Team Canada’s Brooke Rivers hopes to elevate golf game at Wake Forest
Team Canada’s Brooke Rivers is ready to take the next step in her golf career by following in Arnold Palmer’s footsteps.
Rivers has declared her intention to play for Wake Forest University in the new school year, Palmer’s alma mater. The decision isn’t just based on Palmer’s legacy, but the contemporary reality that the Demon Deacons are the No. 2 ranked women’s golf program in the NCAA.
LEARN MORE ABOUT TEAM CANADA’S BROOKE RIVERS
“I’m very excited to be going to such a top golf school, I will be around girls that are very competitive, and I’ll be able to learn from them and grow my golf game by learning from them,” said Rivers. “I will also be able to play in really high rank tournaments, which again, will expose me to play against really good competition, to better myself.”
Rivers, who was born in Brampton, Ont., and raised in Turks and Caicos, signed on at Wake Forest on Friday along with American Macy Pate. The Canadian said the legacy of Palmer, one of the greatest golfers of all time, was just one of the reasons why she wanted to play for Wake Forest.
“Having very good alumni that come out of school, just shows how great the golf program is,” said Rivers, referring to Palmer who arrived at Wake Forest in 1948 and was the school’s first individual NCAA champion in 1949.
But Rivers’s interest in the college in Winston-Salem, N.C., goes beyond its NCAA ranking or history of producing strong professional golfers. She was attracted to its facilities and the strength of its academic curriculum.
“I’m very excited to use the (Arnold Palmer Golf Complex) practice facilities and all of the technology and different resources that they have available there, as well as the amazing (Old Town Club) golf course,” said Rivers, who intends to study business.
“Everything is very close to the dorms so I will be able to spend my time practising and balance my time management.”
Kim Lewellen, the head coach of Wake Forest’s women’s golf team, said she has kept close tabs on Rivers throughout her junior and amateur career.
“She has a nice athletic stature, hits the ball a long way, and has a good golf IQ,” said Lewellen, who noted that Rivers’s parents Tammy Glugosh and Gregg Rivers are also impressive golfers. “I think she also probably got that from her parents, so this was a total package.”
Although Rivers said she chose Wake Forest to learn from some of the best collegiate golfers in the world, she’s no slouch herself. She impressed Lewellen when she tied for 10th representing Canada at the World Amateur Women’s Team Championship on Aug. 27.
Rivers also won the 2021 North and South Junior Championship and tied for eighth at the Scott Robertson Memorial that same year. In 2020, she won the AJGA Visit Tallahassee Junior Championship and tied for second at the Ontario Women’s Amateur Championship.
She also won the Coca-Cola Junior Championship in 2019 and the Future Links Quebec Championship the same year, and was runner-up at the Ontario Women’s Match Play.
“Golf is a tough game, you can have your good rounds, but you can have your bad rounds and golf can hurt your feelings. You have to have a little bit of thick skin,” said Lewellen. “I think Brooke shows the confidence that you need to have for those days that aren’t great.
“She’s not going to feel sorry for herself.”
Women in Coaching program applications now open for 2023
Together with the PGA of Canada, Golf Canada is excited to announce the continuation of the Women in Coaching program and formally open applications for the 2023 cohort.
The Women in Coaching program is an initiative that launched in 2021 with nine inaugural participants, that strives to deliver a stronger gender balance among high-performance coaches. Each participant receives in-depth career development support focused on four main areas: individualized learning plans, virtual and in-person coaching education, and hands-on training experiences with coaches and top players.
The Golf Canada Foundation continues to be a key financial contributor to the program, including through the new Jocelyne Bourassa Scholarship.
“The Women in Coaching program gives women in our industry an opportunity to network with likeminded, talented, and strong leaders to help increase the female representation in the sport.” said Jennifer Ha, 2022 program participant and assistant coach of Team Canada – NextGen. “This program is led by women who are driven to make coaching in this country more equal and equitable.”
The 2023 Women in Coaching cohort will kick off with an in-person session at a national team training camp in Phoenix, Ariz., where participants will shadow national team coaches and engage in activities including technical skill development and women in sport leadership.
“The Women in Coaching program presents an opportunity for some of Canada’s most-accomplished female leaders as well as up and coming coaching talents to further their career developments together,” said Jennifer Greggain, associate coach of Team Canada – Women. “The strong collection of PGA of Canada members will continue to drive the initiative through knowledge and experience sharing on the way to building a foundation for the future.”
Now in its third year, the Women in Coaching program is led by Greggain, Emily Phoenix (Manager, High Performance Sport, Golf Canada) and new for 2023, Beth Barz joins the team. Barz brings over 20 years of coaching experience from rugby, is a coach developer and advisor with COACH+, and is currently pursuing her PhD at Queens University.
PGA of Canada professionals interested in the National Women in Coaching program can click here to apply and are encouraged to reach out to Emily Phoenix (ephoenix@golfcanada.ca) with any questions.
Applications close on Monday, Dec. 5 at 11:00pm EST.
Robots… coming to a golf range near you
It appears modern technology is about to threaten another time-honoured golf tradition.
Yes, the days of taking wicked pleasure from hitting the screen-enshrouded ball picker at the driving range may be numbered. (This pleasure intensified exponentially if you knew the person driving said picker.)
This latest innovation is the Korechi Pik’r, an automated robot that hooks up to any existing golf ball picking unit.
Korechi Innovations Inc., based in Oshawa, Ont., for several years has been producing agricultural robots for seeding, weeding, cultivating and other routine farming tasks. In 2019, they demonstrated a unit at a golf course, thinking it would work as an autonomous mower.
Such mowers are already marketed by other, more prominent companies so the course superintendent wondered whether the robot could be harnessed to a gang-style range ball picker instead. The engineers at Korechi took that insight, rigged up a universal hitch and returned to the course.
“There were about 20 of us standing there watching this thing go back and forth across the range like a Zamboni, just scooping up every ball,” recalls Jim Clark, Korechi’s Chief Sales and Marketing Officer. “But, we asked ourselves, is there a market for this? Or is this the solution to a problem nobody has?”
During the subsequent two (pandemic) years, there was extensive testing at the Oshawa Golf and Curling Club until, this fall, the Pik’r was revealed in what Clark calls a “soft release” on social media and LinkedIn. The reaction was stunning.
“Now I know how it feels when something goes viral,” says Clark. “Calls and emails came flooding in from clubs in Canada and the U.S. and they are still coming every day.”
Since the high-capacity Pik’r can retrieve up to 4,000 balls in an hour and run 10 hours on a single charge of its lithium batteries, Clark was somewhat flummoxed by the number of high-end clubs with relatively small memberships that expressed interest.
While high-volume ranges (15,000 balls and up daily) are the target market, Clark says it is Pik’r’s cool technology and uniqueness that intrigues these clubs. “It’s sleek, almost stealth-like. There really is a ‘wow factor’ when you see it.” (He’s right. Watching the video on the Korechi website is almost mesmerizing for a golfer.)
The Pik'r™ golf ball picking robot automates all major golf ball picking machines in the market. Learn more at: https://t.co/IOnpQwDJIC
— Korechi Innovations Inc. (@KorechiInnov) October 12, 2022
In order of appearance: @PickerEasy, @WittekGolf, Hollrock & @RangeServant#GolfRobot #BallPickingRobot #Pikr #GolfAutomation @cognashene pic.twitter.com/RlCQjcWDko
Perhaps the element most impactful to Pik’r’s potential success is the labour crisis across every industry, including golf. In fact, the cover story on an upcoming PGA of America magazine is about staffing challenges—that’s how much it is affecting the industry.
Pik’r will be in the Innovation Spotlight section at the PGA Merchandise Show in Florida in January which is attended by about 40,000 industry professionals (pre-pandemic). The fact the robot shows up for work every day, rain or shine, may be its most attractive feature for courses and ranges plagued by staffing issues. Pik’r is available for rental only, which means a facility pays only for the months it is needed.
“Lots of courses and ranges have to close earlier than they want at the end of the season because their staff have gone back to school or whatever,” Clark says. “That won’t happen with a Pik’r.” The company also claims the unit reduces by up to 90 percent the labour and material input required.
Other advantages include the fact that it is battery-powered (no fossil fuel), lighter than most conventional pickers (less soil compaction) and can be remote-controlled through an app (no direct human supervision).
For more information, visit www.korechi.golf.
(Jim Clark, a longtime Golf Canada volunteer, is a Golf Canada Honorary Life Governor and recipient of the Golf Journalists Association of Canada’s Dick Grimm Award for significant lifetime contributions to Canadian golf.)
Jocelyne Bourassa Scholarship Program launched by the Golf Canada Foundation
Scholarship fund in honour of the Canadian golf legendary competitor and administrator will celebrate Bourassa’s deep legacy as a long-time supporter of the game
Jocelyne Bourassa Scholarship Program launched during the Golf Canada Foundation’s annual Trustee Cup as part of Foundation’s $70 million DRIVE Campaign
————————————
One of Canadian golf’s most accomplished and admired ambassadors will be celebrated with a new legacy scholarship fund in honour of the late great, Jocelyne Bourassa.
The Jocelyne Bourassa Scholarship Program will provide impactful education opportunities for women in Canadian golf who are developing their careers as professional coaches or professional players. The goal of the scholarship fund is to advance more Canadian women into positions of prominence as leaders and role models for golf in Canada.
