Hole In One Number 17: Witnessed By Marita and Ken Wittman

Well the Coach did it again.  When most golfers including pros struggle to get one hole in one in their lifetime, Coach drains number 17 with Marita and Ken Wittman looking on.  Pictured below is Coach holding that little golf ball that made it's way into the hole, struck by Lloyd's famous 3 wood, on the 165 yard par three at the Classic Golf Club.

However there is a lot more to this story and I will let Marita tell it in here own words. 

My husband Ken and I met Coach while on vacation at Bear Mountain Resort on Vancouver Island last August 2013.  We met by accident on the course on Saturday, which had been a somewhat frustrating round hampered by inconsistency.  While chatting after the round, we discovered Lloyd was available to give some on-the-course tips to improve our enjoyment of the game and so we immediately engaged him to go out with us the next day. 

 

 

That Sunday we learned some important course management skills, but also learned all about Lloyd’s unique perspective and style.  It was a very enlightening round of golf, which we all enjoyed.  Lloyd presented Ken with his signature red hat that he claimed would take 5 strokes off Ken’s handicap and we agreed to keep in touch after we returned to our home in southern California.

In October 2013, Ken competed for and won our golf club’s annual net championship title.  He then represented our club in the Southern California Golf Association Net Champions Tournament in Palm Springs.   Ken attributes his success to the lessons he learned from Coach (and his hat, of course).  But that’s not the end of the story .  . .

 

 

In January 2014 we received a call from Coach that he would be in the Palm Springs area in February.  We set a date to play a round at the Classic Club for February 16^th. 

We drove from Orange County that morning and met Lloyd at the course.  After a leisurely breakfast snack, we commenced our round.  The first hole was a par 4, which Lloyd easily pared and we both boogied. 

 

The second hole was a par 3 measuring 165 yards to the pin.  Lloyd used his 3 wood for a cut shot that curved beautifully from left to right and dropped gently onto the green and began to roll toward the hole.  My husband Ken said, “That looks good, it’s going in” and we all watched as surely enough it did!  Lloyd had achieved his 17^th hole-in-one! Ken and I feel privileged that we were there to see it.  Congratulations Lloyd! 

Thanks,

Marita Wittman

Newport Beach, CA

“A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all other virtues”.

 

I would like to thank Marita and Ken for the post information. If any of you out there have a golf story or want to post something to Llody's blog you can send me the information at weshadikin@shaw.ca or you can be an author and post stuff yourself, just let me know.

 

Great day golfing to Coach and Friends...remember "Think Birdie". 

The Coach In Indian Wells California

While the snow, cold and rain is gracing the fairways of most Canadian golf courses, guess where the Coach is at?  Yupp, the Coach is having the time of his life in Indian Wells just outside of Palm Springs.

After a wonderful round of Golf on one of the best courses in Arizona it is time to celebrate and the smile on Lloyd's face tells it all.  Below is Francis Wong and his wife Mary -Ann (blond lady) and Lloyd and his date for the evening.  It was Valentine's Day and Lloyd and his new friends want to wish the rest of us Coach and Friends group a happy day.

 

Hopefully the rest of us can get an invite next year to Indian Wells in February...sounds like a plan.  I also heard a rumour that Lloyd may have sunk another hole in one making it his 17, I will wait for official notification before posting the details.

Keep well and Think Birdie

 

 

 

 

A Close Qualifying Miss For Mark

We'll the first stage is over and unfortunately I missed the cut. I had a decent round 1 scoring 73 in very windy conditions which left me tied for ninth. The second round was A very poor performance on the greens and after many three putts I finished with an 81 and missed the cut by four shots.

I am very disappointed at my finish here, my ball striking was exceptional but the putter let me down.  So while I am disappointed with the result I will take the positives (my ball striking) and review my short game for needed areas of improvement.

Failure lies on the road to success and I will look at this as another learning experience.
I am grateful that I have the talent , ambition, and opportunity to pursue this goal.  I will continue to work hard every time I tee it up, I will seize the opportunity to improve each day.
Professional golf is a journey , and as long as I can accept the fact that there are many twists and turns in this journey, it will turn out fine.

I really appreciate the support of my friends at Think Birdie and will post some
Pictures of these outstanding golf courses in Portugal when I get back to Canada.

Talk  to you soon

Mark Forrest