My first hole-in-one happened almost exactly 3 years ago, but it was a very poor shot, hit thin with my 9-iron. It barely cleared the pond, but somehow slammed into the opposite bank, stumbled up onto the green, hit the pin and dropped in. We three ladies screamed with excitement when we realized what had happened, and everyone on the course heard us for sure. I was almost embarrassed to tell the story or take credit for an ace, but I paid for drinks in the clubhouse, and it went into the record books just like everyone else's. (My husband had been playing for 63 years and had never done it yet, so I felt almost guilty telling him what a pitiful shot it really was.)

Ah, but today, I hit a beautiful, picture perfect shot (just like on TV) with the same 9-iron, (different course). It was a thing of beauty, a high lofting shot, directly at the pin, bounced once, then settled and rolled true and straight into the hole. The best part was that my husband was at my side to witness it this time. I earned this one and was so proud to share my experience with him and two of our friends.

P.S. My husband did finally get his first ace last season... oddly enough with my 7-iron. We got to the course 45 minutes away and found that he had left his clubs at home, so he borrowed from my bag that day rather than not play at all. With no expectations for his round at all, he managed to ace the second hole of the day, a nice little par 3 from atop a hill. His buddy called it in the air, "wow, that looks really good!", and it hopped once about a yard from the pin and went in the hole. That man of mine never stopped smiling all day.