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.
Cary Clifford, Sarnia Golf & Curling Club, Hole #17
Several years ago, while searching for a conventional coloured white ball, I found a gold ball. It was fall and I immediately wondered, who would use a ball that was almost impossible to find at that time of year? Regardless, from that day forward I put a gold ball in play on each and every par 3. I made the comment, “it will look great on the fireplace mantle once I get my hole-in-one.” Many playing partners simply assumed it was a, “water ball,” however, it was actually a Vice Pro Plus, an excellent ball in my opinion. I did contribute quite a few to ponds over the years so gold balls became a fairly regular and well received Christmas present from my grandkids.
To wrap this up, on September 10th, during a late afternoon practice round with playing partners Bob F., Kyle F. and Bob W., a team put together for a pending two-day scramble at the Sarnia Golf and Curling Club, playing the white tees measuring 130 yards, I teed up the gold ball and with my 8-iron and earned the right to set the gold ball on my fireplace mantle.
Ron Franzen, Black Mountain Golf Course, Hole #11
It was a hot and smokey day in Kelowna as the fires were burning, sad this is becoming the norm. My wife Renee and I were playing with good friends Brad and Irene, always a good day with this group. The 11th hole at Black Mountain Golf Course is downhill and 146 yards playing about 133. Front pin with a slope behind the pin so if you hit it long it has a chance to come back, too long and you’re left with a very difficult putt. I hit a hard gap wedge to get it past the pin but not realistic to hit it up top to the second tier. I hit it perfect because as soon as I hit it Brad says, “Roddy, you’re buying!” We knew it was good and was gonna be close. It landed two yards past the pin, just in the right fringe, hopped a little left and started to roll down the hill to the pin. As it disappears into the hole I raised my hand and said, “finally!” It was my first hole-in-one. I’m a 6 index and have played for 35 years.
We celebrated throughout the back nine and continued into the evening in the clubhouse. It was a Monday so there were very few people in the clubhouse. Drinks on me for those who were there, dinner and drinks for my group as well as a few good friends who joined after their round.
My favourite part of the story is for Father’s Day my son gave me balls with handwritten “I love you dad, big fan!” on them. It’s a Bob’s Burgers reference if you’ve seen the show. I used one of those balls that day so it made it that much more special.
Stephanie Corcoran, Morgan Creek Golf Course, Hole #14
I was playing a match, it was a league day with Kathy Ashton, Eunhee Brown, myself and Tayla Westgard! Tayla is a 1 handicap and our club champion! It was a 95-yard shot, flag position was located right behind a significant trap that runs across the front of the green and a pond runs tee to green on the right side and I used an 8-iron. It was so much fun, I’m still smiling!
Kyna MacVicar, Brightwood Golf & Country Club, Hole #12
My hole-in-one was on day two of our women’s club championship at Brightwood. It was on hole# 12 and 124 yards uphill on an elevated green. I used kind of a chip shot with a 5 hybrid to bump and run it up the hill. The ball stuck between the pole and the hole edge so we couldn’t tell right away if it was in the hole or in front of it as it still stuck out. Thankfully, since it was our club championship and we had a spotter at the top watching for balls, he gave the signal that it was indeed in the hole. I went on to shoot 86 that day and won low net in my division. Hole #12 has always been a nemesis for me (especially in club championship) and I am still not super fond of the hole, but the memory from that day will certainly stay with me forever and just for that day it was my favourite hole!
Laura Liu, Station Creek Golf Club, Hole #8
It was definitely an unforgettable moment.
The hole-in-one happened on hole 8 of the South Course at Station Creek Golf Club. The distance was approximately 115 yards, without any slope adjustment and I used a 6 iron.
I was playing with Mike Cao, Xueer Shang and another gentleman who was randomly paired with our group, I believe his name was Kevin.
