Each week we write to Golf Canada members who record a hole-in-one, congratulating them and asking if they’d tell us how it happened. These are their stories (edited for length and clarity).
Have you recently accomplished the feat of a hole-in-one? Tell us about it! Share your story, picture / video and course information with us at holeinone@golfcanada.ca.
Nelson Craig, Zellwood Station & Country Club, Hole #8
My hole-in-one was on hole #8, playing 141 yards on a sunny day with just a little breeze and I used my 6 iron. I was hitting a Srixon Q-Star Tour Divide. It was an early birthday present as my birthday is on February 8th. This was my fourth hole-in-one.
Stephen Webb, Innisbrook Resort & Golf Club (Osprey South), Hole #18
It was hole #18 from 148 yards and I used an 8 iron. I was playing with Kevin Olsen, Manny O’Quinn and Dave Ferguson. The shot landed three inches right of the hole, went by and spun back into the hole.
Kimmo Lucas, Cave Creek Golf Course, Hole #3
It was the first par 3 of Cave Creek Golf Course (North side of Phoenix). I was playing with the “Dust Devils,” a group established about 50 years ago, comprised of approximately 40 guys and who play year-round in the Phoenix Valley.
It was early morning, so a little cool yet it was approximately 16 °C. There was a slight headwind of approximately six miles per hour. Some chickadees were chirping in the background. The flag was up front at 145 yards and I hit a TaylorMade 8 iron, playing a TaylorMade Distance Plus ball. The ball went straight at the flag, hit the front of the green and kicked up about three feet. It made one more small hop of a few inches, then settled down and ran a few inches straight in the hole. I was a little in shock and asked the boys if they thought the ball was behind the flag. They responded that it was in the hole and the “eagle juice” was flying!
Randall Robinson, Strathcona Golf Course, Hole #6
The day after my brother’s 60th birthday, I made my third career hole-in-one, the second one on the par 3 hole #7 at the Strathcona Golf Course in Thunder Bay, Ontario. It was playing 165 yards and I used an 8 iron. My witnesses were Craig Vieira, Jamie Philp and Dan Robinson. Then the highlight of the year occurred later in the year on the par 4, hole #6, once again at Strathcona Golf Course. A high, soaring driver bounded towards the flag stick and found the bottom of the cup some 305 yards away for another hole-in-one! Double eagle or albatross, take your pick because whatever you call it, it is still a one! My brother Dan had to be a witness again along with Rich Ciponi.
Corrine Bukowski, Larters at St. Andrews Golf & Country Club, Hole #7
The hole-in-one happened on hole #7, a 110 yard par 3. I used a 5 hybrid club and my witness was Vikki Erlandson.
Brian Semkiw, Quail West Golf & Country Club (Preserve Course), Hole #16
The wind was blustery and straight into my face. The pin was in the toughest part of the green, top right on a severe undulation. The match was with Scott Bachly. I was down one with three to play and he had just hit his shot to three feet (easy birdie). I focused on just making a smooth backswing and transition and I hit it pure. The ball disappeared and I thought that I hit it long over the back. Scott said that he thought that it went in. I did not believe him because in 70 years I had never had a hole-in-one. Scott went on to shoot 73 and I shot 71.
Mel Turgeon, Longbow Golf Club, Hole #7
Smooth 8 iron into a slight breeze from 123 yards. I thought it was going to be short but it made the green and rolled in. It was my third hole-in-one. Playing partners were my wife, Kathy Turgeon along with Jim and Ellen Farley who I just met that day.
Audrey Johansson, Maui Nui Golf Club, Hole #7
My husband Bruce and I have been vacationing in Maui, Hawaii for 15 years. We love the people, the climate and the golfing. On this occasion we were golfing at Maui Nui Golf Club in Kihei with friends from back home, Dave and Carmel Edison. Our home club in Canada is The Hills at Portal (formerly Peace Portal Golf Club) in Surrey, B.C.
As a group we had been having a difficult time choosing the best club for the par 3’s on this course due to the prevailing winds and bounce from the Bermuda grass. This particular 115-yard, par 3 had a middle pin. Everyone in our group were witnesses to my TaylorMade Tour Response ball respond to my 5 hybrid as it bounced on the green and rolled up to the pin. A big cheer erupted. I have been playing with a variety of soft balls, but my latest choice has been the TaylorMade Tour Response ball. Now my favourite.
Stephen Cundy, Mission Hills Country Club (Pete Dye Challenge), Hole #17
My father-in-law, David Carruthers, member of Summit Golf Club in Richmond Hill, ON. and I went down to Palm Springs on the Family Day long weekend to join Summit Golf Club and Mission Hills Country Club member David Pennycook for a few rounds of golf. In our first round, we headed out on the Pete Dye Challenge course at Mission Hills to play a match against David Pennycook and Mike Sanford (also a Summit Golf Club member).
After a back and forth battle going two down to all square on the front nine, we were again facing an uphill battle being one down through 16 holes. With the honour, we continued to the 17th hole, par 3. Hole #17 is 140 yards off the whites and is heavily guarded by water and a bunker. The green is wider than it is long, and is defined by a ridge that splits the green left and right. The pin was 143 yards and was on the lower left level of the green. It was my turn to hit and I stepped up and hit a crisp 9 iron landing pin high, 12 feet from the pin. Mike called it early with a “this has a chance” comment. We looked on as the ball slowly made its way down towards the hole, what felt like a minute the ball finally approached the hole and to my delight, disappeared into the cup. Celebrations then ensued. Special thanks for David Pennycook for hosting us at Mission Hills Country Club.
Allen Chapman, Barefoot Resort (Fazio Course), Hole #6
It was a great day, I was playing with Mario Salvagna from Lindsay Golf Club, Jim Plypus from Coburg and Al Leblanc from Coburg. The hole was 151 yards and I hit an 8 iron and it flew right into the hole taking out the right side of the hole which we had to repair. It was a slam dunk!
Diane Gomes, Indian Canyons Golf Resort (South Course), Hole #15
Hole-in-one occurred while playing with friends Ron and Cindy Johnson from my home course in Edmonton and at my favourite course in Palm Springs, Indian Canyons South. After two double bogey’s, at hole #15 with a front pin location (90 yards), I used a seven iron and hit it pure, saw a bounce onto the green and roll toward the hole but didn’t see it go past the pin. With the sun in our eyes we couldn’t tell, we walked up to the hole and there is was! Goosebumps! I then birdied hole #16 which is also a first! Great day!
Rob Lucas, Lakewood National, Hole #6
I was playing with my wife, Judy Lucas, and a couple from St. Louis, our friends Gary and Nancy Douglass. We were on hole #16, a par 3 from the gold or friendly tees on Commander course at Lakewood National.
The yardage was 89 and I used a 52 degree wedge knock down shot. Landed on the green and with two bounces, rolled into the hole. This was my second hole-in-one. The first was almost ten years ago, also in Florida (Naples area).
Jim Graszat, Heritage Landing Club, Hole #17
It was very exciting. First hole-in-one I have ever seen, never mind my first! I was golfing with my wife Joanne McPhail along with my good friends Adam and Tina Bazuk. Yardage was 112 and I used an 8 iron.