QUINCY — It is every golfer’s dream to hit the ball directly into the cup from the tee.

Quincy Country Club member Craig Cherington has enjoyed that feeling 14 times in his 60 years of golfing.

He hit his ninth hole-in-one at the same hole at the club about a month ago. It was hole No. 13, a 114-yard par-3.

“To be honest, my first (ace) was when I was 16 and I was jumping around and hollering,” Cherington told Muddy River News. This time around, there was less celebrating. “Maybe a little bit of an adrenaline rush, but you have another hole to play.”

Of course something like this gets chatter going around the pro shop.

A pal of Cherington’s is looking into whether he could get listed on the National Hole-in-One Registry website, which has profiled players for hitting holes-in-one five times at the same hole.

“We’re researching what we need to do to verify,” said Cherington, who used to caddy for his parents, but didn’t pick up golf himself until he was about 13. “A lot of people golf for recreation, but I golf, and the players I golf with take it seriously.”

He marvels at the evolution of equipment over the years, but says you still need to develop skills to play well, especially if you’re going for a hole-in-one or an albatross, which is one stroke better than an eagle, which he’s achieved twice. “That’s more rare than a hole in a one!”

And he did that on the same hole, No. 4 at the Quincy Country Club.

He also won multiple championships at his home course, in the senior and super senior divisions.

Cherington’s advice to anyone who still dreams of a hole-in-one?

“Just keep trying.”

Quincy County Club has a tradition when someone gets a hole-in-one, fellow members get a $10 charge that is then credited to the player’s account so he can buy a round of drinks in celebration of the achievement.

In years past, Cherington says the credited money wasn’t enough, and he had to write a check to cover the tab.

This is where the timing of his latest hole-in-one may actually play in his favor.

“It’s later in the year, so not as many members are playing,” Cherington said. “I’m still waiting on the bill.”

Official records according to Guinness

The Guinness Book of World Records has various lists about holes-in-one, from the most consecutive by a couple to the most in a single tournament.

Nothing that is directly applicable to Cherington’s circumstances, but it does list the most holes-in-one on the same hole (in competition) as 5, achieved by John “Barry” Harper of Australia.

According to online records, it happened at Cottesloe Golf Club in Swanbourne, Western Australia, between October 24 , 1980, and November 13, 2004.

This was equalled by Robert Howe, another Australian, at Royal Perth Golf Club in South Perth, Western Australia, between August 16, 1997, and October 3, 2012.

Harper’s record was achieved on the 13th hole; while Howe’s record was achieved on the 14th hole.

Hole-in-One fun facts

The National Hole-In-One Registry notes the rules of golf do not address the issue of the validity of a hole-in-one and the USGA recommends a hole-in-one be considered valid:

If made during a round of at least nine holes, except that a hole-in-one made during a match should be acceptable even if the match ends before the stipulated round is completed;

If the player is playing one ball; a hole-in-one made in a practice round in which the player is playing two or more balls should not be acceptable;

If attested by an acceptable witness;

If made at a hole with a temporary tee and/or putting green in use, even if the Committee did not specifically define the teeing ground with tee-markers; the length of the hole at the time should be stated on any certificate;

If made in a “scramble” competition.