On Thursday 26th July 2012 I played at Matlock golf course, Derbyshire in the Peak District representing the Derbyshire Constabulary against the course representative side in a match play event.
A gem of a course made better by some excellent playing partners and fabulous weather.
We were two down on the 14th.
I tee’d my ball from the white medal pots aiming towards the 15th green some 181 yards away. The hole is called “79 bridge”. It consists of a green and a tee and a massive ravine in between that has an elevated walkway across the divide. I took out my 5 iron and hit the sweetest shot right out of the middle. It was still in the air as my local playing partners both called out ”that’s close, it could cost you some money” I saw the ball pitch at the front edge of the green but a dip hid the bottom of the flag from our view.
I walked down the ravine and up the other side. Guy, one of the locals had run to the green and stood peering away, towards the rear of the green. I shouted “have you spotted it” with my heart beating and blood pressure off the scale.” Where is it, has it gone through?”
He then put me out of my misery by shouting “get over here it’s in the hole”
Unbelievable moment . Total Elation. And we won the hole!
I struck my next drive and put it into proper jungle but I then calmed down sufficiently for us to get to the last hole needing to win it to half the match. I sunk the putt and we all adjourned to the bar for a well earned drink.
As usual in these representative games we have a formal meal afterwards.
I had a fantastic night, brilliant meal and company with the Matlock team, and a taxi home!

I used a Titleist pro v1 ball and the club was my Titleist AP1 5 iron.

Thanks Titleist for a great afternoon and evening.

There is a fantastic picture of the hole from the perspective of the tee box on the club website.
look for hole 15.
www.matlockgolfclub.co.uk

Research has been done at the club and there are no previous aces recorded at this hole in the past 3 years.
I feel really blessed to have had this experience.