Tell Us Your Best Golf Story

[Paul Hedrick]

14 hours ago, Dr Tee said:

In the early 2000's my wife and I were visiting our daughter during her semester abroad in Brighton England.  We had planned to travel on to Paris for four "romantic" days, but widespread rioting over a government labor law related vote necessitated that we quickly change our plans and avoid France. We decided to catch a Ryan Air flight to Dublin and return home from there.  Then came the dilemma-where to stay in Dublin ?

My wife announced that she had found a charming boutique hotel  about 20 min. outside the city on the coast called The Portmarnock Hotel, and didn't I want to stay there instead of in central Dublin proper ??  Knowing full well that this was the location of the famous Portmarnock Club and also Portmarnock Hotel Links, I stated that I firmly wanted to stay in downtown Dublin for the sightseeing convenience.   After a few hours, enough time for me to call the Portmarnock Club and secure a tee time,  I informed my deeply grateful wife that after much consideration, I had a change of heart, would acquiesce to her wishes , and that staying at The  Portmarnock Hotel would be ok after all .  To this day, she still believes I changed my mind because she wanted to stay there !  I am smart enough not to spoil the illusion !

( As an aside, I should mention that the Portmarnock Hotel has a spectacular location on the coast.  In a prior life it was the Jamieson Whisky family manor.   Dining , location, and accommodations are deluxe.  The Hotel Links, which I played on a subsequent trip to Ireland,  designed by Bernhard Lander and a friend of mine, Britt Stenson of IMG sports, is almost the equal of the older more famous Portmarnock Club, and is definitely worth a round.   Picturesque Malahide and it's shops and small harbor, access point to the increasingly popular Island Course is only a 30 min. walk or 10 min. cab ride up the coast as well )

Ireland has some great golf.  I few years ago I had the chance to play the K Club and The Palmer North.  Loved it.

[Rygolf32]

I suppose it's this one...The boys and I take a guys golf trip every spring to Vegas. Have been doing it for almost 20 years playing almost every course there. We tend to go back and replay courses from our early days we remembered fondly. 

Our 2nd year, we played Red Rocks at Arroyo in Vegas and figured we'd give it a shot again to see if it still held up on our 2018 trip. On the driving range and this guy walks up and starts hitting next to me. Apparently OJ has a house on the course and plays about every day, his time was a couple after ours so we had to get a pic.

 

[Janecp]

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10219015665925828&set=a.1248711621147

I had to jump into this thread because of a unique golfing experience I had a couple of years ago. While playing one of the par four holes at our local golf course, I hit a long fade into the wooded brush along the right side of the hole. My golf partner looked all over for my ball and just simply could not find it where it had entered the woods. At long last I heard her yell "I found it and you won't believe where it landed!" Low and behold, I looked into the brush and saw what she was talking about. My ball had landed directly into a Robin's nest! I guess you could day I got a hole-in-one and a 'birdie' at the same time!

Edited July 27 by Janecp

[GolfSpy SAM]

1 hour ago, Janecp said:

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10219015665925828&set=a.1248711621147

I had to jump into this thread because of a unique golfing experience I had a couple of years ago. While playing one of the par four holes at our local golf course, I hit a long fade into the wooded brush along the right side of the hole. My golf partner looked all over for my ball and just simply could not find it where it had entered the woods. At long last I heard her yell "I found it and you won't believe where it landed!" Low and behold, I looked into the brush and saw what she was talking about. My ball had landed directly into a Robin's nest! I guess you could day I got a hole-in-one and a 'birdie' at the same time!

I love it!  

 Question: Did you climb the tree to hit it out, or just shake the tree violently until it fell out?  (kidding, obviously ) 

  Thank you for sharing, and for joining the forum! Welcome!  If you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out!

[CLenahan]

I had just joined my club, where my father in law had been a member most of his life.  Decided to take him out with me for my first round, which we did on the West course, the championship course they call it.

I absolutely hacked it up, I hadn't played golf in probably 8 yeasr at this point other than the occasional driving range trip.  I hit every single water hazard on the course, lost probably a dozen plus balls.

