A golf coach to the stars has made history by marrying his wife at one of the sport's most famous holes.
European Tour coach Ian Godleman, of Delamere Road, Ealing, tied the knot with New Zealand's Number One women's golfer Lynnette Brooky in South Africa on the 19th hole of the Legend Golf and Safari Resort.
In doing so they became the first couple to marry on the hole – the longest Par 3 in the world which can only be accessed by helicopter.
Mr Godleman, whose past pupils include Seve Ballesteros and other Ryder Cup stars, used to write a golf column in the Ealing Gazette between 2000 and 2002.
The 45-year-old said: "It was amazing, the whole day was like a James Bond movie and the logistics behind it were quite incredible."
The couple met on the Ladies European Tour and were engaged for six years.Their wedding was attended by 26 guests and saw the pair tie the knot, tee off and then fly down to the green to finish the hole. The guests followed in turn.
Mr Godleman, said: “The 19th hole is probably the most famous hole in the world. To be the first people in the world to do this was very special. I spoke to the owners, who are luckily friends, and they thought it would be great to get married there, but warned because of the logistics it would be a challenge to pull it off.
"In the end we had to delay the wedding a day because of the weather – so we all played golf there instead."
They were able to get married the following day, on April 1.
Ian said: “It was a wonderful day. The reception was held on the edge of the green, and we had our first dance on the green. When I think of all the plans and people involved to make this happen, everything went perfectly."
