Finally got my first ace

Finally got my first ace

Been playing for 30+ years, got serious about the game about 4 years ago. Currently playing to about a 9 handicap. I work from home so most weekday mornings I go off at 6:15AM by myself at my home club, Tijeras Creek in Rancho Santa Margarita and play 18 holes in about 2 hours.

This Monday morning started like any other, hitting the ball pretty well. I play a Titleist ProV1x. 3 over front nine, 1 over back nine as I stepped on to the tee #14, a downhill 165 yard par 3. Blind tee shot as the pin is tucked right so I can't see it clearly from the tee. Hit a solid 6 iron that felt very good off the face, say to myself "that could be good" as I'm watching the ball flight with a slight cut towards the pin.

Get down to the green and from the cart I don't see the ball but I do see a pitch mark about 18 inches in front of the cup. Nothing behind the green so I assume it hit the pin and shot left or right into one of the surrounding bunkers. Walking up the left bunker is empty, so as I'm walking to the right side bunker I glance in the hole as I go by and there sits my Titleist 2. I'm stunned.

As karma would have it, I didn't see it drop and there were no witnesses. At least I have the picture and a great story. End up tying my best round ever with a 76.

Played a lot of different balls but nothing matches the feel of a well hit ProV.