Golfers stunned after 30ft GLIDER lands in the middle of a fairway

Golfers had more than just water hazards and bunkers to contend with when a 30ft GLIDER landed in the middle of a fairway.

Pilot Luke Dale, 25, was forced to ground his aircraft on the 16th hole of Stapleford Park Golf Course after quickly losing altitude last Wednesday.

Club members enjoying a round at the picturesque course in Melton Mowbray, Leics., looked on in surprise as the glider grind to a halt halfway down the 432 yard par 4.

Red-faced Luke and co-pilot Jon Ravenscroft, 26, stumbled from the two-seater Duo Discus glider where they were picked up in a golf buggy by club professional Rich Alderson, 38.

Two hours later a trailer arrived to retrieve the aircraft and their embarrassed occupants – who had only made it 42 miles (26km) around their 173 mile (280km) route.

And while waiting for their support team to arrive stubborn players not wanting their afternoon round interrupted by the new obstacle continued to play AROUND the glider.

Yesterday Rich – who has been a professional golfer for 13 years  – said: “I was in the clubhouse when I got a call from one of the members on the course.

“They were playing the third hole and saw the glider come in to land on the 16th fairway, which runs parallel.

“I went out on a buggy and picked up the pilot and his co-pilot and brought them back to the clubhouse where they waited for a couple of hours for their support team to arrive.

“The players on the course at the time were pretty shocked to see an aircraft come down while they were enjoying a leisurely round of golf.

“But it’s quite funny, most people struggle to hit that fairway with a ball but these guys managed to hit it with a glider.”

The pair had been competing in the Midland Regionals event series, which was staged throughout last week from The Gliding Centre at Husbands Bosworth, Leics.

The golf course also has a luxury hotel and spa which has hosted top celebrities like Joan Collins, Mariah Carey and Michael Jackson.