Hole In One Today, But Not By Me!

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 3:58 pm

Okay, here's a non-baseball story today and a personal one to boot. I try not to put too much about our personal lives on the boards, but this story is just too good to keep to myself right now.

As some people may know, I LOVE to play golf and when I retire I plan on playing golf as much as possible. Unfortunately, raising a family and running these crazy high-stakes events has gotten in the way of my golf game and this year I didn't even get the clubs out of my basement before this weekend. These days when I golf, I have to take my Blackberry with me to make sure there's no fires going on back at the office, so it kind of takes the fun out of the game. Plus, when you don't play much it's a hassle to find that swing again.

But each July we have a family reunion and a contest between four brothers for a green jacket I bought at Goodwill for $5. It's a competitive round between four VERY competitive brothers. Since I didn't even have a single round under my belt this year, I was whining all weekend at the family reunion about needing strokes. Nobody was buying it.

Well, as luck would have it, we're in the middle of a drought here in Wisconsin and today it would have to rain. Only two groups even came out to golf as rain was forecast for much of the morning, but we waited out the rain for an hour and then played through the drizzle before it stopped for good. It was a perfect golf day after that.

Without getting into the family rivalry, we were having a fantastic round when we walked up to No. 17, a 134-yard, par three. I had just parred the last three holes and was closing in on the green jacket, so I took my time to decide what club to use with the wind blowing right at us. My older brother Mike wasn't having his best round of his life and so he grabbed an 8-iron and stepped up to the tee box to keep things going. Sure enough, he hit a perfect shot right at the pin and two beautiful bounces later it popped right into the cup. What a feeling when he fell to the ground and we all piled on top for the most incredible sports feeling I can ever remember. A HOLE IN ONE!!!

I'm sure other NFBC members have had a hole in one or witnessed a hole in one, but this is my first witness of one ever and I've golfed a lot of rounds. Wow, what an incredible feeling that was. My legs were shaking well after we got in the clubhouse. But to see it with your brothers in the group was a proud, proud moment.

So now I have my first round of the year in, and with it my brother's first hole-in-one. But he still didn't leave with the green jacket!!

One beautiful day out of the office, and now it's back to servicing you folks. I hope you didn't miss me while I was gone!

mdz129 · Post by **mdz129** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 4:24 pm

Greg,

Great story --Are you going to wear the "Green Jacket" to the Main Event next year in Vegas?

I have 2 "Hole in One" stories

I witnessed Bob Halloran--part-time ESPN broadcaster step up and hit a 9 iron just short of the green into a small pond -- while the rings were still roaring from the epicenter of his first shot, he teed up and one hopped a shot into the cup. He exclaimed "Hole-In-One!!" I said nice "Par Save"-- I hear he still states he had a hole-in-one that day.

Second, I was putting on a green when a man on the next green yelled at the guys on the tee box to hit on and he'll let them play through. The man had the pin in hand , using it as a crutch for his rather large body, while standing on the green's fringe. The first shot came in high and bounced 30 feet in the air and landed off the green-- the ball had bounced off the hard plastic bottom of the cup (remember the pin had been removed by the fat man). What could have been?

My best luck has been on the wind mill hole at mini land.

751542 · Post by **751542** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 5:13 pm

great story greg, congrats. how many coronas today. my over under, hmmmm 1 hr rain delay but you said a competitive round. i am gonna say 7.5 by the time you left the clubhouse. am i close??

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 2:27 am

Originally posted by RoundTrippers:

great story greg, congrats. how many coronas today. my over under, hmmmm 1 hr rain delay but you said a competitive round. i am gonna say 7.5 by the time you left the clubhouse. am i close?? You were close. My brother, of course, had to buy a round in the clubhouse but he got off cheap since the rain scared a lot of folks from golfing early. After a few rounds, we headed to a Hooters down the road to REALLY celebrate. Yeah, even in Wisconsin we have a Hooters. What a perfect way to cap off a Perfect 10 day!!

Latham · Post by **Latham** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 2:30 am

Sounds like a fun day and a great family story! I will take the over on 7.5 Corona's as it was Greg's first break from the summer of "Jack Cust"!

headhunters · Post by **headhunters** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 3:26 am

good thing that was 4 brothers who seem to get along. in my REALLY competitive foursome- that is a 2 stroke penalty for hitting out of turn.

751542 · Post by **751542** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 4:41 am

perfect 10, i get that magazine!!!

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 5:36 am

Originally posted by Latham:

Sounds like a fun day and a great family story! I will take the over on 7.5 Corona's as it was Greg's first break from the summer of "Jack Cust"!

Let's just say that anyone who bet the under didn't cash!!

cribgusto · Post by **cribgusto** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 8:47 am

This was at Black Wolf Run, right? Whistling Straits? Hidden Waters in Waupaca?

Harlem Hangover · Post by **Harlem Hangover** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 9:11 am

to preface.. i am a very average golfer. but 3 years ago i was playing in a Tiki Barber sponsored charity outing at Baltrusol Golf club in NJ. We were playing the upper course.. Par 3 ; 175 yds.. I hit a 7 iron about 30 ft right of the pin.. the ball made a dead left turn and funneled into the cup.. The kicker was.. they were giving away a brand new Mercedes ML500.. My first and only hole in one.. and i get a brand new car to boot!!!

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 9:13 am

Originally posted by Harlem Hangover:

to preface.. i am a very average golfer. but 3 years ago i was playing in a Tiki Barber sponsored charity outing at Baltrusol Golf club in NJ. We were playing the upper course.. Par 3 ; 175 yds.. I hit a 7 iron about 30 ft right of the pin.. the ball made a dead left turn and funneled into the cup.. The kicker was.. they were giving away a brand new Mercedes ML500.. My first and only hole in one.. and i get a brand new car to boot!!! Wow, now THAT'S a story!! Great, great story.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 9:15 am

Originally posted by cribgusto:

This was at Black Wolf Run, right? Whistling Straits? Hidden Waters in Waupaca? No, we weren't at the Kohler properties, but you are right that the brothers do need to head there for a group outing someday. I trust our scores won't be in the 80s.

Man, those courses are designed to spank the living hell out of you and you're supposed to enjoy it!!

But it definitely is God's Country there.

You had to have Googled "golf courses in the Iola area" to have found Hidden Waters!!! Hole in ones don't count there.

Good one.

bucks66 · Post by **bucks66** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 11:34 am

Great story Greg. I know the feeling. Got invited to play at an ultra exclusive course in West Olive Michigan by the name of Wuskowhan Players Club. It was my first time playing the course and I was shooting horrible. Stepped up to number 15, par 3, short 127 yard hole. Pulled out a wedge, ball hit about 6 feet behind and 3 feet to the right of the pin. Bounced once, bit hard and the backspin took it right to the hole. Even got to hear it slap the pin. Was shaking so hard afterwards that I could barely swing the club on the remaining holes. Harshest part was that the clubhouse was full and of course, they only had top shelf stuff. Cost me over $300 but worth every penny now when I remember it.

poopy tooth · Post by **poopy tooth** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 3:47 pm

I think I got everyone beat...except maybe the winner of the new car...

Going back some years, I was with my two brothers and 3 cousins. I was tied with my cousin for the lead, heading to the 18th hole.

I lined up my shot, took a deep breath and swung...and there the ball rolled - up the ramp and past the guillotine, right into the clowns opening and closing mouth...the bells and alrams went off, and while there was no free car, I did win a free game.

Hey, I was 11 or 12.

Congrats Greg! Great story...as you can tell, I know the excitement your brother must have felt. 20 some years later and we still talk about "the shot."