It’s in the hole! Recent hole in ones and other incredible shots
I’ve been playing this great game for nearly 50 years and have never had a hole in one. My late father, Don Brown Sr., also played his entire life without one either. I remember vividly playing with him at Green Lakes in my late teenage years on hole number 16 from the back tees. I hit a perfect 3-iron to less than an inch beyond the cup proceeded by my Dad hitting driver where the ball bounced off the mound on the left and softly rolled towards the hole. The ball came to rest on the lip of the cup without dropping. So close to magical father and son hole in ones on the same hole just moments apart. But it wasn’t meant to be. However, many golfing acquaintences of mine have recently pulled off that incredible feat and other remarkable shots that are worth a quick read.
Peter Goral, Tanner Valley hole in one on the par-3 6th hole using a 9-iron from 167 yards. Witnessed by Tom Hoffman
“We got there and there was a slight wind at our backs and the pin was tucked away on the right side over a pine tree, so I took a 9-iron from 167 yards and just pured it. It went right over the top of the pine tree, saw it bounce once and then we didn’t see it after that, so we walked up to the hole and we could see the dew trail of my ball going across the green and that’s when we knew it was in the cup. It was pretty cool”
Joe Mannion, Camillus hole in one on the par-3 8th hole using a 5-hybrid from 165 yards. Witnessed by Jimmy Lent
“I knew it was a pretty good shot. As we went up to the green, I didn’t see a ball so I thought the ball went over the green. Then my playing partner Jimmy looked in the cup and loadly proclaimed Joe Mannion Hole in one”
PJ Clarke, Sunset Pines hole in one on the par-3 4th hole using a pitching wedge from 112 yards. Witnessed by Marshall Clarke
“It came off the club and hit about fifteen yards right of the flag and started heading left. It kept going and I thought this is going to be a great birdie, then in another few seconds the ball was gone and my son Marshall said it might be a hole in one. we approached the cup and he screamed Oh yeah, it’s a hole in one Dad”
Michael Jaquin, Green Lakes eagle on the par-4 5th hole using a 3-hybrid from 180 yards . Witnessed by Kris Shore and Mike Gzik
“The group on the 6th tee saw my shot land short of the green and track all the way into the hole. (back pin placement) They said it looked like a putt going in. When it went in they raised their hands and made the ‘it’s in the hole’ gesture. Kris and Mike immediately said, “I think you just holed out.” When I ran into the group in front of us, they came over and gave me a high five and posed for a picture”
Mike Krupa, Foxfire eagle on the par-4 13th hole using a 3-hybrid from 230 yards. Witnessed by Brian McLauchlan
“Gunned it with my hand held from the right rough in a little divot with ball sitting down. I didn’t like the lie, backed off the shot for a minute. Stepped up and hit my 3-hybrid, caught it on the screws with a baby fade. It hit the hill in front and disappeared over the mound. I had no idea where the ball was, maybe it got caught up in the rough. Brian pointed towards the hole and there it was smiling at me”
Ed Brown, Rockland Country Club, NJ eagle on par-4 7th hole using a 3-iron eagle from 186 yards. Witnessed by Pat Loftus
“Long par 4 dog-leg right, hit a good drive, had 186 yards left into the wind. Flushed a 3-iron, landed just on the front edge of the green, released towards the pin which was in front. I could see it rolling up towards it and then disappeared. It was very exciting”
