A Healing Golf Story

Many people claim that golf has helped them to heal, both emotionally and physically. That may be said of one boy who was hit in a tragic car accident less than a year ago. The teen, was able to recover from remarkable odds and then, back on the golf course, he hits a hole in one! Talk about impressive.

Imagine being a 14 year old on the golf course. You may not have known much about the game, but you loved it. Men twice or even three times his age have been unable to accomplish the hole in one that Brad Patton did!

Brad was recently involved in a car accident. He was hit by a Dodge Dakota in October of 2008. The accident left him with a variety of injuries including brain damage, a broken back and a broken femur. He was just 14 at the time of the accident. The vehicle hit him dead on and threw him some 45 feet into the air.

According to the Oakland Press, Brad said, "All of the doctors didn't think I would talk, they didn't know if I would even survive." He continues, "I feel extremely lucky."

But, this is not all of the story of the Sylvan Township, Michigan boy. He took to the golf course at Union Lake Golf Course in July of 2009. In doing so, he was able to hit a hole in one on a 125-yard hole. That is impressive for anyone, not just a 14-year-old boy, still recovering from a horrible accident. From all accounts it doesn’t sound like Brad won a prize for his hole in one but sometimes the feat itself can be sweeter than any prize!

Two Holes In One For Michigan Native

Some golfers go their whole golf career without ever hitting a hole in one. The odds of hitting a hole in one for an average golfers are 1 in 12,500 and is by no means an easy accomplishment for anyone stepping foot onto the links. When and if a golfer scores his first ace the process involves a lot of celebration. First the situation seems unbelievable; the foursome jumps up and down on the tee box and usually ends the day buying rounds of drinks for the clubhouse in celebration. From that point on the golfer has a story to tell for years to come. Now take the greatness of that situation and repeat it two days later, this is exactly what happened to Jim Voss when he scored his first hole in one on Tuesday then another ace on Thursday.

Voss, a Michigan native, spends his winters in Hudson, Florida and has partial golf membership at River Ridge Golf Course in New Port Richey, Florida. Voss’s first hole in one was on number 9, a par 3 95-yard hole using a 9 iron. Number 9 is a short hole but by no means an easy par 3. The green lies behind a sand trap so the foursome was unable to witness the ball going in the hole but found it in the cup when they traveled down to the green. The second hole in one, just two days later, was on a longer par 3, playing 132 yards, Voss used his 8 iron. Voss did get to see this ace as hit landed about 3 feet from the hole and dropped right into the cup. Voss is known around the course as a great golfer and two aces in 48 hours further proves his great abilities! Congratulation to Jim Voss!

Birdies for Babies: Pros Swing for March of Dimes!

The Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines Golf Club in La Jolla, California is putting a new twist on the last two days of the tournament in order to benefit the March of Dimes. The March of Dimes is an organization that focuses its attention to research and education to prevent birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. Farmers, a leading fund-raiser for the March of Dimes set up a program called “Birdies for Babies” that was able to get the professional’s involved in raising money for a good cause. During the third and the final round of play on January 30th and 31st Farmers Insurance Group donated $100.00 for every birdie, $1,000.00 for every eagle, and $100,000.00 for every hole in one made by the professionals.

CEO of Farmers Insurance Group, Bob Woudstra, believes very strongly in the March of Dimes Foundation and was quoted “to be able to combine great golf and an even better cause is a true hole in one for all of us at Farmers.” Farmers is the second largest contributor to the March of Dimes for fundraising. In 2009 the insurance company raised over $4.8 million!

The Birdies for Babies was a huge success at Torrey Pines this year, in total the company raised $60,800 just based on the pro’s work alone. Overall there were 528 birdies and 8 eagles. Since none of the professionals scored an ace that day Farmers regardless pledged $100,000 in the name of Nick Watney, the 2009 champion.

Beating the Odds- One Round, Two Aces, Same Foursome!

When Julian Williamson and Graham Young started their round last week they never expected such excitement! The two headed out on Carolina Country Club with two other golfers to play the same course they had played many times before. It seemed like a normal round of golf, until they arrived at the back nine. The excitement started on hole number 11 at Carolina, a 150 yard par 3. Williamson hit an 8-iron to come up short, about six inches from the hole, after making contact on the green the ball rolled the short distance directly into the cup. The foursome was ecstatic, everyone was able to see the ball hit the green and roll straight into the cup! Spirits were up as they continued on and two holes later, on number 13 the 188-yard hole, Young hit a 4-iron straight at the hole. Similar to Williamsons shot, the ball landed in front of the hole and rolled right in.

Both visible hole in one shots by two different people in the same foursome! US Hole In One found that the odds of an average golfer hitting a hole in one in a single round is about 1 in 3,125 however two people in the same foursome is quite a feat! For both golfers this was their second career ace and with handicaps of 5 and 6 these two golfers look like they may have more holes in one in their future. On Young’s first hole in one he actually won a Buick and hopefully for his third ace he will be able to receive another prize! Congrats Julian and Graham!