Conference 7.286::golf

    Er...correction to .0   That is Isako Aoki not Isako Osaki or is
    it? Help me out folks!
    
    -rick-

    RE: -1    I'm pretty sure it's Aoki, but don't ask me about his
    first name.
    
    I was watching the "Skins" when Lee knocked it in.  I jumped out
    of my chair screaming "he knocked it in, I can't believe it."
    Surely one of the most exciting moments in golf history.  I hope
    your wrong about the masses taking to golf after watching the hole
    in one on t.v.  It's crowded enough out there as it is.  
    
    Chuck

	 Amazing...  I  didn't  watch  it  live  (Swedish TV isn't exactly a
	 paradise  for  golf  nuts) but I expect to see it on video in a few
	 days.  I'm looking forward to it - even though I think the greatest
	 shot  in  golf  history  must have been Gene Sarazen's holed second
	 shot in the 1935 Masters.

	 Btw, the guy's name is Isao Aoki.

	 -- Mr Litby

    Re. -1 
    I was trapped on a train back from New York to Boston, and missed
    the "live" shot; but even on tape it was pretty thrilling. Still,
    it wasn't as lucrative as Don Pooley's "million $" hole-in-one of
    last year (he kept $500K, the rest going to charity). Nor do I think
    it ranks with Sarazen's double-eagle, either, which had the advantage
    of occurring during a "real" golf tournament, rather than an ersatz
    TV event. Whatever, it couldn't have happened to a nicer guy than
    Lee, whose unorthodox swing gives hope to hackers like me who strive
    in vain to emulate the purity of Snead, Nelson, et al.
    
    Frank
    

    Sure was a great shot  -  even though it did come in 'an ersatz
    tournament'.
    
    Rather interesting, though ....  I'd been wondering how Lee's
    'take-home' measured up against others, when I arrived home yesterday
    to find a copy of a new publication, "The ACE Report", from the National
    Hole-in-One Association [NHIO], amongst my mail.  In this, the NHIO
    Executive Director, Mancil Davis (himself the professional record
    holder for aces - 48 in all) claimed that the $100,000 cash, won by
    an entrant in the Chevy America Hole-in-One Tournament at Durango,
    Co last July, was the largest award ever presented for a single shot
    in golf ...  And now Frank reminds us of Don Pooley's effort  -
    wonder how NHOI would explain that one!!
    
    As a matter of interest, I did like one item in "The Ace Maker"
    (amongst a list of accounts of other odd-ball aces):
    
    "Craig Boselie cast some doubt upon the theory that the shortest
    distance between two points is a straight line.  He recently aced
    the 18th hole (a par 4) at Reid Municipal Golf Club in Appleton,
    WI. His shot bounced off the roof of the Clubhouse, struck a tree
    and rolled the remaining forty feet into the hole."
    
    Incidentally, that reminds me, I was once informed, when somebody
    else scored an ace on a par-4 hole (in a tournament I was playing
    in, that this could not be recorded as a 'hole-in-one'; it had to
    be viewed as a 'double eagle', since Holes-in-one only applied to
    par-3s.  Anybody else ever heard this???
    
    
    Regards
    Roger    
    
    
    

    Speaking of great shots in "ersatz matches": Does anyone recall
    the TV match between Arnold Palmer and Jackie Gleason, back in the
    early 60's? Arnie was at the peak of his game, and Gleason had recently
    appeared in "The Hustler" and his prowess with a pool cue was
    legendary.But no one really knew how fine a golfer he was.
    
    The match was 18 holes, played over 2 days (9 holes per day). I'm
    pretty sure no strokes were given to Gleason, but I may be wrong.
    Anyway, on the front 9, Gleason made two of the most amazing putts
    ever seen: on one hole, he knocked in a side-hill double-breaker
    from 45'; and on another, he nonchalantly canned a triple-breaker
    "snake" from 60'! Palmer couldn't believe what he was seeing and
    neither could anybody else. On the strength of his amazing accuracy
    with the flat stick, The Great One either had a 1 stroke lead after 9
    or was tied (memory fails). The next day things didn't go quite
    so well - Gleason had done a bit of partying to celebrate his feats
    on the first day of the match, and was so hung over he could barely
    stand up! Too bad - it would have been interesting to see the results
    if he'd given it his best shot for the full 18. I'd love to have
    a video of that first day, though!
    
    Frank

    
    
     When the pressure is on in a major, the great shots are remembered.
    
     Pebble Beach # 17 was both night and day to Jack Nicklaus. That
    
     great tee shot he hit to sew it up and ironically, Tom Watson's
    
     chip in.
    
    
     Monetary value does not determine the most miraculous shot.
    
     The Masters lends itself to some very memorable shots. Short par
    
     fives can do that. The same players excel at Augusta every year.
    
     Ballesteros, Nicklaus, Haas, Norman, Crenshaw, etc...
    
     The thrill of watching Nicklaus climb the board and win another
    
     Masters was probably the biggest thrill for my career as a 
    
     spectator. Jack can do it like none other!!  
    
     Most miraculous.. his eagle on 15, birdie on 16 and 17, and stroll
    
     up 18 fairway to victory.
    
    
     Eugene in Phoenix

    I initially thought Lee Trevino's hole in one  was great.
    
    Now that I have had the pleasure of playing PGA West, Stadium Course,
    and the infamous 17th "Alcatraz" hole, I can only say Lee's shot
    was 'terrific'. 
    
    If any of you ever get there, and survive the first 16 holes, play
    the top pro tee at 166 yards. It is even more fun than the one Lee
    used, which was 147 yards.
                
    Also, let me tell you about the little 'hidden' jewel of the LaQuinta
    area. It is called the Citrus course. It weaves in and out of an
    orange/grapefruit grove and is a wonderful tract. Try it if you
    can...

    Regarding the November 1987 Skin's Game, does anyone out there have
    a VHS tape that I could borrow? My copy was inadvertently taped
    over.
    
    Thanks, 
    
    David LaVallee' (dtn:271-6818)