On my birthday my son treated me to a round of golf at a course near his temporary grad school residence in Ithaca, NY at Hillendale Golf Course. Unfamiliar with the course I warmed up as I worked my way through an unfamiliar course.
On hole #7 (lucky 7) is when the unexpected one in a million shot occurred. The hole is an elevated tee box hat looks down to a small green below playing at 139 yards from the white tees. Although considerably way down in elevation below the green too is slightly elevated from the surrounding terrain. If you're not on the green the ball could be in trouble to the right. There were trees surrounding the back of the green with large bunkers protecting the left side of the green. The green is pitched from left to right.
With a slight breeze at the back and the tee boxes a few yards up I chose a PW that I normally hit 155-120. I was using a Titleist ProV1 ball of a wooden tee. I struck the ball well with good height and good contact with good spin. I hit the ball high slightly to the left side of the green with the ball drifting left to right in the air. The ball came down at the left side of the green striking the green side bunkers just off the fringe and caromed hard 90 dehgrees to the right across the green. The ball was moving quick across the green and made a "bee-line" for the pin then just disappeared sinking into the hole. Watching the shot was as if time stood still and the image just replays over and over.
With shock, jubilation and emotion I erupted and celebrated with my son who I was happy to be spending time with, enjoying my birthday round golf. We threw his club in excitement and we were in disbelief what we just witnessed. It took me 52 years to get a hole-in-one and it is the most memorable experience for me.
We both made our way down the steep cart path down to the hole, walked to the green in still disbelief as if to not believe that the ball is actually in the hole. I approached the hole and looked in and yes the ProV1 was in the hole as witnessed and it became more real and the emotions flowed. I then called my Dad, who taught me how to golf, and is a avid golfer himself, from my cell phone while standing on the green to tell him what had just happened and took pictures to instantly show him.
This just happened 4 days ago and the experience is very fresh in my head and I am happy to share this story with all of you.
A Buffalo Bills Mafia fan from Buffalo, NY, visiting Ithaca, playing golf on my birthday 7/2, with my son, and on hole 7, got a hole-in-one! Yes indeed!
I shared the hole-in-one with the Hillendale Pro Shop after hole 9 and again after hole 18. They logged me in their books and at the 19th hole I treated the whole bar to a free round of drinks on me. I am awaiting the posting of the shot in the Ithaca Journal sometime in July.
That's my story. and I have a witness. :) Miracles do happen
Keith