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.
Roger Gramlich, Predator Ridge Golf Resort, Hole #13
I was with my son, Nathan Gramlich, Adam Schwartz and Greg Rohrlack. The hole was on Predator Course at Predator Ridge, B.C. and it was 105 yards on the white tees. I used my TaylorMade gap wedge and a Titleist ProV1X ball numbered “00”.
I hit a shot about 108 yards flying over top of the pin and hitting a slight down slope and my ball rolled back down into the cup for the most amazing golf shot memory of my life.
Mark Tuck, Greystone Golf Club, Hole #14
Hole #14, uphill, 156 yards and hit an 8 iron. Was playing with my son Dylan Tuck and a member from Blue Springs (ClubLink Member). That is my seventh hole-in-one. I had three left handed before changing to playing right handed and have now had four right handed.
D’Arcy Lachance, Elmhurst Golf & Country Club, Hole #4
Finally, I did it! On Saturday, August 10, 2024 at the Elmhurst Golf & Country Club in Winnipeg, Man. on hole #4, playing 164 yards from the white tees. I struck a 6 iron and away it went. I did not see the ball go in but I did see the ball mark on the green. My group beat me to the hole and low and behold there was a big cheer. The shot was in the hole. I was playing with my regular group my wife Kim Smith, Judy Robertson and Judie Roberts.
Nicholas Lake, Sawmill Golf Course, Hole #14
Yardage was 128. Club was a 9 iron and golfed with Uncle Dom.
Connor Mathers, Sarnia Golf & Curling Club, Hole #12
It was a long time coming! I’ve been playing golf since the age of four, had many close calls but this was the first time the ball actually disappeared.
It was on hole #12, at my home club. I was playing with a close friend of mine and before the tee shot I teased him saying, “I think this one is going to go in.” I was playing the back tees, it was 127 yards to a front pin. This green slopes from back to front, so I knew I wanted to land it well past the hole to try and spin it back.
I hit my 52° wedge, landed it about eight paces behind the flag and we were yelling at the ball to get in as soon as we saw it start to spin back toward the hole. It felt like it took five minutes to finally reach the cup, but it finally disappeared which led to a lot of jumping around and celebrating.
It was very special to get my first hole-in-one. Friends and family came to join in on the celebrations after the round. It will be a shot I never forget.
Greg Keith, Barrhead Golf Club, Hole #7
From the white tees playing 127 yards to a front pin location. I used my 48 degree wedge. The ball landed just past the pin and spun back for my second ever hole-in-one. Funny enough the first one was last year on the exact same hole with a very similar pin placement. I was playing that round with my good friend Trent Kondo.
Rob Bryant, Guelph Lakes Golf Club, Hole #10
This was my second hole-in-one, but the more special one of the two as it happened on my favorite course on the least likely hole I’d expect to get one. I was with my good friend Ben Williams, on hole #10 that was playing 157 yards from an elevated tee. I pulled a seven iron and lined up to the right center of the green. I knew if I took a line straight over the bunker and land it a yard or two on the green the ball will check, catch the slope and feed towards the hole. I hit the shot exactly where I wanted to. It did exactly what I expected it to do. Hit the green, checked, caught the slope and rolled towards the hole and with perfect speed. Then it was like I was watching the rest in slow motion. It was in perfect line with the pin. Hit the pin dead center and dropped. That made for a very special round of golf with a great friend. I will remember it always.
Dave Hong, Cordova Bay Golf Course, Hole #13
I hit an 5-iron baby cut shot on hole #13, a par 3 at Cordova Bay Golf Club that was measuring 173 yards from the blue tees. This hole plays half a club uphill so I had it pegged at a 180 yard shot. I could see the ball tracking towards the flag and then it disappeared. You are never quite sure if it is in but one of my playing partners, Deb Buckley, was at the forward tees and could clearly see the ball going in the hole. I walked up to the hole, and there it was!
My playing partners were Rich Choo, Yves Piette (both in the photo with me), and Deb Buckley who took the photo.
It was my second career hole-in-one and the first one came over 30 years ago. After the hole in one, I felt pressure to complete the round with a decent score. Sure enough I did, and I shot my index with a 74.
