A hole-in-one is a very educational experience. Profound is a better description. There is simply bounds of valuable information contained in the experience. Why? because it very probably is the finest shot you will ever make, unless it was pure dumb luck. (Of course it was luck but maybe not dumb luck.)
Two days ago I was on a par three tee box 165 yds. away from the pin. I hit a six iron fat that rolled to the front apron and teed up another ball since no one was following. I was playing alone, practicing. My second tee shot flew straight and high then dropped out of sight. I was sure the sweet hit was over the green. It felt near perfect.
As I approached the green (apron) I stroked my first ball toward the flag and walked to the backof the green in search of the second shot. I could not find it! I then returned to the first ball and as I passed the cup I glanced down and saw my second ball in the bottom of the cup! My mind immediately remembered everything about the tee shot that was nearly perfect. It felt good! I had rehearsed my orientation and initial take away. I took the time to perfect my grip pressures. I made sure I turned my upper body away as I took my back swing. I extended my left arm at shoulder height, leveraging the swing perfectly. The ball found the bottom of the cup, leaving a ball mark three inches from the pin.
The reason it felt perfect is that my rhythm was perfect. My turn away was in perfect unity with my back swing and weight shift to the back foot. It was in fact so smooth I thought I had hit the shot twenty yards further than I did, as it dropped out of sight. I remember saying, "Better add some yards to my 6 iron!"
Maybe never again but I will always remember the weight shift and orientation ideas and probably the grip pressure reminder. How could I ever forget........the hole in one that did not count?
RHE
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