If there’s one hole on our course that I dread, it’s definitely the 15th. An elevated green par 3, surrounded by bunkers, where a red front pin placement often means it’s impossible to get the ball to stick. It is literally my nemesis—the spot where I most often rack up bogeys or double bogeys.
Yet, during our friendly team competition, everything changed. A few holes earlier, on the 12th, we were actually talking about holes-in-one, because it would have given us a lot of points in the Stableford format. I realized I was the only one in our foursome who had never experienced that thrill in 35 years of playing.
Arriving at the red tees on the 15th, the distance was playing 133 yards. I had a long internal debate about my club choice: an easy 7-iron or a full-swing 8-iron, despite its annoying tendency to pull left lately? I chose boldness and trust. I grabbed my 8-iron and fully committed to the shot.
The line was perfect, tracking dead straight for the pin. Expecting to be short once again, I watched the ball land a foot from the cup and roll right in. My brain completely froze. It was my playing partners who snapped me out of my daze, confirming what I had just done. I ran up to the green, and there it was!
Even with the photos and the video we captured, I still can't quite believe it. One thing is for sure: getting my first ever hole-in-one, on May 15th, on hole number 15... was well worth the 35-year wait. This hole and I are officially reconciled!