Golf’s Ultimate Prize: A Hole In One-

 Enjoying the moments right after my first hole-in-one.  Photo: Newvine Personal Collection

Finally making the shot of a lifetime

After 35 years playing golf, I finally landed my first hole-in-one.

It happened on the number nine hole at St. Stanislaus Golf Course in Modesto in early October.

Using my nine iron, the swing was smooth, the ball sailed high and landed softly about six feet in front of the cup. At that point, the ball rolled to destiny.

It was an eight-seven yard finish to a thirty-five year journey. After calling my wife, I headed into the clubhouse. Golf tradition dictates that the golfer who makes a hole-in-one buys drinks for everyone at the clubhouse.

In my case, it was nine o’clock in the morning, and only Charlie, the manager on duty was there.

After telling him what happened, Charlie congratulated me and offered a free cup of coffee.

We talked for several minutes and he shared with me stories about the two times he got a hole-in-one.

One of those times was right there on the St. Stanislaus course. I thanked him, and headed home.

A flag-down view of the hole-in-one ball in the cup. Photo: Newvine Personal Collection

Later in the day, my wife and I celebrated with dessert at a local coffee house. She’s been sort of a golf widow in the months since my retirement when my golf outings intensified.

I’ve been sharing my accomplishment with friends on social media, at the coffee shop, and with golfers in casual conversations.

They have offered their congratulations. Some have been telling me of their attempts at golf’s greatest accomplishment.

My former golf buddie Mike, living in the east coast, told me that in his fifty-two years of playing the game, he has yet to land that special shot.

A non-golfer relative took a stab at our advancing years with the comment “With age comes perfection!” She added six exclamation points.

A friend from high school suggested I should buy a lottery ticket in hopes my lucky streak continues.

I did not buy a ticket.

Another friend challenged me with a gentle hope that I might get a few more before retiring from the sport.

It took thirty-five years to get this first one; I doubt there will be a second.

My wife’s cousin shared that her deceased dad would be proud. I saw her dad swing a golf club, and I knew he was a gifted golfer. She’s right.

Bob would be proud.

Another cousin of my wife said he got a hole-in-one while stationed at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba in the military a few decades ago.

He said it was a complete fluke as he had only played that one time in his whole life.

One last look at the hole where it happened. The mark on the green where the ball landed before rolling into the cup was repaired by me shortly after this shot was taken. Photo: Newvine Personal Collection

In a golf league one summer, I was a witness to that special golf moment.

It was nearly twenty years ago when our friend Les made a hole-in-one. It was an amazing thing to witness. It was like going through a ritual. Seeing what appeared to be the ball falling in from about one-hundred yards away, driving our golf cart up to the green, walking up to the cup, and seeing the ball sitting at the bottom.

I reached out to Les in the days following my lucky shot. We’re still lost in voicemail and old email addresses, but sometime soon I hope we can share that common bond that ties golfers together.

The hole-in-one club has accepted me, and now I’m a lifetime member.

Steve Newvine lives in Merced.

In 2019, he wrote Course Corrections.

The book includes stories of his adventures playing the game, some fiction related to golf, and reflections on how a great day at the course feels.

It’s available at Amazon and at BarnesAndNoble.com