Hole in One ! .. and other close calls
Over the past 30 years or so that I’ve been golfing I’ve only had one hole in one.
Heck, I guess some people never get one, so I shouldn’t complain 
My hole in one came about at Islington Golf club in Etobicoke, way back in the late 1970’s, playing early one morning with some other assistant pro’s. It was the 5th hole, playing at around 180 yards and I think I hit a four iron. The pin was in the shadows and all I could see was that my ball landed close to the hole. I never did see it go in.
I have had however four other interesting “hole outs”, two of which might be considered “almost / sort of ” hole in ones !
Late one night at the course I used to work at (Markland Wood), we went out to play a few holes. We knew we only had time for maybe 3 holes, as it was getting dark fast. Played the first hole, a short par 4, then get to the second a ~150 yard par 3. The hole was cut behind the trap on the front right. I hit a good looking shot, going right at the flag. We get to the green and I’m expecting to see my ball close, but instead, it’s not even on the green. …. Or is it? … I look all around, even over the back, in case I had flown the shot further than I thought … finally look in the hole .. and there’s the ball! It was getting dark fast, so we cut back down to the ninth hole, so no official hole in one for me ! 
Same course, different day, playing the fourth hole, a short par 4 severe 90 degree dogleg left. I hit a poor tee shot, not even making it past the corner of the dogleg. Then a really nice five iron up and over the trees, going right at the green. We get to the green and my ball is nowhere to be found. As with my previous story, I search all around the green, finally looking in the hole … .and there it was ! (Note to self ..look inthe hole FIRST !)
In my story I think I have the wrong club, I briefly mentioned the hole out at the 14th hole at Markland Wood.The hole is only 340 yards and plays downhill. The course was usually maintained to play fast and so with all those factors I only had about 60 or 70 yards left for my second shot. So I was plenty close enough to watch as my nicely struck wedge shot hit up on the green and rolled directly into the hole for a nice little eagle 2 on a par 4 !
Markland Wood once again, this time the 220 yard par 3 18th. I hit my tee shot, and unfortunately badly sliced it and it’s heading O.B. right. I lost sight of it in the tree line, and disgustedly pull out another ball for a provisional. After the other guys hit, I tee it up and this time hit a nice shot going right for the center of the green. I’m so p**ed off that I don’t even bother to watch it. As I’m walking off the tee, while the ball is still airborne, I hear something and look up at the green, as the three ladies who had waved us up are jumping up and down and screaming away. We stop and look at each other, and I think ” … could it ???”. Sure enough the ball has gone in the hole !(And I didn’t even get to see it !) Meanwhile as I walk up to the green I find my first ball just barely in bounds anyway. It was in a pretty ugly spot if I remember correctly, and I think I hacked and slashed it to a bogey or worse, I don’t really remember
Mike