After 37 years of golfing and six days following my 46 birthday I finally got my first ace. It was a majestic high 8 iron with a slight draw that landed three yards past the pin took a small hop and then spun back and rolled toward the hole and disappeared. Because we were only 142 yards from the pin, we were granted to a perfect view and it was a pretty thing to watch.

Even though I am now in my mid forties my game has never been better. I would like to think its all about my skill and course strategy, but I have to freely admit it also has a lot to do with the tools of the trade. Being a woodworker I appreciate quality tools and modern golf clubs are a thing of beauty. I am in love with my Exotics 3 wood, my G10 Hybrid, and my Cameron Fastback putter - all extremely well made clubs.

Its easy to change shafts and grips on clubs, so I play around with combinations frequently and for the last seven years I have been building my own sets of irons starting with OEM stock heads. Last year, I determined the correct set for me was a combo set of 4&5 game improvement irons with 6-PW Players CB irons. I thought I had built the perfect set when I built my CG's last year because I was striking the ball really well but I was able to pick up a custom Titleist AP1 & AP2 set in like new condition factory built with matching serial numbers on all the irons. I shelved the 3 iron for my Hybrid and pulled the shafts in the set so that I could install new TT DG S300's, one half inch over-length. The irons are all set at the specs for the AP1 irons meaning the AP2's are set with stronger lofts and all of the irons are swing-weighted at D4. When I finished the set two weeks ago I took it to the range and they felt nice but when I played my first round on the course (albeit in very windy conditions) I didn't like the way I was striking the ball.

So, that brings me to today. I played at a very nicely designed course called San Juan Oaks in central California. I was worried about playing with the Titleist irons and almost swapped out for my CG Tours but at the last moment I decided to give them another try. That was a very fortuitous choice, from 4 iron all the way up to the PW I hit some of the best approach shots I have ever hit. From the fairway, from the rough, from side hill lies, up hill and down hill lies I was on target all day. Beyond accuracy, my distance control was excellent and predictable. This whole adventure came to its climax on the par 3 16th hole, the shortest hole on the course but also the shallowest green with a couple tiers and undulation. From the blue tees I watched my perfectly struck iron track straight to the pin and the rest they say is history, or at least it will be when they engrave it onto the Hole In One plaque in the clubhouse.

After years of playing other than Titleist irons, I might have these in my bag for a while to come.