly featured a hole-in-one prize pot, although Holland insisted there was no financial motivation behind his actions.

Instead, he described what happened as “complete stupidity” and said he knew he had to accept the consequences.

The fallout has extended well beyond the golf course, with Holland revealing that he and his family have faced online abuse and threats since the story went viral.

While acknowledging that he deserved criticism for his actions, Holland urged people not to direct that anger towards his wife and two young children.

“I made a terrible mistake,” he said. 

“The lack of moral character – I can take the banter and the chatter and the heat because I deserve that from a golf perspective.”

Holland said the effect on his family was now his biggest concern.

“The golf is secondary,” he added.

Watch the interview with Holland here (from 37 mins):