The launch of the Jocelyne Bourassa Scholarship Program was recently announced by the Golf Canada Foundation at Hamilton Golf & Country Club during its annual Trustee Cup, a Foundation event that honours donors for contributions towards First Tee and Team Canada.
The Jocelyne Bourassa Scholarship Program was established through a committee – led by former Golf Canada President Diane Dunlop-Hébert, PGA of Canada Professional Emeritus Debbie Savoy Morel, former LPGA and PGA of Canada Professional Christine Greatrex, and trusted colleague Libby Skinner – who were inspired to give back as a tribute to their friend and mentor. To date the fund has raised over $300,000, with a goal to reach a $750,000 endowment.
“With her LPGA win in 1973, Jocelyne not only inspired an entire nation of golfers but inspired Canadian athletes in their quest to represent Canada in international championships in all sports. Jocelyne went on to make the du Maurier Classic the best recognized and most attended event on the LPGA Tour,” said Diane Dunlop-Hébert, who served as President of Golf Canada in 2012. “She was a beloved and outstanding mentor to golfers and golf administrators everywhere.”
The Jocelyne Bourassa Scholarship Program will provide support to women in two primary ways. The first is funding the educational needs of professional high-performance coaches by enhancing the Golf Canada and PGA of Canada’s Women in Coaching program. The second will provide university scholarship support to Canadian women who wish to continue their post-secondary educations while also competing in professional golf.
To learn more or to donate, click here
Bourassa, who passed away Aug. 4, 2021, is revered as one of the premier athletes and ambassadors for Canadian golf over a distinguished 60-year career. After a successful amateur career that included three Quebec Juniors, four Quebec Amateurs, Bourassa turned professional in 1972 and was named both LPGA Tour Rookie of the Year and Canada’s Female Athlete of the Year.
Bourassa won the inaugural La Canadienne in 1973 (now the CP Women’s Open) in her second season on the LPGA Tour, a signature moment in Canadian golf. She would later become executive director of the former du Maurier Classic (now CP Women’s Open), served on the LPGA Board of Sponsors, and also provided support and mentorship to countless Canadian athletes through her leadership of the Canadian Women’s Tour and the Jocelyne Bourassa Series. Bourassa’s career as a player and administrator was honoured with the Order of Canada as well induction into the Quebec Golf Hall of Fame, Canadian Golf Hall of Fame, and Canada Sports Hall of Fame.
“For the young women who had the privilege of getting to know Jocelyne very well, she was not only an inspiration and a model for all of us, but she was also a mentor who taught us so much about how to be a professional in golf or any field or path we choose in life,” said friend and PGA of Canada professional Anne Chouinard. “She taught us compassion, generosity as well as perseverance and determination. She made the world a better place. We will never forget Jocelyne.”
The launch of the Jocelyne Bourassa Scholarship fund aligns with the Foundation’s new $70 million DRIVE Campaign, a major fundraising campaign launched earlier this year in support of First Tee – Canada as well the Team Canada high performance program. To date, more than 54% (approx. $38 million) of the $70 million DRIVE Campaign fundraising goal has been raised.
“The roll-out of the Jocelyne Bourassa Scholarship Program as an extension of the DRIVE campaign will help develop a pathway for more women to become world-class high-performance coaches and also support the competitive pathway of Canadian athletes pursuing their LPGA Tour dream without having to make educational sacrifices,” said Golf Canada Foundation CEO, Martin Barnard. “Jocelyne has been such an icon in our sport and is now an extremely deserving namesake for this meaningful program.”
Donations toward the Jocelyne Bourassa Scholarship Program will be held in an endowment fund to ensure her legacy will continue in perpetuity.
The R&A and USGA announce 2023 Rules of Golf update
The R&A and the USGA have unveiled a regular update to the Rules of Golf as they continue to make the Rules easier to understand and apply. The new Rules will go into effect on January 1, 2023.
The 2023 edition continues the modernisation process, with an emphasis on both inclusion and sustainability. For the first time, the modified Rules for players with disabilities have been fully incorporated into the playing rules without the need to adopt a local rule. The governing bodies, supported by longstanding partner Rolex, will also promote digital and mobile app access to the Rules while significantly reducing the production and distribution of more than four million printed books.
Several penalties have been relaxed and language has been clarified to help golfers at all levels of play.
Key changes include:
- Modifications for Players with Disabilities: The modifications to the Rules for players with disabilities have been made part of the Rules and are in effect for all players who are classified in the categories covered in Rule 25.
- Handicap Usage in Stroke Play: With the continued growth of score-posting technology following the adoption of the World Handicap System™, players are no longer penalised for failing to put their handicap on their scorecard in stroke play. The committee will be responsible for ensuring the accuracy of each player’s handicap.
- Club Damaged During Round: The Rule has been amended to allow a player to replace a club that is damaged during a round, provided the player did not damage it through abuse.
- Ball Moved by Natural Forces: A new exception provides that a ball at rest must be replaced if it moves to another area of the course or comes to rest out of bounds after being dropped, placed or replaced.
- Back-on-the-Line Relief Procedure: The back-on-the-line relief procedure, often used for penalty area and unplayable ball relief, has been simplified so that the player now drops their ball on the line, and the ball must come to rest within one club-length of where it is dropped.
Golfers will be able to learn more about the major changes and review the official 2023 Rules of Golf by visiting randa.org and usga.org/rules. Full updates to the official Rules of Golf digital applications will be available starting on 1 January.
Grant Moir, Director of Rules at The R&A, said, “We are continuing to improve and adapt the Rules of Golf to ensure they are in line with the way the modern game is played. That means making the Rules easier to understand and access for all golfers and making the sport more inclusive and welcoming for golfers with disabilities. We are also working to ensure golf has a sustainable long-term future and making more resources available digitally is key to achieving that goal.”
“The growing popularity of golf continues to guide our decision-making and modernising the Rules to promote inclusivity and accessibility is clearly a great step in the right direction,” said Thomas Pagel, USGA Chief Governance Officer. “This latest evolution is especially important to the community of golfers with disabilities, and we hope it will encourage more people to play and enjoy the game.”
Players are reminded that the current edition of the Rules of Golf (2019) still applies when playing or posting scores for the remainder of 2022.
As an extension of its support of the Rules of Golf worldwide, Rolex has made a commitment to support The R&A and the USGA’s efforts to modernise golf’s Rules. The Swiss watchmaker’s contribution to excellence in golf is based on a rich heritage stretching back more than 50 years, forged through pivotal partnerships at every level of the game, from the sport’s leading professional and amateur competitions and organisations, to players at the pinnacle of their sport worldwide.
As the 2022 golfing season comes to a close, this is our final hole-in-one report. Over the course of the year, Golf Canada members recorded a whopping 3,069 holes-in-one.
Stay tuned for April 2023 when we kick off our 2023 Hole-in-One Report.
Aileen Trescher, Emerald Hills Golf & Country Club, Hole #16
That is awesome!
I played with Flo Hanna and Quinn Alberico. Both members at Emerald Hills Golf & Country Club. The hole is listed as 84 yards from the red tees, and it was a blue flag. I used a 13 wood for the shot and a Calloway Supersoft matte pink ball. It was my birthday! My third hole-in-one but the first at Emerald Hills.
Thanks!
Aileen
Andrew Hetherington, Dundas Valley Golf & Curling Clun, Hole #9
Good Morning,
I have been a member at Dundas Valley for five years and the 220-yard par 3 9th hole has always been a difficult one to finish off the front nine. I hit a beautiful four iron right at the logo on the clubhouse and I anticipated it was going to be short of the green. The pin was located on the front right corner and from where we teed off so we could not see the hole. I walked up to the hole and saw my playing partners balls just short and one just long, but I didn’t see mine until I walked up to the hole! What a feeling! This is my first hole-in-one and feels amazing to be part of the club.
Shoutout to John Falzoi for the picture.
Cheers,
Andrew
Anisur Salim, Dentonia Park Golf Course, Hole #18
This my 8th hole-in-one!
Details:
– Dentonia Park Golf Course
– November 3rd, 2022
– Hole #18
– Using a 56-degree wedge
Thank you.
Ann Dorken, Carleton Golf & Yacht Club, Hole #8
Hi,
Thank you so much for the email and the graphic.
I was playing with Laura Knowles, Susie Walter and Carleigh Taggart. The yardage was 122 yards. A white flag on the left-hand side. I used my 6 iron.
This is my third hole-in-one, one each the last three golf seasons. All at Carleton Golf and Yacht Club.
Thank you,
Ann
Anthony Sabatino, Willow Valley Golf Club, Hole #17
Hi,
Thanks for the email!
I was playing with one of my friends and another one of my friends’ dads who works at Willow Valley Golf Club.
The pin was right up to the front of the green. I had 121 to the pin with a little cross wind. I hit a 50-degree wedge. It took one hop just short of the hole and went right in. I couldn’t believe it when it happened. It was a great moment and a great way to end the 2022 outdoor season.
Thanks again.
Anthony Smith, Mount Brenton Golf Club, Hole #16
Hello Golf Canada,
I got my sixth hole-in-one at Mount Brenton Golf Club in Chemainus, B.C.
I am 80 years old and now play from the middle tees. The flag was at a front pin, 100 yards, slightly uphill and into the wind. I hit a 9 iron, and actually hit it pure, an unusual occurrence for me.
Witnessed by Berry Reumkens, who recorded his first ace two weeks ago on our hole #11, Fred Stephenson, and Murray Bowler.
It was a good day.