Finally get to 17, par four with a pond on the left.  If you are hitting the blues or further back, you have to carry the pond, the white tees (where I'm playing) are set forward of the pond with it just off to the left side.  I step up to the tee, and announce "at least I can't put it in the water from here!".

Then proceed to sky my 3w, somehow make contact on my follow through and hit the ball directly into the water behind me.  To this day the single worst round of golf I have ever played in my life, but we still came away laughing.

[CrazyGolfNut]

I did not take up the game until after I was married.  My very strict and over bearing father-in-law was trying to teach me how to play golf one summer but his method was to interrupt my swing with “do this” and “do that” etc.  Usually just when I was starting my setup.  My score was at 113 on the 15th hole when I lost control and cursed at him. (First and last time!) I was so bad that I could not hit a golf ball more than a foot off the ground.  We never spoke until the end of the round.  I stormed off the course and stopped at a driving range.  After a couple of minutes, a very well-dressed man came over and gave me some simple advice.  For the first time ever, I started hitting balls, in the air.  It dawned on me that he was a golf pro and was giving me my first lesson but he would not take any money from me.  He just wanted me to promise that I would not give up the game.

That night I read an article in Golf Digest that Lee Trevino wrote about playing your own game and do not worry about others. Just relax and enjoy.

The next morning, I played with my father-in-law and for the first time broke 100 by shooting a 94. (Still have the score card).  At the end of the round, he said “see what happens when you do what I tell you”

I never told him about the driving range golf pro and the article.

[Shrek74]

On 4/20/2023 at 11:49 AM, GolfSpy SAM said:

I'm waiting for my first eagle - have had a few chances this past year, and ... dropping to my knees and freaking out sounds about right   I'll probably weep, too, just to make it VERY uncomfortable for the people I'm playing with.  I might stop and thank everyone who ever helped me along the way...standard acceptance speech stuff, really. 

I'm very excited about this happening this year. I can feel it. 

I've only ever had 2 eagles in my entire life. But what is super crazy is the fact they were in the same round!! One on the front 9 and one on the back 9. I only remember the second one though.

The Brae at Heatherhurst GC, number 16th. It's only a 449 par 5, so not super brag-worthy really. 3-wood off the tee (Taylormade Firesole with those awesome bubble shafts). 3-wood on to the green over a front bunker. And a long putt from the back of the green, dead center. Neither dad nor I could believe it. We still talk about that round.

[PrismFlopper]

So was just getting into the sport, maybe been playing 4 months at the time so we all know how the round was going. But anyway, from the Northeast and was down in Florida with the family. My brother, father, uncle and I just decides to play a morning round at the Palm on Thanksgiving morning. Was a few into the refreshments and not taking the round too seriously mostly just enjoying the company. Well when deep into the cooler just pulled a club outa the bag and thinking not at my beat right now so ill pull two clubs deeper(a decision i soon regretted). Well over shot the green real deep, like 40yds past the green deep. Well went to jump outa the cart not really paying attention. Next thing ik im getting YANKED back into the already backing up at full speed cart. My father yelling “gator”. I look up and maybe 15ft from my ball was a gator, sunbathing. Safe to say i took a drop and shanked it hard cause we could not stop laughing from the “near death” experience. 

[MartHenrey]

On 1/30/2023 at 8:28 PM, ltc.dan said:

I was a lieutenant at Fort Sill. Golf group played on Saturdays. One of those 'throw $5 in the pot and someone wins a few' kind of groups. Guy pretty much in charge is a colonel bigwig on post. Nicest guy you could meet, but still a colonel.

Source, https://pakprices.pk/

 

[Mr. E]

Pointing to Frank A., Brady E. turned to me and said, "There goes the only man in the field that could go out by himself and come back with a square number." Dumbfounded, I asked, "What's a square number?" "He knows the rules better than anybody and he's as honest as a man can be." I thought, man I want someone to say something like that, about me behind my back! That was 25 years ago, and I haven't thrown a club since. 

