My golfing buddy, Don, and I teed off at 7:30am to walk 18 holes. We were both playing pretty well. The course wasn't terribly crowded and a twosome ahead of us let us play through. On the back nine on the 17th hole, a par 3 with water guarding the green from the tee box to 10 yards in front of the green, I hit a Titleist Next Tour ball with my 7 iron. I knew it was a good hit and I was on the green. As I was putting my club back in my bag, Don said, "Your ball just disappeared." I said, "Did it roll off the green?" Nope, sure enough there is was in the cup for a hole-in-one. That type of hit can certainly lower your score. Yes, I had to buy him lunch and a beer.