Although coming within 2 inches of the hole the week before, this was my first ace. Using a 4 hybrid and a Titleist DT Distance ball, I hit the shot well---good trajectory directly at the pin. The ball carried 125 yards in the air, landing about fifteen feet in front of the hole. My playing partners shouted "hole in one" (almost in unison) as it rolled in, but I thought it may have merely rolled out of sight behind the pin. Hence, against the advice of the others, I carried my putter onto the green. Finding it actually in the hole, I made it a point to savor the moment by removing the ball myself. The ball is now retired and on display in my trophy room.

As an interesting sidenote, I accepted the hole in one readily because the ball was well hit. Had it been a bad shot---such as a skulled shot that happened to go into the hole---it would have cause mixed emotions. Fortunately, the shot could not have been hit better, and I was able to be proud of the moment.