TV, radio seeking 10-year-old Seacoast golfer
by admin ~ May 6th, 2009
By Shir Haberman
shaberman@seacoastonline.com
May 06, 2009 1:34 PM
NORTH HAMPTON – Traditionally, when a golfer hits a hole in one, he or she receives the accolades of the members of his foursome, the congratulations of his friends and family, his name on a plaque in the course’s clubhouse and, perhaps, a few free drinks.
When that golfer happens to be 10 years old, the accomplishment garners national recognition and the Internet is a-flutter with the story.
That’s what has happened to Seacoast resident Ryan Quinn.
On Sunday, April 26, Ryan, a North Hampton School fourth grader, and his father, Tim, were playing their weekly 18 holes at the Sagamore-Hampton Golf Course. Each was having a good round with two holes left to play.
Ryan stepped up to the red tee box on the par 3, 164-yard, 17th hole and took out his 3 wood. He hit the ball well, and both he and his father knew it.
The drive landed about eight feet from the pin and rolled into the cup for the youngster’s first hole in one and the first one of the season at Sagamore.
That garnered Ryan much more than an older golfer would have gotten for the same feat. Ever since the story appeared in Seacoast Media Group’s Portsmouth Herald, Hampton Union and on the Seacoastonline.com Web site, his name has appeared on virtually every sports and golf Internet site in the country.
And that’s not all. He has been contacted by representatives of several radio stations and even the Jay Leno and Ellen Degeneres shows, his father confirmed.
“It seems everybody is looking for that feel-good story,” Tim Quinn said.
However, Quinn said his son has turned down the radio interviews and, while he did speak to representatives of the Leno and Degeneres shows, he doubts Ryan will ultimately appear on TV, despite the proddings of his older brother.
“He’s a quiet kid, and these things take weeks to set up,” Tim said. “Leno is wrapping up his season, so there isn’t time for Ryan to appear on that show, but they might be able to squeeze him onto the Ellen show.
“If we don’t hear in a few weeks, it probably won’t happen,” he said.
The inability – or unwillingness – to appear on radio or television can’t dampen the joy Ryan said he felt when that ball went in the hole or how unique the feat was for the 10-year-old.
“I hit the ball and it was going right at the hole, then it rolled in,” Ryan said just after he hit the hole in one. “We jumped up and down yelled. I was very surprised.”
Sagamore-Hampton General Manager Tyler Sanborn said Quinn shattered the mark of the youngest golfer to hit a hole in one at the course.
“It’s definitely a thing where the more you think about it, the more amazing it is,” Sanborn said. “Getting a hole in one is a pretty special thing, but when a 10-year-old does it, it really blows your mind. It’s pretty neat.”
Tim Quinn who aced Sagamore’s par-3, 14th hole in 2006 could not be more proud his son, who started playing the game when he was six.
“It was special,” Tim said. “When he hit the ball, I told him he was going to like it and then we watched it drop in.”
“We went nuts. There were four guys on the 18th tee waiting to hit and they saw it,” Tim said. “They knew it was (Ryan) who got it.
“It’s a tough green to hit,” Tim said. “He’s a pretty good golfer.”
Ryan has been telling his dad that he was going to get a hole in one first for years.
“He always said he was going to get a hole in one before me,” Tim said. “I was pretty relieved to get mine first. Now, the race is on for No. 2.”
Every time the two get to the 14th hole, Ryan says, “Dad, this is your hole.”
“Now, the 17th is his,” Tim said.
Portsmouth Herald reporter Jay Pinsonnault contributed to this article.