On Monday, July 30, 2012, I was playing at Shale Creek Golf Club in Medina, Ohio. I belong to a Monday Mens traveling league. Shale Creek is one of the best public courses in the state of Ohio. I had just come off a triple bogey on the previous hole when we reached Hole #5, a 172 yard Par 3. I was playing in a foursome. The four off us have a money game between us along w/ the league skin game. We play pin shots as part of our skin game. Since we were in the last group, we knew one us us would win a skin if we could beat the marked pin shot ahead of us. It was marked approx 12 feet from the pin, which was a great shot for this distance. I was to hit first. Sitting next to the green in a golf cart was the club pro. He appeared to be waiting for us to hit so he could continue down the path to whatever part of the course he was going to.

I had just had the triple bogey & was not feeling to good about it. The pin was located on the right side, about in the middle. I pulled out my 5 Iron, teed up my NXT & let it rip. The ball went high & started to have a perfect slight draw on it (when I hit them right that is the my typical flight path). The ball landed on the green, about 30 feet from the pin. It started rolling at a fast pace. The next thing I knew, the ball just disappeared. I had no idea where it had gone. I knew it couldn't have gone in the hole. I have hit thousands of shots in the past 42 years. My shots don't go in holes. My playing partners started saying I think you just got a hole-in-one. I responded back by saying that I don't think so, maybe there is a slope it went down. Just as I said that, the pro jumped out of his cart & raised both his arms in the air in a victory fashion. I knew right then that my friends were right. I had just made my 1st hole-in-one. I started yelling like I had just won the super bowl When that stopped, I went into shock & became speechless. The pro then road his cart down to us & congratulated me. He told me that he had been in the golf business for 16 years & that my shot was the best shot he has ever witnessed.

Needless to say, I had just beat the previous pin shot & won a skin for that. On top of that we get 2 skins if we have a birdie on a hole & win it and 3 skins for an eagle. I had just won 4 skins with one swing of the club. It is a new league record. After the round was over & I was paid my skins. I did the customary thing & bought drinks for the boys. I was very lucky because it only cost me $55.00. This is in part due to the league members ages now. In the old days it would have cost me a small fortune. It would have been worth every penny though. Well that is my story & I am glad I can share it. I hope it makes someone laugh.I am sure that each hole-in-one has a unique story.