On Thursday, April 9th, 2026, at 6:00 p.m., the golf season in Ontario was still just getting started, but it already had something special in store.
It was my very first round of the year. The sun was out, it was 19°C, and there was not a cloud in sight. One of those early-season evenings that feels more like a reward than a round. Standing on the 9th tee at Fanshawe Golf Course, I had 156 yards ahead of me. A Par 3 with a front-centre pin, marked by a bold red flag. Playing about 149 yards, it was a perfect number for a smooth 9-iron.
As I settled over the ball, my trusted Titleist Pro V1, I committed to a baby draw. Nothing forced, just a confident, easy swing to start the season right.
Right as the ball climbed into the air, my playing partner Dave casually asked, “Have you ever had a hole-in-one before?”
I barely had time to answer.
The shot was on a rope, starting just right of the pin and gently turning back. It landed about 10 feet short, took one perfect hop, and began tracking, rolling, hunting.
Then it vanished.
For a split second, there was silence. That kind of silence where your brain refuses to believe what just happened. Then it hit us.
No way.
I walked up trying to stay cool, holding back my excitement and refusing to jump to conclusions until I saw it with my own eyes. And there it was. My Pro V1 sitting at the bottom of the cup.
First round of the season. First ace of my life. Perfect timing, perfect shot, perfect ball.
Safe to say, I didn’t need to answer Dave’s question after all.