Friday, Oct. 02, 2009

Hole-in-one too early for trophy

One of my Grand Strand Swinger colleagues had a hole-in-one last week.

To protect the innocent from the wrath of my detractors, I don't usually like to name names, but what the heck. His name was Bob Hall. Sorry, Bob.

He's a single-digit handicapper so his hole-in-one was no fluke, no topped ball that rumbled up 130 yards and somehow found the cup.

It was the real deal, a solid 8-iron from 129 yards on the 6th hole of Sandpiper Bay's Piper Course. Almost as impressive, he shot his age, 73.

The people at Sandpiper were excited. They took his picture and stuff.

Following tradition, Bob bought a pitcher of beer for his fellow players. Yes, you heard it right. A pitcher. Well, we're kinda cheap. Fixed incomes and all that.

It all reminded me of my one and only hole-in-one. I like to think it was memorable, too.

Mine came on my final swing on the final day of the 2001 World Amateur Handicap Championship.

It occurred on the 17th hole at the now-defunct Belle Terre Golf Course, a tough 155-yarder over thick wetlands. My 7-iron took two hops and rolled into the hole.

Until then, I had been having an awful day of golf on a course I could never figure out. I think that shot on the final hole helped me limp in with a 94.

I was prepared to buy drinks for the foursome - hey, I was a newspaper guy and couldn't spring for all 100 in my flight - but two of them left without coming to the clubhouse. The other one ordered a soft drink.

Because I had scored the hole-in-one during the World Am, I received a watch with an inscription on the back. I also have the ball, a Wilson Staff with the date on it in fading red ink.

One thing I don't have is a swell trophy celebrating the accomplishment.

Actually, I didn't think anyone gave trophies for holes-in-one until I spoke to Harvey Eisner, a Horry County Schools board member and a fellow Swinger (as in golf, thank you).

A few years ago, Eisner had a hole-in-one at Woodland Valley (nee Diamondback) and received a nice trophy from the North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce.

Wow. I lived in North Myrtle Beach when I got my hole-in-one.

So I called the chamber and asked about these swell trophies. When I told the woman where I got mine, she congratulated me but said the trophies only went to holes-in-one on courses that were NMB chamber members.

Rats. Not only was Belle Terre not a member, it is no longer a golf course.

Well, I've still got my watch. Sure wish it still worked.