I've been playing golf for 30 years. Like everyone, I've dreamed of hitting a hole in one. Last week, I bought a box of Titleist Pro V1x balls for the first time, wanting a little more spin for my short game.

I arrived to Plum Creek Golf Club, in Castle Rock, CO, for a noon tee time on an absolutely perfect fall day. I was playing with two old friends who I've played many, many rounds with. We were playing skins and tied the first hole so we had two skins heading into the par 3 second hole.

The hole was located 122 yards away and I was the first on the box. The green was uphill nestled beneath the changing red and orange leaves of maple trees. There was a top shelf and a lower shelf on the green and the pin was on the lower shelf. I knew the hill was lightening fast and I didn't want to be on the top shelf putting down so my strategy was to hit the middle and let the ball roll down toward the pin.

I felt pretty good stepping into the shot. I took one last look and my last swing thought was "make good contact." Thankfully, I did. Before I lifted my head I could tell I struck it fairly pure. I watched the ball soar into the cloudless blue Colorado Sky and shockingly, hit the spot I was aiming for. It hit, spun back, and began a slow roll down the hill. Maddeningly, the ball's path disappeared from view as a small rise at the front of the green kept us from seeing its final destination. But, I knew it had to be close.

We drove up to the green and didn't see the ball anywhere near the hole. My heart was racing. It was either in or it had rolled off the lightening fast green into a bunker. My friend ran ahead and looked down into the hole.

"It's in the hole! It's in the hole!"

I ran up to see my new Titleist Pro V1x nestled in the bottom of the cup. I broke all golf course decorum and yelled and ran around the green, high-fiving my friends.

Life doesn't get much better than hanging with old friends, playing golf on a spectacular Colorado fall day, and being fortunate enough to get a hole in one.

Thankful.