Blair Sturrock, March Meadows Golf Club, Hole #10
Hey,
My hole-in-one was 160 yards. I hit a 9 iron with a three-yard draw. I was playing with Justin Theriau. Calm day. A special moment on a magical course.
Cheers,
Blair
Bob McFarlane, Covered Bridge Golf & Country Club, Hole #17
Thank you Golf Canada.
After 35+ years of trying, I finally got the ace to drop. I have attached a picture, picking the ball out of the hole. NPR…no putter required.
It was on #17 at Covered Bridge in Hartland, N.B., on a bit of a cold day with a two club wind at times. The yardage was just over 130, with the pin just right of center of the green but felt like it was playing over 155 yards. I decided to just go with an easy 7 iron to try and keep it down out of the wind a bit. Playing a Pro-V1 ball. Taylor Made P790 irons.
I made the swing, and the ball flight was good, towards the middle with a slight cut. The ball landed 20’ short and left of the pin, then rolled to the right, then it disappeared! I couldn’t believe it just happened. I honestly didn’t believe it 100% until I pulled the ball from cup. Incredible! That ball was signed by the group and is now in my collection.
Thanks,
Bob M.
Brian Dorey, Glen Arbour Championship Golf Course, Hole #2
On July 23, 2022, I played with Tony O’Keefe and Wayne Quinn. On hole number 2 at the Glen Arbour Championship Course, the pin was 129 yards away with a little breeze at us. I hit my nine iron and we watched as the ball, a Bridgestone RX, landed on the edge of the green and rolled until it disappeared into the hole. Tony’s granddaughter painted a picture for me to commemorate my second hole-in-one and presented it to me as we played hole #15. Such an amazing gesture. Will treasure it always.
Brian Murphy, Royal Colwood Golf & Country Club, Hole #4
Hello,
I just read the Golf Canada article about letting you know about holes-in-one.
I am a member of the Royal Colwood Golf and Country Club and a Golf Canada member.
On May 27, 2022, I had a hole-in-one on the 160-yard 4th hole using a seven iron for my sixth hole-in-one. I then proceeded to birdie the other three par 3’s sinking puts of two feet on the 7th hole, 21 feet on 11th hole and 11 feet on the 15th hole in the same round – so five under on the par 3’s.
Below is a summary of noteworthy achievements from the Wilbur annual meeting (October 28th) where the chair, Darry Rhoades, who played with me on May 27th, provided the following summary at the meeting as part of his annual report:
“On May 27, Brian Murphy not only aced the fourth hole, but went on to birdie the remaining par 3s. An incredible performance I have never seen in over 60 years of playing golf. We have all heard of double-oh-seven. Brian’s new moniker appears to be triple-two-one.” – Darry Rhoades
Best regards,
Brian Murphy
Bruce Kerr, The Links at Dover Coast, Hole #1
Hey,
Thanks for the correspondence. It was a fun way to finish our season at Dover Coast. I was playing with my wife, Tammy, and friends of ours, Ed and Fran Riley. I scoped the hole at 158 yards and used a 7 iron for the shot.
Cheers,
Bruce Kerr
Caroline Nilsson, Mickelson National Golf Club, Hole #17
Hi,
Thanks for the email. I was golfing with a friend of mine, Geoff Cook, and a twosome, Ryan and Kevin, that the golf course paired us with. The total yardage was 97, and I used my 9 iron. It was pretty exciting.
Happy golfing.
Caroline
Chris Li, Sunningdale Golf Club, Hole #18
I’ve played golf for about 10 years, and this was my very first hole-in-one at Sunningdale Golf Club on August 6, 2022.
It was par 3, 174 yards on the 18th hole where I used 4 iron. This was the most difficult par 3 on Sunningdale Golf Course because you have tee off over the cliff pass the creek, and on the right side is the pond.
The ball landed on the left side about six feet from the pin and started rolling to the pin on the right. I was yelling “it’s going in, it’s going in!” to get my wife’s attention but she was waiting under the tree in the shade and just ignored me. She thought I was joking and did not run over to see. I told her the ball went in, but she still didn’t believe me! Afterwards, we walked down the trail to the hole and sure enough it was in!
Chris Li
Colin Groves, Osprey Ridge Golf Course, Hole #15
Hi,
Thank you for your kind words! It was a pretty special moment for me, one that I will not soon forget.
I had the pleasure of playing with a good friend, Liam MacLellan, and I was joined up with Jeff Crouse and Lisa Landry. They were great company. The hole was playing about 150 that day, and a smooth 7 iron did the trick for me! Used a Titleist ProV1 ball. With the sun blinding us all from the tee box, we all knew it looked good leaving the club and was right at it, but we didn’t know how good it turned out until we arrived to the green and found no visible balls on the green.
Thanks again!
Cris Cosariu, Dundarave Golf Course, Hole #5
Hi,
Thanks for reaching out!
I was with my buddies from work – Craig Hall, Robbie McMahon and Chris Pearce.
It was on hole #5 at Dunderave, a beautiful hole right alongside an ocean inlet, with a trap cradling the entire left side of the green. We played the white tees which were 130 yards off, and leading up to my swing, I thought I should aim a bit to the right (refer to aforementioned trap the entirety left of the green). Lo and behold, I hit a beautiful draw with my 9 iron that landed about ten feet short of the hole, but the ball kept rolling, slower, and slower, albeit more and more dramatically, towards the sweet spot, eventually suddenly dropping from our sight.
I am not a great golfer by any means, but I’m happy to say I was lucky enough to get an ace.
Unfortunately, we couldn’t finish the round due to early sunset, we only got 14 holes in, including a couple in the dark.
Thanks for reaching out and reading my once in a lifetime story.
Cris Cosariu
Dan Ireland, The Club at North Halton, Hole #17
On Thursday, August 18, at The Club at North Halton, I aced the 17th hole with an 8 iron. This was an especially exciting round as I had tied my personal best for none holes on the front nine, and the ace led to me tying my personal best for 18 holes. The best part of when it happened was two of my best golf buddies were as excited or maybe even more than me. Neither had ever been in a group where an ace occurred or even seen one. They are both looking for their first ace, so I really hope I’m there when it happens.
Dan Ireland
Debbie Warren, Beach Grove Golf Course, Hole #4
October 13, 2022, started off as a pretty normal day out for a game with my golfing pals, Barb, Pam and Penny. I teed off hole #4, 130 yards with my 7 iron. I hit a high shot and watched as it flew over the bunker directly at the pin that was located at the back of the green on the left. There was an elevated portion of the green that prevented us from seeing the ball land. As we approached the green, we found the ball mark about eight feet in front of the pin and the ball in the hole. What a fantastic day!
Derek Maheux, Pointe West, Hole #4
Thank-you for your email. It was exciting to get my first hole-in-one, especially considering I was the only one in my usual group without one! I played with Dragi Tanovic, Lee Greenham and Eric Griggs. We were first off that morning after a frost and fog delay. We started with fog still limiting visibility but thankfully we were all able to see my ball go in the hole. I used a nine iron (one more club than I normally would have) for the 142-yard front pin.
Cheers,
Derek
Donald Cohn, Bear Mountain Golf Course, Hole #16
I had a hole-in-one on the Mountain Course on October 6, 2022. 16 days later, on October 21, 2022, I scored another hole-in-one, on the Valley Course at Bear Mountain in Victoria, B.C. Happened on the 143-yard 16th hole. I used a 3 iron. This was a scramble format, playing on a team competing in the Seniors Friday golf.
Cheers,
Don Cohn
Drew Weir, Fanshawe Golf & Country Club, Hole #8
I was playing Fanshawe golf course, on the Quarry Track in London, ON. I was first off the tee after a frost delay.
I had just come off a birdy on hole #7 and set up on hole #8. I was playing from the blues with a blue flag and the pin at the back of the green. I scoped 158 yards right into the sun. I pulled out my 7 iron and let it fly. I could not see the ball because of the sun, so I covered the sun with my arm and staired at the green. I’d seen a bounce then gone. I drove up in the cart and grabbed my pitching wedge and putter thinking it went it, but it may have rolled off the back. I’d seen the impact mark and looked in the hole and bam, the ball was in the hole! One to remember!
Eddie Sun, McCleery Golf Course, Hole #3
Good morning,
This is my first hole-in-one! It’s unbelievable!
I was playing with Regina, Yumeng and Joyce at McCleery Golf Course on February 5, 2023.
The hole #3 was 182 yards from white tee box. The pin was front and middle of the green. I used a 3 hybrid with baby fade shape. The ball landed on the front of the green. When I walked towards the green, no ball was on the green. This moment I thought it might be hole-in-one.
What an amazing experience!
Eddie
Gary Perkins, Penticton Golf & Country Club, Hole #10
Hole #10 at my home course in Penticton G&CC. 163 yards with a 6 iron. There was a heavy south wind, so I played it with a stronger draw than I normally do and it just flew. Came in 20 feet in front of the hole and then disappeared. I thought it went just behind the pin but one of my playing partners said, “that’s in.” I didn’t believe it until I got to the green and I didn’t see my ball. It was very cool and somewhat surreal at the same time.
Gary Perkins
Glenn Pitura, Coppinwood, Hole #7
Hey,
That’s so great of you to prepare that graphic. Thank you.
A few more details of the hole-in-one:
– Playing partners were: Patrick Turner, Mark Applebaum and Ken May (one of the founders of Coppinwood).
– Hit a 9 iron.
– Hole was playing 144 yards.
