HOLES IN ONE
After double-eagle, he'll keep demo

JIM ELLIGAN
Sept. 9. 2000
Olomana Golf Links
Hole No. 15; 476 yards; driver, 3-iron

A friend who makes and repairs clubs let me use a demo driver with an ultra-light shaft and a nine-degree maraging steel face. I took it to my next club tournament and noticed my drives were straighter, 30 yards longer with a lower trajectory. The club just felt extremely right in my hands.

Upon reaching the 15th hole at Olomana, a 476-yard, par-5, my confidence level with the driver was peaking. I hit a long, straight drive down the middle and followed with a 3-iron toward the flag of the elevated green. Upon reaching the green with my playing partner, my perfectly hit second shot was nowhere in sight. I assumed I was long off the back. After searching frantically for the regulation five minutes, someone suggested checking the hole — and you guessed it — I was in the hole for a double-eagle.

I paid my club-maker friend for the demo driver and refused to return it for a brand new one. Why take a chance when this club had proved itself to be the one for me?

To tell us about your hole-in-one (or double-eagle) experience, fax or e-mail your story to The Advertiser by the golf courses. Fax submissions to 525-5491, or e-mail to: sports@HonoluluAdvertiser.com. Stories must be typed and brief, around 50-100 words. They must include the date, course, hole, yardage and club selection. Return phone numbers must be listed.