I was playing a SCGA 4-Ball tournament at The Oaks At Valencia CC in Valencia, CA. with my long time friend Jack. I had just stepped onto tee box #4, a 160yd Par 3 after three putting the hole before. As I was putting my Pro V1x on the tee, our playing partner Kevin pipes up and says, “someone got a hole in one here yesterday”.

I turned around before hitting my shot and said “Really? We didn’t hear that.” Kevin then says “Yeah, it was me!” A minor celebration ensued as we congratulated him on his hole in one, which I had never had!

I went back to the tee with my 8 iron and prepared for my shot. I hit a high, towering shot with my T-150 into a slight wind that never left the flag. As the ball was in the air, my buddy Jack says, “You’re not going to 3 putt that one!” The ball hit about 6 ft. short of the hole and rolled in like a putt!

As we watched it disappear into the hole, a sudden weight was lifted off me and heaved upon me at the same time! 35+ years of playing golf! So close, so many times! I wondered if it would ever happen!

The weight of Jack, Kevin and Rich, (Kevin’s partner) compressed upon me with high fives, body checks and celebratory shoves! It was definitely a surreal moment! I was glad my long time friend and college golf teammate Jack was there to see it happen.

As Jack and I sipped our celebratory Buffalo Trace in the club lounge, I thought to myself, what were the odds that I get paired with the guy who made a hole in one the day before on the same hole I make my first?