– Ball was on line the whole flight. We saw it land about five feet in front of the pin, bounce twice then disappear. We weren’t sure if it went in or went over because the sun made visibility a little tough. As we were approaching the green, Patrick said he thought he could see a ball over the green, so we thought it missed. I checked and there was no ball over the green, so I walked up to the hole and sure enough the ball was sitting in the bottom of the cup!
– I wasn’t playing great earlier in the round so I switched to a new ProV1 on the 7th Turns out I’ll only get to hit one shot with that ball, ever. Makes for a nice clean trophy ball though!
– This is my first hole-in-one despite playing for over 50 years. My 87-year-old father has three, including one for which he won a car in a tournament years ago. But his favourite hole-in-one is one he got at Thornhill Country Club about 30 years ago when I was playing with him and my mom. I had the honour, and hit my tee shot about three feet from the pin. Proud as could be, I turned to him and said, “Beat that chief!” and he promptly stepped up and got a hole-in-one. “That ought to do” he said. I’ve never seen him smile wider. He’s said that story a million times, and always loud enough so that I can hear him tell it. ARGH! It drove me crazy, but at least now I can say I’m only trailing 3-1 in the hole-in-one department.
– Finally, I play about 90-95% of my rounds with at least one of my two sons in my group. Sunday was one of the rare days I didn’t play with either of them. My oldest boy, Adam, was supposed to play yesterday but he called me two hours before we were to tee off to tell me he’d just testing positive for COVID so he couldn’t play. Fortunately, Ken was able to join us last minute, so we had a great foursome, but I wish one or both of my boys were there to share the moment with me. Maybe next time.
Thanks so much for your interest.
Glenn Pitura
Graham Bartsch, The Dunes, Hole #6
Good day,
Just reporting that after 30 plus years of playing, and over 1,200 rounds, I recorded my first ever hole-in-one on Sunday October 11, 2022!
It happened on hole #6 at The Dunes in Kamloops, B.C. Playing conditions were windy, so I swung an easy pitching wedge from 127 yards to a front pin location. After I struck the ball, I thought, “great line, but I think it will be a bit long” and bent down to pick up my tee. Just then my playing partner yelled, “get in the hole” and I looked to the pin just in time to see white turn to green! The ball traveled slightly past the pin and screwed back into the cup for my first ever!
Needless to say, was pretty exciting!
Have a great day.
Graham Bartsch
Heather MacLeod, Wildfire Golf Club, Hole #3
Hi,
Thank you for your lovely note and the graphic!
I was playing with my husband, John Ryder, alongside Laura Gainey and Richard Clark at Wildfire Golf Club on Sunday, October 16. The hole-in-one was on the third hole and 102 yards. I was using a 6 hybrid.
A few weeks later (October 29), my husband, John Ryder, got a hole-in-one on at Wildfire Golf Course on the 17th hole. For both of us it was our first hole-in-one, and they happened within two weeks of one another. What are the odds!
John Ryder, Wildfire Golf Club, Hole #17
Thank you Hole-in-One team.
Details:
– Wildfire Golf Club
– October 29, 2022
– 17th hole, 137 yards tee block to pin
– 8 iron
– Playing with my wife Heather MacLeod (who got a hole-in-one two weeks ago), Jane Clegg and Robin Kelly
Ken Davidson, Oakfield Golf and Country Club, Hole #13
I got my second hole in one on June 4, 2022, on hole #13 at Oakfield Golf and Country Club, using a 9 iron.
Ken
Kerry McWilliams, Olympic View, Hole #6
The hole was #6, playing 210 yards with perfect conditions. I was playing with my long-time golf buddy, Stuart Brazier, and two members from the course – one happened to be their senior men’s club champion. Both members said this was one of the harder holes on the course – ironically! I was last to hit in the group this hole after making at terrible bogey the hole before and seeing everyone else’s ball safely get on the green. I put a good swing on my 4 iron, tracking at the pin, not really watching just hoping it had enough to get center of the green. Then, we all heard it hit the pin and the consensus was it likely bounced anywhere. Upon arrival to the green, the senior men’s club champion said, “Don’t bring your putter, you just aced this hole!” I celebrated with a round of Lucky Lagers!
Thanks guys!
Pretty cool feeling.
Kerry McWilliams
Leo Jacques, Bellmere Winds, Hole #8
I got my hole-in-one back on August 29 while playing at Bellmere Winds. It occurred on hole #8 which was playing 173 yards. I was using my 6 iron. Playing with some good friends. It was an exciting day.
Thanks,
Leo Jacques
Lisa Sadd, Royal Mayfair Golf Club, Hole #16
My first hole-in-one was on hole #16 at the Royal Mayfair Golf Club in Edmonton on May 29th of 2022. I was playing from the white tees, and it was 126 yards. I used my 9 iron, and it went straight into the cup. I was playing with my husband, Marshall Sadd, and my 17-year-old son Charlie. They knew right away and were cheering, and I was in disbelief and thought our eyes must be playing tricks. Fun day!
Matthew Jones, Duntroon Highlands Golf Club, Hole #3
My hole-in-one occurred on hole #3 at Duntroon Highlands Golf Club. 102-yard par 3. Hit a 50-degree wedge that took one perfect bounce and rolled ten feet into the hole! The buddy I was playing with called it in the air! I couldn’t believe it.
Matthew Jones
Michael Misener, Greyhawk Golf Club, Hole #17
Hello and thanks!
My first hole-in-one came on my last round of the year for me. I was not hitting the ball very well but was having all sorts of luck including a chip in from the fringe and a holed bunker shot. I hit a 5 iron on the par 3, 17th hole, thinking it was too much club, but I hit it well. It looked good from the tee, but it was too dark to see it land. My playing partner, Brian Joe, found it in the hole.
Thanks again!
Micheal Tipman, Hylands Golf Club, Hole #12
On October 26, while playing golf with my wife Marie and another couple, I got a hole-in-one on the 12th hole on the Rockcliffe (North) course at the Hylands Golf Club in Ottawa. The hole on that day was a 161-yard par three, with rhw pin at the back of the green behind a front sand trap. I teed up with a Titleist AVX number 4 ball and hit it with a Taylor Made hybrid. The ball landed in the back quarter of the green and rolled into the hole. Just before I hit the ball, a marshal came around the corner behind the green and waited while our foursome teed off. I hit first so he was able to watch the ball from the club face into the hole. It was my first hole-in-one is some 55 years of playing golf. A great feeling.
Micheal Tipman
Mike White, Oshawa Golf & Country Club, Hole #3
Had our two-day member guest tournament and started on hole #3 at Oshawa Golf and Country Club. Didn’t take a practice swing at all, used a 50-degree wedge. The ball went right in the hole. Cheers heard all around the course!
Mike White
Paul Helsby, Westmount Golf & Country Club, Hole #3
Third hole at Westmount Golf & Country Club. Hole measured 178 yards; I used a 6 iron. First one after 40 years of trying.
Paul
Rod Fedyk, The Bridges at Claresholm Golf Course, Hole #14
I got a hole-in-one on October 15, 2022 at the Bridges Golf Course in Claresholm, Alberta. I was golfing with David Ross Thompson. It was on hole #4 about 130 yards, I used a Callaway (super hot 55) #3 golf ball, and a Callaway 8 iron. It was the second last day of the season in Claresholm. This is my second hole-in-one in my life, the first was on this same course but on hole # 17 many years ago. The Bridges is my home course and if you have never golfed here come give it a try. You’ll be pleasantly surprised.
Stephan Tucker, Sleepy Hollow Golf & Country Club, Hole #15
Hi,
Great to get a hole-in-one!
It was 107 yards from the white tees with a 52-degree wedge. The ball hit the green, bounced once, rolled past the pin, and spun back into the cup. My playing partners were Steve Pickett, Fred Pinkerton and Ali Akhtar.
Regards,
Stephan Tucker
Stephen Foreman, Whitevale Golf Club, Hole #14
I am a second-year member at the Whitevale Golf Club. Playing with my wife, Patricia, and one of our regular golf partners Ken Leithwood. A great day of Fall golf turned stellar on the 14th hole. A narrow fairway bracketed with thick woods. The pin was 133 yards out on the left back of a rolling green. I have played this hole with several different clubs this season with mediocre success. On this day, my TaylorMade Sim2, Senior shaft, 6 iron produced a good loft strait to the pin. A great end to my golf season.
Cheers!
Stephen
Susan Harrison, Duncan Meadows Golf Club, Hole #3
Hi,
I had a hole-in-one.
Details:
– August 28, 2022
– Duncan Meadows Golf Club
– Hole #3
– 110 yards
Missed the creek in front, pond left and bunkers right to disappear over a mound in front of the green eventually found in the hole!
Cheers,
Susan Harrison
Tony Godinho, Landings Golf Course, Hole #15
Thank you for the acknowledgement! I think it’s great that you do this for Golf Canada members!
So, as you can see from my round at the Landings that day, I was not particularly close to my handicap, however, when I arrived at the 15th hole with my fellow Landings members, Neil Carter and Caj Frostell, I was to tee-off first, as I was playing from the blue tees, and they were playing from the white tees. I took a look at my Garmin watch, and it said 150 yards to the center of the green. So, I selected my 5 iron. I took my shot, and I cannot lie, it looked really good with a baby draw going towards the pin. We had the sun practically in our eyes at that time, so none of us saw where the ball ended. I figured the way the ball was going, it had to be on the green. When we arrived at the green, we could not spot my ball so I thought I should go take a look in the hole. When I got close to the hole, I discovered my TaylorMade 1 ball with the four dots in the shape of a “T”, like my name Tony, and I did not even pick up the ball, I started shouting with excitement as Neil went to check the hole and picked out the ball for me! It is an amazing feeling.