Howard Kotzer, Richmond Hill Golf Club, Hole #4
I play in a mens league at Richmond Hill Golf Club in Ontario on Mondays. Two of our regular foursome were not there. They paired Rob and I with two younger guys Eric and Mike who are not in the league. I say younger, I’m 68 and they were early 30’s. I used my Big Bertha 7 iron. The hole is a par 3 and was 154 yards away. I shot first. I knew it was a good shot and was going to be on the green which I would be happy with. I have good eyes. I could see the flag but not the hole. One of the younger guys Eric says, “I think it’s a hole-in-one.” Mike says, “it’s definitely a hole-in-one.” I was watching the ball roll and then it just disappeared. I got very excited and my heart started beating a little harder to say the least but I didn’t want to get too excited just in case. As I was walking to the green I didn’t see my ball close on the flag and now my heart started pounding with anticipation. I went over to the cup and looked down to see my ball in the hole. A hole-in-one! A dream come true after 17 years of playing golf. I was so thrilled, I couldn’t believe it. None of the other guys had ever seen a hole in one other than on TV. Neither had I and now I had seen one and it was my shot. Happiest golf game of my life! It was also the closest to the pin hole to boot. One thing off my bucket list.
Sarah Huber, Shaganappi Point Golf Course, Hole #16
I was playing with my sister-in-law after two other Shaganappi Ladies League members had to drop from our tee time. I wasn’t playing particularly well, but it was a good swing with my 8 iron from the white 106 yard tees on hole #16. It looked like it went in, but wasn’t until we checked the cup that we celebrated. Very excited!
Ryan Ekdahl, Riverside Country Club, Hole #7
I was playing with my friends Noah Degelman and Cole Young, also Riverside members. Yardage was 154 and I hit a pitching wedge.
Travis Tubb, Prince Rupert Golf Club, Hole #2
Was men’s day at our local golf club. A new two man team format was being used that day. My partner was Terrance Bateman, a seasoned golfer with sick skills. We played with fellow friends and avid golf enthusiast Johnathan Hunt and Mel Young (which were partners that day as well). We were on hole #2, a 140 yard, par 3. I was the third to tee off and after seeing two of the other gentlemen nail the dance floor, I was just hoping to land as well on the green. Mind you this is my first year giving the game my full attention and devotion. Can honestly say I’ve played more rounds this season than my entire life prior! So with my 8 iron in grip and mind trying to stay focused to hit the green I made my swing. Looking up the line looked good, which it has many times before but then land considerably short in a little valley before the green. Next thing we see is the ball touching down in front with a hop and another little hop and ran right into the cup! Elation and pandemonium ensues on the box! What a rush!
Brenda Cook, Bluenose Golf Club, Hole #5
I am 73 years of age. I had never played any organized sports until my husband Philip convinced me to try to take up golf. This was about three years ago. I have been learning to play golf since then with a group of four to six ladies who took me under their wings. We usually golf nine holes, three times each week. It has been enjoyable but frustrating at times, with a very challenging learning curve. Our group is more social then serious. We always have a lot of laughs when we take to the fairways.
I only started to keep a scorecard and register my scores on the Golf Canada website about two weeks before my hole-in-one. This was only after the girls and Philip urged me to do so.
On the big day August 14, 2024, I started with a bogey on hole #1 and then a triple bogey on hole #2. I was just about ready to call it quits, but one of the girls Suzanne Mader said, “forget that hole, there is another one just around the bend.” I pulled myself together and things worked out better on hole #3 and #4.
Then came my favourite hole, hole #5, a par 3 hole, I always try to get on the green and par it, many times I do par this hole. This hole is 126 yards from the forward tees. You hit across a valley onto the green on the opposite hill. I have always had success using my driver on this hole. On this day I hit the ball with a lot of loft and it landed on the green two to three feet straight out from the hole and rolled forward straight into the cup. The girls screamed out, “Brenda you have a hole-in-one!” I was astonished and in disbelief that I could be so lucky! Rumour has it around here that it has been about two decades since a female has had a hole-in-one at Bluenose Golf Club! Unbelievable that I could be so fortunate. The ladies in our foursome on that memorable morning were Jean Jackson, Lola Greek and Suzanne Mader. I don’t think any of us will ever forget that day.