[TG8]

Funniest personal story:

Watching my buddy hit it out of bounds twice on the last hole of a tourney and throw his entire bag of clubs in the pond to immediately regretting it and jumping in after them. Priceless memory. 

[Rita99]

The Hole-in-One Quest

In the tranquil town of Fairview Greens, nestled between rolling hills and serene lakes, there stood a golf course that had seen its fair share of legends and tales. Among these, one story stood out—the remarkable journey of young Alex Mitchell and his quest for the elusive hole-in-one.

Alex was an average teenager with an extraordinary passion for golf. Every weekend, rain or shine, he could be found on the Fairview Greens Golf Course, tirelessly perfecting his swing and honing his skills. His friends often teased him, saying he was chasing an impossible dream, but Alex remained undeterred. He believed in the power of dedication and the magic of the game.

One sunny morning, as the first rays of dawn painted the sky in hues of gold, Alex arrived at the course with a glint of determination in his eyes. That day, he had a feeling that something extraordinary was about to happen. As he teed up on the first hole, a gentle breeze whispered promises of greatness.

Hole after hole, Alex's shots were impeccable, landing closer to the pin with each swing. His friends watched in awe as he navigated the course with a mix of skill and intuition. As they reached the legendary 9th hole, known for its challenging layout and elusive pin placement, Alex's heart raced. This was his moment—the culmination of years of practice and unwavering belief.

With a deep breath, Alex swung his club, sending the ball soaring through the air. It bounced once, twice, and then—miraculously—rolled straight into the cup. The crowd erupted in cheers, his friends hollering with joy. Alex had done it—he had achieved the elusive hole-in-one, a feat many golfers only dreamt of.

News of Alex's incredible achievement spread like wildfire throughout Fairview Greens and beyond. Local newspapers featured his story, and golf enthusiasts marveled at his dedication and skill. But for Alex, it wasn't just about the shot—it was about the journey, the hours spent perfecting his craft, and the unwavering belief in his abilities.

As time passed, Alex's story became a beacon of inspiration for aspiring golfers. He was invited to speak at events, sharing his journey and motivating others to pursue their dreams with the same fervor. The hole-in-one became a symbol of possibility, reminding everyone that with dedication, perseverance, and a touch of magic, anything was achievable.

Fairview Greens Golf Course, once known for its legends, now had a new legend to add to its storied history. And every time golfers stood on the 9th hole, they would remember the tale of Alex Mitchell—the young dreamer who turned his passion into reality and proved that sometimes, a little bit of belief could make the impossible come true.

Edited September 18 by Rita99

[captain mike]

545 yard dog right with I 95 straight ahead,playing with nephew who is 32 6’3” 260, 30 “ waist,  crushed drive but it went straight, ball had Mickey Mouse on it very distinctive and only one he had, hit provisional pro v  we play the hole to the green and notice a ball by the pin.  Yup  it was Mickey  mouse with big tire mark on it . Taps it in for a 2  must have pinched under a truck tire and squirted back on. Course , it was amazing

[David Staller]

In October 2019 I was playing with my buddy and made a hole in one.  He was on the phone when it went in, which was a little annoying. Fast forward to December of 2019.  Playing with the same friend, he hits his tee shot to 4 feet.  I tell him, "I can get inside that."  That got his attention.  I then proceed to knock it in the hole.  He definitely saw that one.

[Shinnman]

So many great stories, hole in one, stinger off tee to deliberately hit a gator on the fairway for $100 bet (it didn’t even flinch), hook into woods and 4 seconds later ball pops out onto the fringe of green (to this day no one understands how that happened), the double sandy according to my friend (tee box to fairway bunker to green side bunker to holed out for birdie), the pouring rain on Pinehurst #4 with “rivers” flowing across the green and we continued to play like the priest in caddyshack, the 50 yard chip in for eagle, the golf trips with the boys, the member guests, and finally the beer 18 where you take your score and subtract the number of beers you drank to see who won. 

