A man from Missouri has drawn significant backlash within the amateur golf community after he reportedly used his “dying” grandmother as part of a scheme to fake a hole-in-one during a local tournament.
Zach Holland, a two-handicap golfer from St. Louis, is at the center of the controversy. His actions became widely known after the media began to report on the incident.
During a members-only tournament at Wing Haven Country Club in O’Fallon, Holland told others he needed to step away to take a call from his “dying grandmother.” In reality, he rushed ahead to the next hole to set up for his trick.
According to reports, Holland manipulated the par-3 fourth hole by placing a divot to create the illusion that he had actually teed off. He then inserted a ball into the hole and returned to the tee to await his fellow golfers.
When they arrived, he claimed to have hit a shot but couldn’t locate the ball. Eventually, they “discovered” it in the hole, leading Holland to claim a hole-in-one.
Initially, he reveled in the attention his fabricated feat garnered.
However, skepticism arose regarding his supposed achievement, particularly since no one witnessed his shot.
Ultimately, Holland confessed that he lied about the hole-in-one. He acknowledged never having scored one in reality and described himself as an “idiot” for the “unforgivable mistake” of deceiving everyone.
Holland opted to resign from the golf club, explaining, “I told him I wanted to quit my membership. That’s not the right thing for me to do.”
“I was making a complete fool of myself, but it’s more complicated than that. I received a multitude of messages—mostly negative—yet there’s some honesty in that,” he mentioned.
Despite the consequences, he maintains that he had never cheated in golf before this reckless stunt.
“I’m not a cheater on the golf course,” he stated. “I made a wrong decision and have to deal with the aftermath. I’m doing my best to move on, but it’s challenging.”
The negativity directed towards him has sparked concerns for his family’s safety.
“I made a grave mistake and lacked morals. I can handle the jokes and scrutiny that come with being in the spotlight, but my primary worry is my family. I may jeopardize my marriage, which is nearing five years,” he shared during an appearance on a St. Louis sports radio show. “We have two young children, and it’s unjust to place them in an environment where they might face questions about their dad being a cheater. That’s the hardest part. Golf is secondary. There’s no justification for my actions. I was completely wrong.”
“I’m focused on seeking help and supporting my family—this is what matters most now,” he added, reflecting on his isolation as a result of his choices.
“Things have gotten pretty harsh. People can be relentless. They don’t even know me. It’s the lowest thing you can do in golf—absolutely the worst. It was incredibly foolish,” he concluded.
