2nd Round SJ Member-Member. We are in 2nd place playing with the 3rd place players. Best Ball. Started on hole 12 at Members. Opened up pretty good, my partner dragging ass. My double bogey on 14 was uncalled for as I 3jacked from 12'. Greens were SUPER FAST, of course, for the SJ Major. Put some ass into it off the tee on the par 5 - 15th, hitting my 5wood 200(!) downwind to the water-throat fairway strip, laid up to 45, perfect flip to 5' and the birdie. So now I'm percolating . Our 5th hole, I'm second to swing on the par 3 16th. It's playing -11 from center and +8 from front. The HOT wind (8-10mph) is now in our face and pin is at 134. I have about 9-10 yards to work with on the front and the pin is on the top shelf, the ledge that then drops to the 2nd level, and then to the 3rd back tier. So I figure I gotta be short but need to get it on. Scott hit yet another fugly shot, started swearing and banging his club into the ground, so I snap him outa of it by demanding his caddyship. I had both my 7 & 8 irons in hand. We discuss the wind and I tell Scott that I think my 8 will balloon and not make it. He says yeah, short is better but the entrance is flat ...so bump it on. Ok, I'll hit the 7 but one thumb down, like I did on that first par 3 with my 8iron. He says yeah, but don't go past that ledge the pin is on. So I say, thumb 1 & 1/2 then. Scott rolls his eyes at me and kinda says, whatever, in his very Debbie Downer kinda way, but then says, do your thing. So I lean the grip of my 8 iron on the left tee marker and mount my hands on the 7 iron grip, getting to that perfect 1&1/2 thumb down, reminding myself to COMMIT, and with a FULL SWING. Routine: behind the ball, pin was middle front entrance, wind in the puss, took dead aim, 6sec breath in, 2 hold, 8 slow out as I address my ball, swing like I'm suppose to, with intention, and then a great in balanced finish. Mike says, that's a great looking shot, I say to my ball, NOW CHECK UP; ball hits about 1 yard on, checks, then does a straight putting like gentle release towards the hole. Jim says, that has eyes, I think my partner Scott said, DANG, ball runs true at the pin, a little at the right side, and then as it still appears to be rolling, it gently, I mean really like softly, disappears at the pin, which is right at the ledge. So I say it must have gone by the hole and down to the second tier. Jim said, unless it went in the hole. Mike is excited and says, let's go find out! They hit and then we all storm the green like a battalion. Mike is the first one looking lower tier and says, it's not here. Jim replied, dejected because he's short and in the bunker, maybe it rolled off the back. I'm heading to the hole, Scott is behind my not wanting to look in the hole before I do, and I see a yellow gleam - MY BALL! It's sleeping like a baby on the left side of the pin, all tucked in, waiting for my arrival. Pulling it out, I raise it in the air and say, I finally did it, I made an ace!! Looking up , I say, I did it Grandpa, and did you see that Gil (my wife's golfaholic father)! Then I took my big hat off, raised it to my group, who gave me a clap, and then 360 degrees to the make-pretend full bleacher gallery, thanking them for their applause and support. Then, oh yeah, I was milking it, I took my hat and slung it into the air a-la 1971 Trevino at Royal Birkdale, into the wind, very poor OddJob flight, and directly into the bunker, getting full of sand... . They finished up and pictures ensued. Next tee the adrenaline is pumping, I'm all giddy, and proceed to pump it out of bounds for a 2 stroke penalty. 1 swing for -2 and anther swing for +2. Guess that's my game, very much in equilibrium. My Hole-In-One is announced at the awards luncheon, I don't win a car, and 234 golfers want a drink at the bar. I stand up, take my applause, hold up my hand, and then tell them that the lemonade and ice-tea bins have been refilled.