Just over 17 years ago, my dad bought me my first set of clubs. A starter set, with a 9I, 7I and 5I along with a Driver, 3W and a putter. They were thrown in a red, white and black Wilson bag. I remember sleeping with them in my bed the night of my 7th birthday. Ever since that day, it all started for me.

I remember hitting the rage with my dad, having him tell me to, “Finish with your right shoulder underneath your chin.” Also, “Follow through to your target.” And who can forget, “Keep your head down through impact.” Those times made me into the golfer I was and still am. No matter how many rounds I could have played, practicing was the cornerstone for success, and nobody knew that more than him.

My game was polished enough to go out and tryout for the golf team my freshman year. I wanted to be on the golf team more than any other team, just the way my dad and grandfather did. I never looked back and along the way made it all four years and made a decent career out of it. That mattered to me. Following in my family footsteps made me proud. I tried to make it my prime, and based on my game now, I would say that it was my prime by default.

I have a lot of memories playing with friends. Chris was always in the foursome since we started. Seeing my game develop and fall apart year after year. I appreciate the times I spend out there with him and my other friends out there. I have been feeling blessed lately. Being able to play golf is a privilege. Not many people can say they have a set of clubs or can afford to play a round with friends. I can. I appreciate every moment on the course. When I tee off of one, I feel the start of a journey, and when I walk off of 18, I feel the end. I have had great times with my friends on and off the course, and like anything in life, journey’s start and end, and it is who you spend them with that make them last.

Some of my best memories have been playing in high school. Some have been playing with friends. But none compare to being with someone for a hole-in-one. I will never forget my dad draining a 220 par 3 on Father’s Day. Or when he sank one to win on 9 after I put one 10 feet. Those will never leave you.

Which brings me to yesterday. A beautiful day off Geneva Lake in Wisconsin. Enjoying a weekend with the boys. Enjoying one last round of the weekend on one of the more beautiful courses I have ever played. I never knew what was about to happen on this very course that afternoon.

I stepped up to the 11th tee box. After watching Chris put one within 8 feet and put some pressure on me, I was calm. I took a look at the green. The front bunker blocking the left half and spread all the way towards the middle where the pin was placed. Slight uphill, slight wind with us and a pin placement about 2-3 yards front of middle. I walked up with a 9I and a PW. I had two mindsets. Hit the PW hard and high to let the wind take it, or hit a good smooth 9I. I dropped my PW to the ground, and from that moment I never felt a feeling like this in my life.

Once that club hit the ground, I felt a calm come over me. A confidence I have never felt in my life. I looked at the pin and kept saying to myself, “If you put a good swing on this, it will go in.” The more I looked at the green and sized up my shot, the more I felt it come over me. I don’t know what “it” is, but a feeling took over my body. I planned my attack before my practice swing. “Put a good swing on this, and it will go in.” I took a perfect practice swing. Then, I knew. I took my stance and looked at the pin one time. When I looked back at the ball the only thing that was in my head was that this was the one.

This was the shot that would change my life. This was the one.

My swing was flawless. It was smooth and fluid. I didn’t rush the downswing, and I didn’t come through the ball with too much force. It was the one. Headed right toward the pin, I saw the bounce and had a feeling.

Nobody in the foursome of Chris, Tyler or Pete saw it after the bounce due to the lip of the bunker covering the front of the pin. The nerves were slowly coming in when Ty and Pete shanked their tee shots. I knew I had done something special, but didn’t want to get ahead of myself. Ty and Pete didn’t care where their balls went, they went running up to the green.

I looked at them running, I couldn’t watch them get up to the green, I was too nervous. Then I looked. I will never forget it. Their faces lit up. They jumped and lost control of their happiness. They had never seen anything like it. Then I turned to Chris next to me, and saw a look I have never seen on his face. He was so happy for me. I gave him a big hug and couldn’t handle it. I was choked up. All the emotions were coming through at once.

My high school memories were running through me. My childhood memories were running through me. Memories of being out there with friends and the great times we spend out there were running through me. I envisioned my dad out there with me teaching me this game on the range. I remembered his aces. I thought about my mindset, and how I just knew this was my time. It was more than a shot, it was THE Shot of my life. This isn’t just a game, this is the game of my life. I have so many people to be thankful for my hole-in-one, but one I owe more than any other. It wasn’t my hole-in-one, Dad, it was our hole-in-one.