I was on a Northern California golf trip with some college buddies last week, playing 4 courses in 4 days. On our 3rd day, I knocked one to 4 inches, the closest I’ve ever come to an ace in 50 years playing this great game.

On day 4, it was raining heavily, and several of our group bailed and went home. I had promised my old roommate a ride to the airport for his flight that night, so we weren’t going anywhere and decided to play 9 in the rain at the nearby beautiful Northwood Golf Club, a fantastic 9-hole Alister MacKenzie design in the quaint Russian River town of Monte Rio.

By the 3rd hole, both the course and us were completely soaked as the rain continued, but we soldiered on. I temporarily put my umbrella down, grabbed my 8-iron on the par 3, 145 yard hole lined with majestic redwood trees. I proceeded to hit a low knock down stinger to the front apron. The ProV1 skipped once in the water, then hydroplaned directly at the flagstick, before hitting the pin and disappearing into the water filled cup for a Hole In One!