Let me first lead off by saying that I am a college Women's Basketball Coach at SUNY Potsdam in Potsdam, NY.
Almost a month ago, one of my players was killed in a tragic hit an run accident the night before watching her friends walk the stage at graduation. Her name was Emily Smith. The story made national news.
In the weeks following Emily's passing, I have become very close with her family. Her father Kevin Smith, is a part owner of the Island Green Golf and Resort in Greenville, NY. I told him I would be in the area recruiting and he invited me down to play a round. Emily had always talked about the course and the famed island green that her father had hit his own Hole-in-One on.
I jumped at the chance and invited my future brother-in-law, Nick, with me for a day on the course. When we got there Kevin said that Emily's Older Sister's Boyfriend, John, was going to accompany us.
The island green is a par 3 and a beautiful view. I teed up with my pitching wedge after getting the 125 yardage. As the ball was in the air I was yelling at it to "get there!" as I thought I had hit it too short. The ball kicked slightly left on the first bounce, bounced a second time, hit the flagstick and dropped into the hole.
I looked at Nick and John in disbelief. "There's no way." I said to the both of them. We quickly got in the carts and rode up to the green. Nick was able to record some video as we were getting out of the carts and walking up to the green to check the hole. As I walked up to the hole. There was my ProV1 sitting in the bottom of the cup.
I was overcome with emotion. John quickly called Kevin on the phone and told him the news. Kevin took a cart out and met us on the next tee box. He gave me a hat that he had specially made for anyone who hits a Hole-in-one on the course. He handed it to me and said "You cant buy this one in the pro shop!"
I gave him a big hug and told him that there was no way I could have hit that shot without some intervention from Emily.
She was with me that day and I have the most special memory because of it.