an ace

It was a cold and wet day but the sunday game teed off after a 90 minute frost delay on Decemeber 27. I was playing well but the fairways were so wet and the chill such that I had already decided the day would be a 9 holer.

At the 5th hole I was between clubs and decided to play a 5 iron instead of a 4 and try drawing the ball to the back left pin placement. I did so by rehearsing a more inside backswing and level shoulder turn through the ball and played a fine shot that went past the flag and over the green as I caught it perfectly solid.

When I reached the par 3 8th hole I remembered the 5iron I had played a few holes back and again went with a 5 iron and played a draw. Again the contact was very solid and when I looked up it was headed right for the pin. The hole is uphill and you can not see the flag but as I watched the ball I saw the wind push it back towards the flag, keeping the shot from drawing to the left of the back left pin. All of a sudden I saw the pin shake and heard this awesome thud-like sound. It was as if there was a tangible connection from the target to me and it was real because I could see and hear it...pin moved and I heard it hit the flagstick.

Eric made the comment that the ball must have struck the flagstick down low and as we mounted the hill I considered what it would be like to find my ball in the cup for my third hole-in-one. I thought back to my first and second and realized it had been more than ten years since my last one in Scotland.

The good Doctor E, my friend Larry Eimers, made it to the cup first and raised his arms triumphantly and flashed me a smile I still remember. I felt this instant and very strong, " yeah baby!" before walking to the cup to view the ball and remove it. The thrill lasted a few minutes until I failed to get up and down on the last for birdie after two beautiful shots. In the days since I have remembered back to the instant I heard and saw the ball hit the flagstick and thought about this tangible, wonderful connection.

The number of aces one has is a weird thing. They say one of the game's greatest ball-strikers and someone known for precision, Ben Hogan, never made a hole-in-one. Sam Snead is reported to have had 37. I can only say this; earlier this year I thought to myself, " I sure would like to make another hole-in-one."

finally an ace

It was a cold and wet day but the sunday game teed off after a 90 minute frost delay on Decemeber 27. I was playing well but the fairways were so wet and the chill such that I had already decided the day would be a 9 holer.

At the 5th hole I was between clubs and decided to play a 5 iron instead of a 4 and try to draw the ball to the back left pin placement. I did so by rehearsing a more inside backswing and level shoulder turn through the ball and played a fine shot that went past the flag and over the green as I caught it perfectly solid.

When I reached the par 3 8th hole I remembered the 5iron I had played a few holes back and again went with a 5 iron and played a draw. Again the contact was very solid and when I looked up it was headed right for the pin. The hole is uphill and you can not see the flag but as I watched the ball I saw the wind push it back towards the flag, keeping the shot from drawing to the left of the back left pin. All of a sudden I saw the pin shake and heard this awesome thud-like sound. It was as if there was a tangible connection from the target to me and it was real because I could see it...pin moved and I heard it hit the flagstick.

Eric made the comment that the ball must have struck the flagstick down low and as we mounted the hill I considered what it would be like to find it in the cup for my third hole-in-one. I thought back to my first and second and realized it had been more than ten years since my last one in Scotland.

The good Doctor E, my friend Larry Eimers, made it to the cup first and raised his arms triumphantly and flashed me a smile I still remember. I felt this instant and strong, " yeah baby!" before walking to the cup to view the ball and remove it.

The number of aces one has is a weird thing. They say one of the games greatest ball-strikers and someone known for precision, Ben Hogan, never made a hole-in-one. Sam Snead is reported to have had 37. I can only say this; earlier this year I thought to myself, " I sure would like to make another hole-in-one."