I now have a kind of a trophy case at home, with two holes-in-one and one albatross. I feel pretty lucky!
Again, thank you for the hole-in-one certificate.
Thank you,
Tony Godinho
Trudy Paul, Tuxedo Golf Course, Hole #9
On September 6, 2022, I was playing a round at Tuxedo Golf Course, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, with my friend, Dee Hosking. I hit a 5 hybrid on the 121-yard hole #9. I watched my ball roll onto the green and toward the cup. Then it disappeared so I thought it went over the green. Dee was looking for her ball right of the tree while I searched for mine. When I could not locate it, I looked in the hole. There it was!
Walter Snyder, Greentree Golf Country Club, Hole #8
Hi,
Thank you for the email!
I was playing with two of my good golf buddies, Craig Kobes and Matt Philipchalk. We had our typical skins game going and were enjoying the fact that it had just quit raining. We had elected to play white tees, as the conditions were nasty when teeing off. The 8th hole was playing 122 yards. I hit a full pitching wedge, which flew about ten feet past the hole, and then rolled back down the slope into the top of the cup.
The hole-in-one enabled me to shoot my best round ever. Certainly, a golf day to remember!
Thanks,
Walter
Wayne Stewart, Westfield Golf and Country Club, Hole #2
After just coming off the first hole, I jokingly said how great our scores could be if you didn’t have to putt. I recorded a hole-in-one in Peridia, Florida on the second hole which was 108 yards. Now that felt great. The rest of the game went well, giving me my lowest score ever with a 74.
Cheers,
Wayne A. Stewart
Wendy Tessier, Mountain Creek Golf Club, Hole #16
Thank you for writing and for the graphic! I’ll definitely use it.
I was playing with three acquaintances, Jim Knight, John Callaghan and Jean Luc Dion at Mountain Creek Golf Course, in Arnprior, ON, on Saturday, October 29, 2022, mid-afternoon. It was a beautiful fall day, but the leaves had been well mulched, so no one had yet lost a ball. The holes on the back 9 had been aerated so putting was challenging! I was having a steady round when we got to hole #16, a par 3. The back blue pin was planted 100 yards from the advanced yellow tees. I had a lovely swing, very satisfying swing with my 8 iron, and that’s what I was reflecting on when Jim, quite excited, started waving his arms, jumping about and yelling that it was going to go in! Sure, enough with a slight arc on the green, it did! We three hugged and high-fived then I hugged John who had missed seeing it as his bag, as he left the back tees, had fallen off his cart! Hole #17 was okay but unthinkingly I used the same ball on 18 and lost it to my nemesis, the pond! So, I’ll be keeping that score card as a memento instead. The next day, same hole, my ball landed about two feet from the pin; I birdied it! Love hole #16!
This was my second hole-in-one at Mountain Creek having holed it out on the par 3, 14th hole during a match play. Mountain Creek Golf Club has two more par threes, holes #3 and #7 so I’ve set my sights on them now!
Fore!
Wendy Tessier
Back and better than ever: Recapping Golf Canada’s 2022 Amateur Championship season
For the first time since prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Golf Canada had a full slate of amateur championships – from coast-to-coast – contested in 2022. The venues were spectacular, the competition was impressive, and the momentum heading into next season is at an all-time high.
Mary Beth McKenna, the Director of Amateur Championships and Rules for Golf Canada, called 2022 “incredible.” Thirty-two championships were contested, including national, elite junior, qualifiers, or NextGen efforts.
“It’s great to be out at all of our courses, engaging with our member clubs, all the volunteers, and working with our officials and providing playing opportunities to our competitive players,” said McKenna. “It was just a really great year, all-in-all.”
There was, of course, so much momentum behind the game of golf in general in Canada through the COVID-19 pandemic, with the number of recorded rounds by Golf Canada reaching never-before-seen levels. That buzz, McKenna said, was definitely felt through the full summer schedule of Golf Canada championships.
There was success at every level, she continued.
Monet Chun was a perfect example. Chun, the Golf Canada National Team Member, won the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship presented by BDO but also went on to play in the finals of the U.S. Women’s Amateur and teed it up at the CP Women’s Open. There was also Shelly Stouffer, who won the Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur and proceeded to go on and win the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur plus the Canadian Senior Amateur.
“There were just so many great champions along the way,” said McKenna, pointing as well to the spectacular play of 12-year-old Lucy Lin. “Just to see the progression of some of these players through the calendar year… was just incredible. It was just great to be back at our host clubs seeing the dramatics of amateur golf and seeing their success throughout the summer.”
Golf Canada’s key partners also played an important role in the support and amplification of the amateur championships through 2022. There were also new sponsors like BDO, which came on board as the presenting sponsor of all of the amateur championships and Sargent Farms, which sponsored the World Junior Girls Championship.
“It’s certainly important to support our amateur championships. It just elevates our championships into premiere events. We were so fortunate this year having a number of new partners,” said McKenna. “In concert with our national partners with Titleist, Canadian Pacific, and Levelwear, just the continued support makes our events better and better for our players.”
While the partners play an important role in continuing to elevate the championships, the golf courses where they take place are also important. They could not be played without venues, of course.
In 2022 golfers had the opportunity to tee it up at such fine facilities as Royal Colwood Golf Club in Victoria, B.C., TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley, Westmount Golf and Country Club in Kitchener, Ontario, The Marshes in Ottawa, Point Grey Golf and Country Club in Vancouver, The Thornhill Club, Essex Golf and Country Club near Windsor, Breezy Bend Country Club in Manitoba, and Red Deer Golf and Country Club – just to name a few.
While not all the golf courses are confirmed for 2023 yet, McKenna said her team is particularly thrilled to bring the Men’s Amateur to The Pulpit Club’s two courses, plus Ashburn Golf Club in Halifax for the Women’s Amateur.
“Across the board,” said McKenna, “we’re going coast to coast at really some incredibly facilities.”
With lots of excitement from a fabulous 2022, great players, and amazing courses ready to host, 2023 is set to be another fantastic year of Golf Canada championships.
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.
Angela Boyle, West Haven Golf & Country Club, Hole #3
Thank you for your email. It was very special day at West Haven Golf & Country Club. I was playing with my husband, Michael Boyle. We usually play together every Sunday. We were also playing with another couple, Trish and Bob Reid, not our usual playing couples.
It was sunny and 21 degrees, a beautiful fall day! The 3rd hole at West Haven was 104 yards to the pin yesterday and I used an 8 iron. The shot had a very nice trajectory, hit the green and rolled a short distance into the hole.
Thank you again.
Angela Boyle
Ann Perry, Falcon Ridge Golf Course, Hole #14
I got my first ever hole-in-one on Monday, October 3, on hole #14 at Falcon Ridge Golf Course.
The pin was at the back at about 105 yards. Normally a 7 iron would be too much, but I tend to put the ball in the water with my 8 iron in the water.
I just did not want to go in the water like I normally do. I had a nice hit with my Callaway Solaire 7 iron. My bright green neon Noodle ball landed on the green and was rolling. I was just so glad not to be in the water. We went to the other side and could not find my ball. I figured I had rolled off the back, so we started looking there. One of the girls landed on the green and she was marking her ball and noticed my ball was in the hole.
I had three witnesses – Karen Swol, Doria Delaney and Barry Elliot.
Ann
Barry Sutherland, Fairwinds Golf Course, Hole #6
Hello Golf Canada!
Thank you for your interest and acknowledgment.
The hole-in-one happened on hole #6 at Fairwinds Golf Course, Nanoose Bay, B.C. I was golfing with Sean Moore and Gordon Grant on a warm sunny Wednesday, 12th of October. We were 112 yards out. I was using a Callaway X-18 Pro Series pitching wedge and playing a TaylorMade Soft Select. It was just a pure hit that sailed super high directly over the flag, landed two feet past the hole and the backspin pulled it straight back into the dead center of the cup.
Cheers,
Barry Sutherland
Berry Reumkens, Mount Brenton Golf Course, Hole #11
First ever hole-in-one. I’ve got a three handicap at the moment. A month shy of my 65th birthday. It was 177 yards into a light breeze. 5 iron. Partners were Fred Stevenson, Murray Bowler and Tony Smith. Nice to be a member of the club and to do it with my regular partners.
Thank you for the acknowledgement.
Berry Reumkens
Bob Simpson, Melville Golf and Country Club, Hole #2
On September 30, at the Melville Golf and Country Club in Melville, SK, Bob Simpson (age 69) shot a hole-in-one on the 166-yard, par 3, second hole.
Gail Simpson, on behalf of Bob Simpson
Brett Wellman, Priddis Greens Golf & Country Club, Hole #2
I was with my friend’s, Albertus and Brett. I was running late to the course and didn’t get to warm up. Played a safe par on one, and then pulled out a gap wedge from 120 over water on Hawk hole #2 and canned her. It was a dart from contact, and we knew it had a chance, and then disappeared. In the few weeks prior to the hole-in-one, I missed three that were extremely close. It was a special moment to share with friends!
Brian Botterill, Kingsville Golf & Country Club, Hole #12
Thanks, much appreciated.
Details:
– Kingsville Golf and Country Club
– #3 hole on the white nine
– 148 yards
– 8 iron
– Playing with Jeff Hall and Jeff Miesner
Thanks.
