Eight proved to be good luck for golfing reverend at Olomana

Advertiser Staff

Not only was Rev. T. Samuel Lee lucky to get his hole in one, but he also was lucky someone had a camera to capture the moment.

In the Asian culture, "8" is considered a lucky number. Combinations of 8 are thus, all the more special.

It was on August 8, 1995 on the eighth hole at Olomana, using an 8- iron, playing with eight of my friends and children in a family tournament celebrating my 80th birthday, that I hit a lazy shot that cleared the water, reached the peninsula green, rolled, then disappeared from sight. The ball was headed toward the flag, but I thought it had gone over a hump on the green and was not visible from where we were. I was thinking, "at least it's close, maybe I can birdie." Then, my daughter started yelling, "it went in! It went in!"

Fortunately, we had a camera with us, so we got a picture taken on the green, ball in hand, of my first hole in one. I suffered a stroke last year, but my desire to golf again has been my motivation for recovery. Next year, I'll celebrate my 88th birthday, and we will return to Olomana for another family tournament. Who knows what will happen? As the saying goes, "better lucky, than good."

Do you have a story to tell about your hole in one? Tell us about it. Stories must be typed and brief, around 50-100 words. The stories must include the date, course, hole, yardage and club. Return phone numbers must be listed. Holes-in-one must have been reported to The Advertiser by the golf courses. Fax submissions to 525-5491 or e-mail to: sports@honoluluadvertiser.com. Materials submitted to The Advertiser may be published or distributed in print, electronic and other forms.