I've played games of golf (2 or 3 times a year with borrowed clubs and shag balls) since I was about 16. But I recently retired from teaching and decided to take up the game more seriously in February. Admittedly, I am not very good (eg: I'm happy when I break 100, and my driver just seems to refuse to find fairways about half the time that I use it). That being said, the stars chose to align for me on Sunday (9-8-24). We had an 8 o'clock tee time and at approximately 7:55 am (*the same time that the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor), I dropped a Titleist tour soft #4 ball down in the tee box. A slight breeze waifed across the golf course and past the 10th hole at the 49ers country club here in Tucson. Normally, I tee up the ball in the tee box, but on this fateful morning, decided instead to see if it would play better from the grass.
The hole is a 139 yard par 3 that requires a 100 yard carry over water. With the Catalina mountains in the background and large oak trees surrounding the pond, the hole is very photogenic. So much so that pictures of this hole are often used in advertisements for the club.
I had pulled an 8 hybrid club from my bag. Interestingly, I didn't address the ball for as long as I normally do, but moments before my backswing, I did tell myself to, "Swing easy and let the club to the work." I did follow my internal advice and took a relatively easy swing at the Titleist tour soft #4 ball. (I mentioned the type of ball I used a second time, just in case the Titeliest organization decides to go in a different direction and sponsor goof-ball beginner golfers. (*lol, kidding)... but if they do want to go with an unheralded player who loves the game... and now has a hole in one in his "brag bag"... 'just saying.
Anyways, the ball was shot high and looked to be struck with just-about the correct distance needed to land close to the hole. It eventually came down; jumped a bit to the right, then headed slowly towards the cup where it eventually disappeared from the dance floor. I normally am kind of restrained, but I lost my cool and danced around like a little kid. It's a bit of a blur, but I do recall fist-bumping my playing partner and then I sort of recall running around in circles whooping it up like a crazed banshee.
Not knowing the game that well, I did not know that I should have done the following. 1. Put the ball aside and save it for safe keeping (just in case Titleist wants to do a commercial with me and their ball in it.) I'm kidding around--but I really should have saved the ball.) 2. I also should have bought a round at the 19th hole (aka course's bar) for my playing partner. (I had to pick up my wife at the airport shortly after our round, so did a "golf faux pas" and just left. Finally #3: I should have let the pro shop at 49ers know that I sunk a hole in one. It is now my understanding that some courses keep track of and post about holes in one. (I now know this and shall let those in charge know the next time I get one!)