Dallas Tecson, Eagles Nest Golf Club, Hole #5
Hello,
Thank you for the email! It was an unreal feeling. Never thought I’d get one…then it just happens.
I was playing with two close friends; one is a pro named Lee Seward and a friend Ryan Drakes. Following a “10” on hole #4 due to some poor play and a few lost balls/dreaded pot bunkers, we pull up to the par 3 hole #5. The yardage was 122 (very windy, a tad uphill, bunker at the front) and I used an 8 iron. Landed just short of the green, couple bounces and hit the pin dead center and dropped. I freaked out, didn’t know what to do but make a funny noise and throw my club in the air. We jumped around on the tee block, drove up and my buddies took a recording of me picking the ball out of the hole.
Funny little bit of commentary. As the ball was in the air, Lee yelled, “go!” thinking it was a tad short. But knowing how well I struck it, I replied with, “Oh it’s the number.” Boom. In the hole. Well, three holes later on the signature hole, I hit another one on line with the pin and again, Lee yelled, “go!” Having hit it well once again, I replied with “Oh it’s the number” as I watched that ball land 15 yards short of the green!
The rest of the round was a write off as I didn’t care, and we were drinking. Had some luck on my side as the restaurant was empty that day because it was cold. I picked up the tab the rest of the day for our group to try and make up for it.
Dallas
Darrell Avery, Glen Arbour Golf Course, Hole #2
Hi,
Well, finally got one! It was the afternoon of Tuesday, October 18th at Glen Arbour Golf Course, N.S. on hole #2. It was 142 yards, and I used a 9 Iron. The ball landed about five feet in front, slightly left of the pin. It just rolled over and in the hole. I shouted, “It’s in! It went in! I can’t believe it!” My playing partner, best friend and neighbour of 16 years, Armel Roy, let out a huge shout that could be heard all over the course.
We picked up another player on the first tee, Jason Saulnier, who we hadn’t played with or met before. He said, “That’s the first hole-in-one I’ve ever seen.” I replied, “That makes two of us.”
After several rounds of high fives and a few more shouts I made my way over to the hole and plucked that ball from the cup.
Armel took my picture and texted it to several friends. The word was out. I’ve had lots of congratulations come my way since then. Feels pretty Good!
The quest for another is on!
Darrell Avery
David Campbell, Fairwinds Golf Course, Hole #10
My wife and I were playing with our good friends, Dave and Marlene Cox, who also live at Fairwinds. We have been members and lived in Fairwinds for 17 years.
It was on hole #10 and it was a blue pin (144 yards from the tee box). I used a 7 iron. We did not see it go in as the hole was hidden and we could only see the flagpole.
In my email telling a few friends about it, I said, “well It only took 78 years, 5 months and 18 days to do it!”
Best regards,
David Campbell
Dyann Goodfellow, Pheasant Glen Golf Resort, Hole #13
Thank you. It was a fun moment. The hole was 135 yards, and I used a 6 hybrid. I was playing with two girlfriends, Diane Richards and Laurie Lawrenuk. The ball hit the green on the left side, rolled up the left side and then caught the slope toward the hole.
Regards,
Dyann Goodfellow
Erica Page, Southamption Golf & Country Club, Hole #13
Thanks for the graphic. I will definitely use it.
I was playing the round yesterday with my husband, Chris. Both of our tee blocks were the same distance for the 13th hole. Chris went first and his ball was short and right of the green. I used my trusty 5 wood which is my 150-yard club. The pin was in the middle of the green. According to my GPS, the distance to the hole was 147 yards. After I hit the ball, I did not see it finish due to the sun being in my eyes. It felt like I hit it well and assumed it was on the green. As we approached the green, I started looking around for my ball while my husband was chipping onto the green. Since I could not see my ball on the green, I assumed it had rolled off the back, so I took a club to chip on as well as my putter. I could not find my ball on the fringe or on the green, so I went up and looked in the hole and low and behold there it was! In the hole! I was very excited. I dropped the clubs I was carrying and said, “it’s in the hole, it’s in the hole—come look at it please it’s really in the hole!” Chris thought I was joking so he was hesitant to come up to the green and see it.
I played forty rounds of golf this year and this round was to be our last in Southampton as the season is coming to a close. What an amazing way to finish an amazing year I am not the best golfer, or the most consistent, but I truly love to play golf and make sure I play as often as I possibly can. Getting a hole-in-one was like a dream come true for me. I honestly never thought it would happen.
This is our first year using the Golf Canada app and we have enjoyed using it to track our progress. I believe it has had a positive impact on my score and allows me to set goals.
Thanks for the opportunity to share my story.
Take care.
Erica
George Stenning, Club at North Halton, Hole #4
Hi,
Thank you very much for the email. I really appreciate the response. As I’m sure you can imagine, I’m happy to tell my story.
So, the day of my hole-in-one was a Friday, and I play on Fridays with what we call the Friday Group…a large group of men where on a given Friday, we can win skins and we do a blind draw for partners for the top few low net teams. At the end of the season the top four winners from the season play off for the top prize. On this Friday, I was advised on the tee box that I was very marginally out of the top four and would need to have a good day to move up to get into the playoff.
I was playing with three others from our Friday group: Reg Finlayson (who’s been at North Halton for many years, a very accomplished player and a real gentleman), Sebastien Myre (who makes every round extremely fun and not only had a hole-in-one this year himself, but had also already played with several others this year when they got holes-in-one) and Greg Frazer (a nice, very relaxed guy to play with). The perfect group for a fun day and some good golf.
So, on the fourth hole I turned to the Sebastien and Reg and suggested I really needed to do something special today to get into the top four and given so many others had found luck playing with Sebastien this year I was hoping for some of that luck myself. Sebastien responds enthusiastically as always, “okay George, let’s do it!” We ask Reg how many holes-in-one he has and he said 12. So, I repeated I was with the right group to do something special today! Sebastien advises that you always want to make sure you get it there, so I pull out a 9 iron thinking I’ll take a bit more club and hit a bit of a knockdown 9. Reg tees off first on this 137-yard par 3, hits a good shot but it runs just off the back. He suggests that wind is clearly helping. So, my 9 goes back in the bag and I take out my pitching wedge instead. I hit my shot right on the line I was hoping and needed it to just clear the bunker and release down to the right to the hole. We see it just clear the bunker and disappear to the right. Reg responds, “that ball has a chance!” Sebastien hits a similar shot. Greg, I believe, misses just a little short. When we arrive at the green there’s only one ball on the green. Reg says he thinks mine is in the hole. I refused to look in the hole, instead looking to see if perhaps it’s run off the green to the right. Sebastien finally walks up, identifies his ball on the green, and then casually says my ball is in the hole. I replied I wasn’t so sure about that. Sebastian replies, “George! You’re playing a Srixon with a red dot today. here’s a Srixon with a red dot in the hole! Your ball is in the hole!” The celebration ensues!
Unfortunately, I was advised after the round that while I got a skin with my hole-in-one, in the blind partner draw I drew a partner that helped us come in second low net on the day and the person I needed to catch drew a partner that got him into first for the day, resulting in me losing getting into the final foursome by thirteen cents; but I got my first hole-in-one! A super fun day with lots of fun drama and I got to do what I always say I play for; the ability to hit the shot when you really need to hit the shot!
Thank you very much again!
George Stenning
Halia Avdimiretz, The Club at North Halton, Hole #13
Wow! There I am, with a 37 handicap and a hole-in-one on hole #13 at North Halton!
120 yards to the pin. There I am at the red tee with my “Nancy” 7 hybrid wood club, and I have a yellow jacket bee bugging me! I am running around frantically trying to ditch this bee! My fellow golfer manages to distract the bee.
I try to calm down and take my swing. The ball tracks just to the left of the pin, rolls then curls over to the pin. Wasn’t 100% sure if it made the hole or not.
The four players on the 12th fairway actually saw my ball go in the hole! They motored over in their power carts, yelling and cheering, grabbed me and we were all yelling with excitement.
Best time I have ever had on the golf course! A shame that my husband wasn’t playing with me that day.
I have been walking around on cloud 9, like a celebrity ever since!
Goes to show, it doesn’t matter what your handicap is!
A special thank you to Nancy Lopez and my wonderful “Nancy” Club!
Halia Avdimiretz
Jeff Carlos, Woodside Golf Course, Hole #7
Hi!
Thank you for emailing me! What a surprise! This is awesome as the Woodside Golf Course didn’t have any memorabilia for a hole-in-one.
First of all, it was freezing that day! It was seven or eight degrees and raining on and off in the morning. The hole was playing 115 yards but with how cold it was, I played it 120 yards and I was using my pitching wedge (Taylormade p790). Tee’d it up and hit the most perfect shot, it was going right at the hole, but I didn’t think anything of it. All of a sudden it took one bounce and hopped right in the hole!
I was playing with Jay-Ar Arcilla, Mark Quintin and Marvin Quintin.
Thank you,
Jeff Carlos
Joe Offutt, Olympic View Golf Club, Hole #11
Good evening Golf Canada,
I was playing with my friend, Chris Thomas. Hole #11 at Olympic View Golf Club is an uphill par 3 that was playing 157 yards. I used a 7 iron.
Cheers,
JD
Luis Bridgeman, Deerhurst Golf Course, Hole #8
Hi,
Thanks for reaching out!
