Zach Holland, a former college golfer, resigned his membership from WingHaven Country Club after security footage revealed he faked a hole-in-one during a members-only event. The incident occurred at the O'Fallon, Missouri course.
Holland, who held a 2-handicap and played collegiately at William Carey University, admitted to club officials that he placed his golf ball in the cup on the par-3 fourth hole before the event, which included a prize for a hole-in-one. He then lied to his playing partners about the shot.
During an interview with 101 ESPN St. Louis, Holland stated, "There's no excuse for what I did, and I was completely in the wrong." He attributed the action to "complete stupidity" and acknowledged the negative consequences.
According to reports, after completing the first three holes with his group, Holland told his partners he needed to take a personal call and would tee off on the fourth hole ahead of them. He later returned, claiming he "thinned" his tee shot and was unsure of its location. His playing partners then discovered the ball in the cup.
WingHaven staff reviewed security footage, which showed Holland near the fourth green before his scheduled tee time. This evidence led to his confession and subsequent resignation from the club.
Holland expressed concern for his family, who have faced online criticism as a result of his actions. "What I am most worried about is my family," he said. "It’s not fair to them for me to put them in that situation where when they walk through a room, there is a stigma there that your dad is a [cheater]."
Nathan Charnes, the acting PGA of America president and general manager at WingHaven, confirmed that the club "promptly addressed the matter" and considers the incident closed. "We care deeply about the integrity of the game and the experience we provide for our members and guests," Charnes stated.