HOLES IN ONE
More than a year later, golfer gets proof of feat

Advertiser Staff

FUKUDA

• July 5, 2002
• Chateau Whistler Golf Club, Whistler, British Columbia, Canada
• Hole No. 16, 110 yards, 8-iron

I stood on the tee with an 8-iron in hand, lamenting the bad round I was having and eager for the round to be over.

I swung at the ball hoping to make at least one decent shot in the round.

It headed toward the green so I bent over to pick up my tee when one of my playing partners yelled, "It went into the hole!" Skeptically, I muttered to myself "probably the wrong green."

Still not convinced, I approached the green and lo and behold, it was true.

My first hole in one after about 50 years of golfing. I enthusiastically reported the event to the pro shop and was told to leave my name and address, which I did. I gleefully went to the bar to buy the house a round, but there was no one there to brag to except my match-up playing partners from Oregon and Japan.

So I celebrated by buying a round for the group and the guys in the pro shop instead.

"I'll have bragging rights in Hawai'i, anyway," I thought as I left the beautiful tourist mecca.

Almost a year went by and not a word from Whistler. I was beginning to get those doubtful "yeah, yeah, we know" glances from my golfing buddies, my wife and even my (law firm) secretaries since I had absolutely nothing to prove that I made the hole in one.

I wrote Whistler Golf Club on May 1, 2003. No response. I waited another couple of months and wrote to them again on July 14.

Finally on July 22, I received a call from Bob Cochran, director of golf at Chateau Whistler Golf Club, apologizing and promising to immediately send me a memento and a free logo golf shirt.

I could now say to my doubters, "See, brah, I told you I was not lying."

A month later, still nothing, and my doubters smirk when I see them.

Shortly after, I received written proof of my hole in one and I'm going to frame it.

Now, my friends have quit ribbing me.

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. If possible, please e-mail or mail a picture. Fax submissions to 525-5491 or e-mail to: sports@honoluluadvertiser.com

Note: Holes in one must have been reported to The Advertiser by the golf courses or documentation should be provided.