My friends and I were out in Huntsville earlier this year to enjoy a summer weekend. In my group, I was playing with my friends Savi, Kevin and Alan on the Highlands par 72 course. I was playing from the white tees. I got my hole-in-one on the 8th hole which was playing around 131 yards. The tees are slightly elevated, and you hit down into the green, so I factored this in and chose to hit my pitching wedge. The golf ball that I was using was a Titleist Pro V1x. I hit a slight draw on the shot and the ball landed about two or three feet left of the pin but had some nice right sidespin which spun it right into the hole! It was quite fascinating watching the ball spin about two or three feet back to the right and into the hole which made the moment that much more exciting.
Thank you for providing me with a nice infographic to commemorate this exciting achievement!
Kind regards,
Luis Bridgeman
Madge Flint, Fairview Mountain Golf Club, Hole #15
Hello,
A hole-in-one is something I have thought about and hoped for as a member of Fairview Mountain for 26 years. The day finally came on October 21st on hole #15. I was playing with my pals Sharon Bleackley, Claudia Bell and Susan Capyk. The pin was 80 yards. I pondered my TaylorMade pitching wedge or my A wedge and chose the A wedge.
The ball hit the front edge of the green and rolled in with the help of my friends cheering “go in, go in” and it did. We all cheered and dance the green. An exciting and wonderful experience to have shared with friend.
Madge Flint
Marian Thomson, Pender Island Golf & Country Club, Hole #4
Hi,
Thank you for your congratulations and opportunity to share my unique moment.
The hole-in-one took place on October 18, 2022, on hole #4 at the Pender Island golf course. The distance is 113 yards, and the shot was witnessed by Caroline Davidson. It happened during a very relaxed game on one of our last incredibly beautiful golf days this Fall. Temperatures and conditions were prime with Caroline and I enjoying the immaculate course.
I used my driver for the shot, aiming at a high point outside of the green hoping the ball would run to the green. Indeed, it did! At first, I thought I had lost my ball as Caroline nor I could locate it. As a last measure Caroline jokingly said, “’well better check the hole.” To our astonishment there it was! A hole-in-one. Hard to believe. A very great surreal moment!
All the best,
Marian Thomson
Marsha Mallow, Cedar Hill Golf Club, Hole #15
Hello,
Thank you for contacting me.
Yes, I did get a hole-in-one at the Cedar Hill Golf Course in Victoria, British Columbia on Thursday, October 20. It was at the par 3 hole #15 and it was 107 yards from tee to flag. The club of choice was my putter! Yes, my putter!
Hole #15 has an elevated tee box with a gravel cart path crossing in front. I have to actually tee up because I need to get a little airborne to miss the cart path. If the ball hits the cart path it loses some momentum and cannot make the green.
My playing partners were Ruth Ferne and Diane Girard.
I do have a bit of a story because in 2018 I got two hole-in-ones at this same course. After that, my thinking was that things happen in threes, so I made it my goal to get a third hole-in-one with my putter off the tee on hole #15. The yardage can vary from approximately 95 yards to 120 yards. Well, I’ve been trying to get one for more than four years. It did take perseverance. There was many a time that I wanted to use a different club, but I made myself stick to using the putter.
I must admit I was pretty excited when the ball finally fell in the hole.
I accomplished my goal. Now the question is – will I continue to tee off with my putter on that hole?
Yes, this will be a story to tell for the rest of my life.
Thank you for the graphic.
Best regards,
Marsha Mallow
Natalie Hay, Michelson National Golf Club, Hole #17
Thanks! I was playing with my husband, Malcolm, and our friends, Michael and Zack. It was likely going to be the last round of the season and I was disappointed that I hadn’t been playing well. When we walked up to the 17th tee boxes, we all said the flag was in the “hole in one” position as it was in a funnel in the middle of the green.
From my tee box I already knew my 52-degree wedge would be too short and my pitching wedge too long, so I figured I’d go long and hope the ball didn’t roll off the green. Luckily, I hit it well and soft enough that it landed just behind the mound to the left of the hole, the ball rolled down the funnel and straight to the pin. Even though I saw it happen, I wanted to actually look in the hole as balls always roll down that funnel and right off the green into the bunker. Not this time though! What a way to end the season and we had a great time in the clubhouse with all the members after that!
Natalie
Pixie Helm, Westmount Golf & Country Club, Hole #3
Hi,
Thank you very much for acknowledging my hole-in-one. I was playing at Westmount Golf and Country Club in Kitchener, ON on October 5th. I have been a member there for 28 years. The hole-in-one was on the 3rd hole; it is a par 3. I was playing with two friends, Margaret and Sheila. I hit the ball 166 yards. I used to Callaway 2 ball and my club was a Maverick driver. I am 76 years young, and this is my second hole-in-one. My other one was in October 2010. I didn’t think I’d see another one in my lifetime. I was elated.
Thank you for interest.
Pixie Helm
Rick Nelmes, Cowichan Golf & Country Club, Hole #13
Hole #13 is 125 yards to the back pin position. Hit an 8 iron in and seen the first bounce on the green but because of the slope couldn’t see it from there. My playing partners said they thought it hit the pin. Other club members coming off an adjacent green started to yell at us that the ball had actually hit the pin and gone in. My playing partners were Jim Charlton, Mark Clathora and Steve Dallaway.
Thanks to Golf Canada for their ongoing support in the membership.
Rick Nelmes
Rupy Choi, Bearbrook Golf Club, Hole #6
Dear Golf Canada,
October 25, 2022, is a commemoratory day for me.
Not only did I get my first hole-in-one, but it was the same day my father passed away five years ago.
I was playing with my friend, Jeff Leggat, at Bearbrook Golf Club in Navan, ON. Our tee time was at 10:30 a.m. It was a warm day in Ottawa, and it was the final day of golf for us this season.
I stepped up to the tee box at the 6th hole, playing at 128 yards, pin placements back left of the green, pulled up my 9 iron and hit a great shot. We thought it bounced off the green and walked up to a surprise of my golfing life!
There was my ball in the hole! Awesome feeling divine intervention.
Thanks,
Rupy
New “PGA Tour 2K23” video game made on Canada’s East Coast
From Moe Norman to Mike Weir and Sandra Post to Brooke Henderson, Canada has a rich golf history.
But there’s also a little-known golf hotbed in Lunenburg, N.S.
Located on the south shore of Nova Scotia, with a population of 2,396 according to the 2021 census, the port town is home to HB Studios, creator of the new “PGA Tour 2K23” video game.
Founded in 2000 by transplanted Englishman Jeremy Wellard, HB Studios collaborated with various publishers including Electronic Arts on an array of sports games. The studio recruited locally and all over the globe to get expertise in everything from cricket and rugby to soccer, football and golf.
“When I started here, I was definitely one of the local people,” said HB Studios creative director Josh Muise, who has more than 15 years experience with the company. “I was born on the East Coast and grew up out here. I remember walking through the studio the first day and the number of different accents that I came across was certainly delightful and kind of interesting to find in a small sleepy fishing village in Nova Scotia.”
The studio now also has an office in Halifax, with combined staff of about 100 and growing.
“This has become a really major project and it’s become a very big game,” Muise said of the golf title. “We’re very lucky to be able to continue attracting world-class talent and growing the franchise.”
Muise, 40, was born on Cape Breton Island and spent a lot of his school years in New Brunswick. While he admits to some reservations back in the day about moving to “a 1,200- to 1,500-person seasonal fishing village, as beautiful as it was in the postcards,” he is now an unabashed fan of Lunenburg.
“It’s been a wonderful transformation. The town has radically shifted in the last five, 10 years in particular, where you’re seeing a lot of new businesses and you’re seeing a lot of new people coming in. And it’s really become a hotbed.”
The trend toward working remotely has helped bring an influx of young high-tech workers looking to leave the city. The fact that Halifax is only an hour or so away adds to Lunenburg’s attraction.
HB Studios mirrors that growth, as shown by the fact that its newest title features Tiger Woods on its cover.
“The thing that we’re proudest of with that is that we feel like we earned the opportunity,” said Muise, whose name is pronounced muse. “We went from an independent golf game, not all those many years ago, to building up to earning ourself the spot to having the PGA Tour licence come into play and being part of our partnership, ultimately bringing in 2K (Games) and everything that they offer, and then leading up to bringing in Tiger Woods as well.
“The team worked very very hard to put a great game out there. We worked with the community. We were receptive to the feedback. And we kind of grew together. So for it all to culminate with the best, I would say, single-sport athlete of all time on the cover of the box, nothing could feel better.”
That first independent golf game was “The Golf Club,” released in 2014, which eventually became “The Golf Club 2019 featuring PGA Tour.”
In 2020, the studio released “PGA Tour 2K21” for 2K Games. A year later, 2K Games bought HB Studios and signed a deal with Woods.
Today the PGA Tour 2K franchise is the studio’s main focus with 2K Games’ expertise from its NBA franchise helping the studio with the complexities of golf licensing and partners.
Woods and Canadian Brooke Henderson are among the 16 playable pros available at launch in “PGA Tour 2K23,” which was released Oct. 14 for PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One and PC via Steam. Basketball icons Michael Jordan and Steph Curry also appear in the game.
“Being a Canadian studio, it was important for us to try and bring in a great Canadian icon like Brooke,” said Muise.
“She’s a great ambassador for the sport. She’s an all time Canadian legend.” he added. “And (we’re) absolutely thrilled to have her as part of our roster.”
Gamers can also play St. George’s Golf and Country Club, set up in tournament condition as it was for the 2022 RBC Canadian Open in June.
