The Day It Finally Happened: My First Hole-in-One

First things first: I didn’t reach my goal of becoming a 4 handicap by the time I turned 40. You know what? I’m okay with that. Over the last six months, I’ve learned a lot about myself, and I know I’m moving in the right direction.

Now, back to the title.

I did something I honestly wasn’t sure would ever happen: I made a hole-in-one.

I’ve had a few close calls over the years, especially recently, but yesterday it finally happened.

I was playing in my Tuesday evening golf league with a great group of guys. Since we use a shotgun start, we began on Hole 5, a par 3. I hit a decent tee shot but came up just short of the green. A solid chip to about four feet and a made putt gave me an opening par.

Hole 6 is a par 4, and my tee shot ended up in the right rough, about 98 yards out with water between me and the green. Normally that’s a sand wedge, but I figured the rough would take a little off the shot, so I pulled out my gap wedge instead. Good decision. I aimed slightly left, hit it solidly, and finished about 25 feet away before two-putting for another par.

The 7th is a beautiful par 3, about 127 yards over water with a bunker just beyond the green. Take the water out of play and it’s not too intimidating. Unfortunately, most people can’t ignore the water. I hit one of my best shots of the evening, finishing around 15 feet from the hole, and then proceeded to three-putt. Not exactly ideal.

The 8th, another par 3, was playing 151 yards. I hit an 8-iron but flared it right, leaving myself pin-high in the rough. A good chip gave me about six feet for par, but I overread the putt and walked away with a bogey.

Hole 9 is a short par 4 that was playing around 208 yards, with a sand-filled creek crossing in front of the green. I hit my 3-wood and, true to form for the evening, pushed it right. From about 50 yards out, though, I hit a great recovery shot to 15 feet and two-putted for par.

As we made the turn to Hole 1, I felt like I was playing pretty well.

The 1st is a short par 4 with a slight dogleg left. I hit my 4-hybrid into the left side of the fairway and left myself about 85 yards. Knowing I couldn’t afford to miss long, I chose my lob wedge and hit it to roughly 12 feet. The birdie putt just slid by on the right side, leaving me with another par.

Then came the 2nd hole.

A 119-yard par 3, it was a perfect pitching wedge for me. I aimed about 10 feet right of the pin, trusting my natural draw. I made solid contact, and the ball started tracking exactly the way I pictured it in my head. It landed about two feet short of the hole and began rolling toward the cup.

And then it disappeared.

I couldn’t believe it.

It was exactly the shot I wanted to hit and somehow ended up even better than I imagined. My first hole-in-one. Just like that, I was back to even par.

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There were still two holes left to play, though.

On the 3rd, a short par 4 playing around 240 yards, I pulled my hybrid and, once again, missed right. From 87 yards, I hit a sand wedge that also leaked a little right, finishing just off the green. Thankfully, I hit a great chip to two feet and saved par.

The final hole of the round, the par-3 4th, was playing 173 yards. Because the greens were firm, I chose a 7-iron and absolutely flushed it. It felt great off the clubface and looked perfect in the air, but somehow finished about 50 feet short. My lag putt hit something along the way and lost all its speed, leaving me 15 feet for par. I hit the putt exactly where I wanted, but it never broke and stayed high. Another three-putt bogey.

Honestly, I didn’t care.

I was still riding the high of that hole-in-one.

Even without it, I felt like I played a pretty solid round. Not every shot was great, but I recovered well and finished at 1-over par.

As I said earlier, I truly feel like I’m headed in the right direction. The progress may not always show up on a handicap card, but it’s there. And after a day like this, I can’t wait to get back out on the course and keep working.

We’re getting there.

Until next time - fairways and greens y'all.