Edited August 22 by Shinnman

[Shinnman]

Meeting Jon Gruden at Avila Country Club before he went out with his young kids when he was coach of the Bucs and then on the 3rd hole meeting the Crime Dog (Fred McGriff).  Too bad Yankees season was going on as might have seen Posada and Jeter as well as they used to live on the course too.

[Golfjopa]

I just found this thread, and read a lot of great stories so I'll share one of mine. 

I was playing in a scramble tournament, where you got to form your own team, and the team I ended up on had a grand total handicap of about 11 and 7 of that 11 was me. We finished at -19 and one other team also finished at -19 so after the scorecard playoff was also a tie, they decided to have a putt-off. They set up a putt on the practice green that was about 75 feet or so and about 20 feet of break in it, and we won the coin flip so Matt volunteers to putt first for our team. They won't let any of the other 7 players watch him putt but dang if he didn't hole the putt! Now the other team has to go one at a time and they still won't let us watch, just in case they make it and we have to go and see who is second closest. Their closest putt was some 12 feet away so we won and all we got for our trouble - besides the thrill of winning - was a $50 gift card to the pro shop. 

I didn't find anything in the pro shop to buy so I saved mine to come back and play that course later, and danged if it didn't get purchased a month or so later and go private. This was in 1998, btw, and I found that stupid worthless gift card in my desk recently when I cleaned it out. 

Fun times, and btw, I had a hole-out from about 45 yards on one of the par 5's for one of our two eagles. Both teams eagled the same two par 5's and we both bogeyed a 240 yard par 3. But you already knew that from the score-card playoff being a tie, I just wanted to explain why it was -19 and not -20.

[K8golfer]

Remember Steph Curry at American Century Championship - hole in one?

I also made a hole in one on the same hole. 

And that, folks, is where the similarity between Steph Curry and I ends.

I didn’t even run down the fairway! It was however with my two sons and husband as we were on a trip to celebrate my husband’s retirement. It was during Covid so all we could was golf! 

[GolfSpy SAM]

40 minutes ago, K8golfer said:

Remember Steph Curry at American Century Championship - hole in one?

I also made a hole in one on the same hole. 

And that, folks, is where the similarity between Steph Curry and I ends.

I didn’t even run down the fairway! It was however with my two sons and husband as we were on a trip to celebrate my husband’s retirement. It was during Covid so all we could was golf! 

Can I just call you Steph? That's AWESOME!

[barney_bogey]

Here's one:

Years back I'm out golfing with my BIL and father at the local course. It was my first time playing with my new Mizuno clubs. Irons and driver anyways. I think it was hole 13; a tee box with about 75 yards of water to carry before the fairway. 

So when I tee off, something feels way off. My brand new driver head had snapped at the hosel and was now flying straight into the drink. Like it was in slo-mo, I'm watching my $450 brand spanking new driver head land about 15 yards into the water. Shoot. 

Now I don't know if it was the club construction or the ball strike. I retain that there's no way I hit it THAT bad. (Iunno, it was a long time ago) But I do know how it's going to look if I go back to the shop I bought the driver at with a broken shaft and no club head asking for a replacement.... So I gotta get that head back. 

Driver heads float ya know. So there's a chance. I'm looking in the woods for downed branches that are long enough, throwing giant stones in the pond attempting to make enough riple to move it, and letting groups play through as my family is getting annoyed. 

RIght as I'm about to throw in the towel, we see the head budge ever so slightly. Just barely. Then again in the same direction. We bring out the Bushnell and there's our savior, a tiny turtle just nipping at the head. Over and again. I bet it takes about 5 minutes but that little dude nipped at and subsequently pushed that Mizuno head close enough to the shore for me to nab it with a club and secure it. 

With both pieces secure, I was able to get a replacement the same week. All thanks to the Turtle Bro. 

I still play there often. They've moved the box in front of the water in attempt to make that course easier (just let groups off further apart ya greedy jerks) but every time I pass by it, I pay tribute to my hero; Turtle Bro. 

I know how this story sounds but I swear it to be true and have 2 witnesses to back it up. 

Cheers

B