The 2K franchise will have competition next spring, with Electronic Arts getting back into the game with “EA Sports PGA Tour,” boasting video game access to all four majors including the Masters.
“We know that there may be a new product coming into the space but ultimately we feel very confident and very comfortable that golf is where we want to be,” said Muise. “And golf is where we intend on staying. And we’re going to keep building on our current success and pushing it.”
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.
Brad Bushey, Belleview Golf Club, Hole #11
My hole-in-one was at Belleview Golf South in Woodslee, Ontario. It was on hole #11. Yardage was 191 and I used a M2 TaylorMade 5 wood. My good friends, Merrick McCall and Bruce Cascadden, were my witnesses that day. I did not see it go in the hole. I thought it was long of the green. Merrick watched it all the way and witnessed it go in the hole. I didn’t believe him at first; you know how friends are they like to kid around, so until I saw it in the hole, I didn’t believe him. Then we had a few drinks to celebrate.
Brad Bushey
Cory Gilmore, Scarboro Golf & Country Club, Hole #2
Hi there. Thanks for your note. I am still quite excited about my Sunday hole-in-one! It was on hole #2 at Scarboro. I was playing the red tees. It was about a 140-yard shot to a back blue pin. I used my 7 wood which landed on the green and left of the pin. The ball started rolling right (as it always does on that hole given the slope) right into the hole! Since it was a late season shotgun, many members heard us hollering and celebrated with us after.
I was with my daughter, Laura Gilmore, and our friend, Lori Barrett. What a great day! So special to share it with my daughter. She and I have had so much fun golfing as mother and daughter here and all over Canada.
Cory Gilmore
Dave Holowaty, Doon Valley Golf Course, Hole 2
Thanks. I was playing with my usual Sunday group: my brother, Paul, and my friends, Frank Dingethal and Paula Renon. The hole was playing to 132 yards, and I used a 9 iron. It hit the green about 15 feet from the pin and trickled in perfectly. It was my fourth career hole-in-one but the first at Doon; the other three were at Rockway golf course.
David Josephson, Victoria Golf Club, Hole #14
Hi,
Thank you for your email. My hole-in-one on Thanksgiving Monday was pretty cool! Funny enough my sister gave birth to her first child on the same day. I spoke to my mom, who loves golf, and she said, “I don’t know what’s more exciting the baby or your hole-in-one!” She was joking of course.
I was playing with my friends, Steven and Michael. Michael was going to pull out at hole #10 but stuck it out with us a few more since it was so beautiful out. Hole #14 has an elevated tee box, and the pin was placed center left of the green and it was marked as 186 yards. There was a bit of cross wind, and I played a 5 iron which turned out to be the right club. We all knew it was a really nice shot but lost it as it landed on the green due to shadows. When I walked up to the green, I couldn’t see the ball so I thought it may have skipped off the back or into the bunker that surrounds the left side of the hole. Being there was no ball in sight I walked up to the hole and found my ball sitting in the cup. ? There was a divot six feet from the pin, so I think it landed and one hopped in. What an amazing feeling that was walking up and seeing my ball in the hole and to drain it on hole #14 which is not an easy hole makes the story and accomplishment that much better.
Thanks again for reaching out.
Regards,
David Josephson
Donna Martens, Woodside Golf Course, Hole #12
Hi,
Woodside is our home course of which we are members. I am 68 years old and was playing from the silver tees. I used a pitching wedge to an elevated green that was 73 yards and was happy to see it going straight to the hole. It dropped and rolled in much to my amazement! I was playing with my husband, Tony, and two other men that we were paired with. It was one of the other men who yelled that it was in! It was definitely my golf highlight!
Thank you.
Donna
Jake Arsenault, Eagles Glenn Golf Course, Hole #4
Hey there,
Thanks!
I was playing with Greg Ellis, Ashley Praught and Jeff Carragher. It was a front pin with a distance of 145 yards along with a strong head wind. Hit a 9 iron.
Cheers,
Jake
Jay Laird, TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley, Hole #4
It was one lucky shot with my pitching wedge. The hole was #4 on the North Course at TPC at Osprey Valley. The yardage was 86! Still in disbelief!
Ken Marks, Black Bear Ridge, Hole #13
36 members of the Bogey Club Group that have two team tournaments a year and have been playing since 1954 were at Black Bear Ridge in Belleville.
Organizer of the tournament and a member at Midland Golf Club, Ken Marks, hit an 8 iron from 137 yards on a damp and windy day to log his first ever hole-in-one on hole #13. The group almost had a second ace on hole #15 when one of his playing partners, Terry Dolson, left it on the edge of the hole.
Kim Scoles, Pitt Meadows Golf Club, Hole #16
Hi,
Thanks for the recognition. Yes, it was an exciting moment.
The hole was playing 150 yards. I used my 7 iron. The ball hit just in front of the pin and hopped in. My playing partners (Rob Ross, Steve Russell and Stan Reid) and myself weren’t sure if it had gone in but, not seeing the ball anywhere on the green, we knew it went in. This was my third hole-in-one. My last one was about 30 years ago. Thank goodness our club has hole-in-one insurance as this happened during our regular Wednesday men’s day.
Cheers.
Michael Spear, Riverbend Golf Community, Hole #5
Hi,
This was my first hole-in-one ever at age 69, so an item on my bucket list is now accomplished!
The distance from the white tees was 123 yards that day in May. My teammates were Bob Israel and Bob Perry. They took my picture and witnessed the event with much glee. I used a 7 iron and aimed directly at the flag. The ball landed just left and trickled in!
With best regards,
Mike
Paul Attard, Trafalgar Golf & Country Club, Hole #17
Hello,
Thank you for reaching out.
This round of golf was special in that our foursome consisting of my brother, David Attard, and friends, Trevor Wall and Mike Tomkin, was playing one of our final rounds at Trafalgar, as the course is closing its doors forever on October 30th.
The ace came on the 17th hole in which I was third to play. Mike and I were two down in the match and Trevor hit a good shot 10 feet short of the pin. My brother hit a self-proclaimed beauty that scared the pin and landed about eight feet past the pin. I was next to play. The hole was playing 165 yards and I hit a 5 iron. It landed a couple feet short and went in the hole. It was a little surreal! But we did go on to lose the mach.
I have played the game for 40 years, and until 11 days prior, I never had a hole-in-one. 11 days prior, I aced the 17th hole at Cranberry Golf Course in a four-man scramble.
So very surreal. Who knows, this may be the last ever ace at Trafalgar Golf Club? So, the foursome of my brother David, Trevor & Mike used this to celebrate!
What a day!
Thanks for letting me share my story!
Paul Attard
Philip Griffiths, The Toronto Hunt, Hole #3
Hello,
Thank you for your email. I was surprised to say the least. I played with Dr. Sandy Lowden and Mr. Ian Hey. I used a 4-hybrid club, and the pin was at the front/middle right of the green. The yardage was probably about 130, so it was as easy as it could get.
Thank you very much!
Philip Griffith
Scott Redpath, Aberdeen Glen Golf Club, Hole #8
It was 146 yards to the pin, 140 to the front bunker and for me this was a 7 iron. The ball landed at 145 yards and just left but with my natural fade it spun slightly right and forward. This was my first season back playing in 25 years and the final round before the course closes for the long winter.
Steve Anderson, The Nairn Golf Club, Hole #11
Thanks for reaching out. I’d be happy to share the story.
I was on a golf trip with seven others, mostly others from my home club at the Kelowna Golf and Country Club. Narin was our last game of aseven7 game tour of Scotland. As you can see in the photo, it was a rainy day. Our only really rainy of the tour fortunately. The 11th at Nairn was playing 150 yards and I used a 9 iron. The hole was behind a bunker, so we didn’t see it go in. Our group had a fore caddie. When we reached the green, he and I assumed I had gone long into some tall grass and began looking for my ball there. After a couple of minutes, the fore caddie checked the hole. When I looked back at him, he was staring at me with a smile. He said in all his years as a caddie, he’d never had a client make a hole-in-one before. I think he was more excited than me. My playing partners that day were Steve Easton, Craig Gronsdahl and Keith Recsky. The flag was a gift from the Nairn Golf Club as a memento of the occasion.
Just as an aside, that was the third hole-in-one I had in the previous six months. I had one in Indian Ridge in Palm Desert in December and then another in February at Tatum Ranch in Cave Creek, Arizona. The Nairn ace was my sixth in total.
Regards.
Wendy Fretz, West Haven Golf & Country Club, Hole #3
Greetings to you,
You are absolutely correct that this is a story to share for the rest of my life. It would have been awesome to have some drone footage from above, but the picture will be fixed in my mind forever.
The irony of it is that I can’t really say that I was aiming at the pin (the back of green up a slope on a 100-yard hole but away from the large bunker on the left/front side of the green). It has caught my ball an inordinate number of times this past season!
I used my usual club on the hole (unless a very front pin placement), an 8 iron. I was playing with my friend, Harla. The weather was so miserable, cool and windy with rain predicted that we went out to the course last minute with the thought process that we might get a few holes in but were not optimistic. That’s why we weren’t armed with our usual equipment like a phone or even snacks. The course was very quiet, so we actually were able to make good time. Oh, and by the way I was using an old found ball from who knows when because in the fall I don’t play with any of my treasured balls. All I can say is it helped to keep my expectations low. I can’t say that I won’t be expecting a miracle again whenever I step up to that tee box in the future. As a matter of fact, the next time I played that hole, you guessed it, I went into that left/front bunker!
Thank you for the graphic.
Wendy Fretz