IT WAS A COLD, RAINY OCTOBER DAY IN CLEVELAND, OHIO. I WAS PLAYING AT THE OBERLIN GOLF CLUB WITH 3 GOOD FRIENDS. IN THE GROUP BEHIND US WAS THE MULTI CLUB CHAMPION AT OBERLIN.WE WERE ON THE 5TH TEE--A 160 YARD PAR THREE PLAYING OVER A CREEK CUTTING IN FRONT OF THE GREEN. WITH MY HANDICAP, I HIT IT IN THE CREEK ABOUT HALF THE TIME. WE HAD BEEN PLAYING SLOWER THAN THE GROUP BEHIND AND HAD A COOL WIND IN OUR FACE. WE HAD DECIDED TO LET THE GROUP BEHIND PLAY THROUGH AFTER WE HIT OUR TEE SHOTS. I HIT FIRST AND DIDN'T CATCH IT FLUSH--A BIT ON THE TOE. I YELLED FOR IT TO GET UP AS IT FELT LIKE A CREEK SHOT. IT HIT JUST OVER THE CREEK AND BOUNCED ONTO THE GREEN. I LET OUT A GASP OF HAPPINESS SINCE IT WAS ON THE GREEN. THE HOLE WAS 40 FEET BACK ON THE GREEN. AS SOON AS I SAW IT ON THE GREEN, I PICKED UP MY TEE AND WENT TOWARDS THE CART. ONE OF MY PLAYING PARTNERS LET OUT A YELL SAYING "IT WENT INTO THE HOLE!!!". I THOUGHT HE WAS KIDDING AND LOOKED BACK TO THE GREEN. THE BALL WAS GONE. THERE IS A LARGE BLUE SPRUCE ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE GREEN THAT I HAD BEEN UNDER BEFORE. AS I WALKED ONTO THE GREEN, I STILL WASN'T CONVINCED IT HAD GONE IN THE HOLE--JUST UNBELIEVABLE. I TOLD ONE OF MY PARTNERS AS WE WALKED UP THAT I BET THE BALL HAD ROLLED OFF THE GREEN AND UNDER THAT SPRUCE. BUT AS I APPROACHED THE HOLE, I COULD SEE THE TOP OF MY PRO VI WITH THE THREE RED DOTS I MARK MY BALL WITH STARING UP AT ME! WHAT A THRILL--THE CLUB CHAMP AND HIS BUDDIES WERE ON THE TEE WATCHING ME PULL THE BALL OUT--AND OF COURSE WE LET THEM PLAY THROUGH AND CONGRATULATE ME ON THE WAY. WHAT A GREAT THRILL.