I stepped up to the blue box on hole #17 and rang out the yardage as 160 playing 155. I clipped a solid 8 iron towards the green. It was right on line and Merman (Murray) said, “JVD that’s a good looking shot and tracking”, as Jordan said, “that’s going to go in!” I said, “it’s close but not going in!” Well, the flag was center and about 15 feet in as it hit the fringe, rolled directly at the flag, and dropped. We erupted in laughter, smiles and high fives as Dave yelled out, “that’s the first hole-in-one I’ve ever witnessed.” On to #18 we went and as we finished, Murray said, jeez and shook his head as I laughed and told the group I used the same ball to finish the round as we headed in and celebrate my third hole-in-one inside a 40-year career. Oddly, the ball I used was a number “3” and brand I never use.
Best part of this hole-in-one: being at my home course and surrounded by really good friends who shared in a fun and special moment in time, as well as a few libations.
Fun facts:
– Jordan had a hole-in-one on the same hole four weeks prior to mine.
– Dave played with a fellow who aced one the following Wednesday and there were two aces that Men’s night (now Dave has seen two aces inside a week).
– I’m not an angry golfer, but I have to admit I did rip my card in half on the hole prior to my hole-in-one after my second double. When I presented it to Ethan, our junior pro, he said, “I’m pretty sure we never seen that before” as we laughed.
Take care,
JVD
