He played his first game on the Crescent Head course with only one club, a five-iron.

“I used to play golf at Crescent Head when it was nine holes with my father-in-law and that was back in 1943,” Lachy said.

“But I still enjoy playing golf more than ever today because it keeps me young.”

Lachy was one of 11 children who grew up on a dairy farm on the Nambucca.

And he can clearly recall the day he met the famous Australian bush poet Banjo Paterson.

“I rode my horse to school in Macksville, but was always running late because I had calves to feed,” Lachy said.

“They had just built the Macksville Bridge across the Nambucca River in 1932 and I was riding over it when a bloke wearing a Johnny Cash coat grabbed the mare’s rein.

“The man said ‘where you going son?’

“I said ‘school mate, let my bloody horse go!’ than he told me he was Banjo Paterson and was signing books in town.”

In 1942 Lachy joined the army as a military policeman, serving his country during the ‘Battle of Brisbane’, when he was in charge of the supply trains.

“I was in Rose Bay Hospital with the measles when the Japanese submarines started shelling Rose Bay,” Lachy said.

After three years service Lachy moved to Crescent Head with his wife Audrey in 1948 after Audrey started working as a teacher at Medlow, Taylors Arm.

He began 35 years work as a bulldozer operator for Kempsey Macleay Tractors that year.

“We fell in love with Crescent Head because of the friendly people and the wonderful surroundings,” Lachy said.

During a game of golf in 1991 Lachy achieved something all golfers dream about - a hole in one.

Lachy is a Life Member of the Crescent Head Golf Club and is best known for his chipping and putting abilities on the course.

Unfortunately Lachy was diagnosed with cancer about two years ago, but he continues to live life to the full.

In January Lachy will celebrate his 66th wedding anniversary and his 88th birthday.