I've been playing golf now about 22 years. I play a considerable amout of golf and have had many close calls, within an inch or two on numerous occasions, but never once had the good fortune to have made an ace. Quite surprising considering the 3rd hole at my golf club, a par three, two tiered, plays 145 yds to the back pin location on the top tier, and 125 yards to the pin location on the bottom tier. The front pin location sees a good number of holes-in-one each year.

This past June, a group of 16 of us went to Pinehurst for four days of golf. Believe me, a hole-in-one never crossed my mind when I went on this trip. Never thought about it. Day one, we played Pinehurst No. 5. Played well that round. Day two, we played Pinehurst No. 4. Great course. That day, I had a walking caddie. I was playing pretty well through the first five holes. We approached the tee box on hole 6. I was the first to play. The forecaddie for the other members in my group gave me the yardage of 155 yards, slight breeze back into us hurting a bit. The pin was favoring the front center. I hit a 6 iron with a little cut. Saw the ball land on the green about pin high and roll right going toward the pin. Never saw where the ball ended up. I had thought the ball was on the green, a little long, and directly behind the pin. The second guy in my group hit a similar shot on a similar line and his ball was a little long and a little right of the pin. We could see his ball. The other guys hit and we then walked to the green. As I got to the green, we only saw one ball on the green. My caddie and first checked the bunker to the right of the green. No ball. We then checked behind the green, no ball. We we're a bit confused at this point. One of the guys in the group then stood over the whole and shouted "what ball you playing." At that point, I was in disbelief. Had to se it for myself. I cannot explaing my feelings or reactions at that point as I went a bit crazy. After all these years of playing, after all the rounds I've played, after all the near misses, I finally made my first hole-in-one. What a moment. And at all places, Pinehurst No. 4. All the guys in my group were ecstatic, word spread quickly to the guys on the course in our group who all were super happy for me, and word even spread quickly to the club back home in California. All the staff at Pinehurst were great, congratulatory, and super happy for me. Could not have imagined a better setting oir place to make my first hole-in-one. Needless to say, there was one hefty bar bill that afternoon, evening, and well into the morning hours.