The round was definitely a roller coaster. Through the first nine holes, my putts were coming up short, some drives were decent off the tee box, but fortunately my irons were starting to click and kept me in the game.
The most memorable moment of the day? My first-ever Hole-in-One at Oceanside Golf Club with my Uncle
On the par-3 13th hole, Titleist Pro V1 play #86 with gap wedge in hand. The rangefinder read 107 yards, playing with a 30-35 foot downslope and a helping breeze at my back. The swing felt natural, the contact was pure, with enough backspin and before I knew it, the ball found its way into cup.
More than the ace itself, it was a reminder that golf has a funny way of rewarding patience. Even with the frustrations earlier in the round, I had to stay committed to course management, learn from the bad shots, accept the mistakes, and keep moving forward.
Golf is a game that constantly teaches resilience. Sometimes the breakthrough comes when you least expect it.