The Best Shot of Your Life!

[Johneli]

The one shot that you replay over and over in your mind. Maybe there's two. Maybe it was for a hole-in-one or an eagle or an albatross. Perhaps it was against a particularly irritating opponent that you whooped with par. Whatever it was please recount the best shot of your life!

Mine was a 7' uphill right to left curler to win the district and go to the state championship in high school. Followed by three lucky holes in one.

[Golfaddict]

I got to thinking about this and probably the best shot of my life was a putt. I’ve holed a couple of eagles from 150 yards out, but this one putt comes to mind. It was during our club’s match play event two years ago. At the first part of the match I got out to a quick 3 hole lead, but then he started clawing his way back. We got to hole 16 and we were all square. We come to our course’s signature hole, it’s a par 4 that has a severe dog leg left 90 degree turn about 200 yards out, ob to the right. We both hit drives safely to the middle of the fairway. He hits his approach to the front of the green giving him a 15 foot putt for birdie. I hit my approach shot in a greenside bunker. I hit my sand shot and it catches the lip of the bunker. I’m in some heavy fringe just out of the bunker. It looks as if he has the hole in the bag. I usually chip out of this position, but I feel more confident with putting downhill out of the fringe and I rattle it home. The guy is obviously flustered and 3 putts. I win the hole and close him out on hole 17.

[Bigvivec]

I've posted this before, but here it is again...

It wasn't a closest to the pin shot, a long drive or an amazing putt...the shot was very good, but it was the situation surrounding the shot that made it special...

Second shot into a mid length par 5 18th hole heavily defended by timbered bunkers...good drive to center of fairway, leaving about 215yds to the green...I nail a hybrid that lands on the front of the green under the hole and two putt for a birdie...now the circumstance...playing a beautiful course with a high rating in a strange city and having the round of my life to that point...was on 18 and needed a birdie to score 79 which would have been my first sub 80 round...I initally pulled a 6 iron until my caddie talked me out of it, saying that I could do it and go for it!

And I did...

[Ty_Webb]

Originally Posted by Johneli

an albatross

We'll learn you yet Johneli

My best shot. I've already recounted the shot I hit in April of last year, which is a strong contender, so another one. Playing at Bognor Regis on the south coast of England (it's by the coast, but an inland course). I started strongly - was about -3 after 8, with the 9th being a par five. Was fairly excited, then hooked it OB on 9 and ended up making 7. Walked to the 10th tee, which is a difficult par three, about 170, with the wind blowing quite hard off the left and slightly against (not my favourite wind). The guy I was playing with walked onto the tee with a 6-iron and hit a low draw that landed on the green pretty close, rolled up and lipped out for a one. He turned to me and said, and I quote, "Phew, I'm glad that didn't go in, I couldn't afford the bar bill". Being a student at the time I could easily sympathise. I pulled a six iron and hit a solid draw, which with the wind stayed dead straight. It landed just a hair to the left of the stick and rolled out, hit the other guy's pitchmark, which kicked it onto line and it went in. Nice.

There is another one I remember from my junior days. Playing in the club junior knockout. I hit my approach to the 10th green about 35 feet away from the flag and was walking down to the green. The knockout was played over the winter, so the greens were patchy and bumpy at the time. When I was about 50 yards short of the green, I got this sudden feeling. I knew beyond any doubt that I was going to hole the putt (holing 35 footers was not a common occurrence for me). I walked down to the green, put my bag down and took my putter out. Walked over, had a quick look from behind the ball and hit my putt. It was bouncing all over the place, but the whole time I knew it was going in. It was the weirdest feeling. Ball went right in the middle. The kid I was playing turned to me and he said "you knew you were going to do that didn't you? I could see from the grin on your face from well short of the green that you knew it was going to happen." I've never had that feeling before or since. I've had spells where I've putted very well and been very confident over everything, but I've never since felt like I knew. As far as something that you would want to bottle up and reproduce to order, there can be nothing better though. I'm not sure I'd call this the best shot I ever hit, but for the best feeling over a shot, no question.

[Johneli]

Originally Posted by Ty_Webb

We'll learn you yet Johneli

My best shot. I've already recounted the shot I hit in April of last year, which is a strong contender, so another one. Playing at Bognor Regis on the south coast of England (it's by the coast, but an inland course). I started strongly - was about -3 after 8, with the 9th being a par five. Was fairly excited, then hooked it OB on 9 and ended up making 7. Walked to the 10th tee, which is a difficult par three, about 170, with the wind blowing quite hard off the left and slightly against (not my favourite wind). The guy I was playing with walked onto the tee with a 6-iron and hit a low draw that landed on the green pretty close, rolled up and lipped out for a one. He turned to me and said, and I quote, "Phew, I'm glad that didn't go in, I couldn't afford the bar bill". Being a student at the time I could easily sympathise. I pulled a six iron and hit a solid draw, which with the wind stayed dead straight. It landed just a hair to the left of the stick and rolled out, hit the other guy's pitchmark, which kicked it onto line and it went in. Nice.

There is another one I remember from my junior days. Playing in the club junior knockout. I hit my approach to the 10th green about 35 feet away from the flag and was walking down to the green. The knockout was played over the winter, so the greens were patchy and bumpy at the time. When I was about 50 yards short of the green, I got this sudden feeling. I knew beyond any doubt that I was going to hole the putt (holing 35 footers was not a common occurrence for me). I walked down to the green, put my bag down and took my putter out. Walked over, had a quick look from behind the ball and hit my putt. It was bouncing all over the place, but the whole time I knew it was going in. It was the weirdest feeling. Ball went right in the middle. The kid I was playing turned to me and he said "you knew you were going to do that didn't you? I could see from the grin on your face from well short of the green that you knew it was going to happen." I've never had that feeling before or since. I've had spells where I've putted very well and been very confident over everything, but I've never since felt like I knew. As far as something that you would want to bottle up and reproduce to order, there can be nothing better though. I'm not sure I'd call this the best shot I ever hit, but for the best feeling over a shot, no question.

Cue the eerie music.....Twilight Zone Golf!

[JungleJ]

This is a sequence of shots that I will always remember because I was playing with my Dad. We rarely get the chance to play together, we hadn't played together for ages and I had improved a lot in the intervening period.

Nice course, par 5 of around 500 yards. After Dad plays I step up and hammer a pro looking drive right up the middle (almost literally bisects the fairway). I get a decent roll and now I have about 220 to the green, which is raised. I take my 5 wood and mash another pro looking shot that bounds off a down slope and follows the contours of the green complex to leave me pin high, 25-30 feet away with a sneaky slider downhill. Dad is VERY impressed with these two shots! After he is on I mark it up, size it up and putt - IN IT GOES! Eagle. Dad says "I bet you don't do that very often!" and I say "That's my first one"

I've hit lots of great shots before and since, including some probably better executed shots, but this was three in a row and with Dad there it will always be a great memory.

But who knows - I'm organising a game for tomorrow and maybe I'll hit something even more glorious.

[GolfSavage]

Originally Posted by JungleJ

This is a sequence of shots that I will always remember because I was playing with my Dad. We rarely get the chance to play together, we hadn't played together for ages and I had improved a lot in the intervening period.

Nice course, par 5 of around 500 yards. After Dad plays I step up and hammer a pro looking drive right up the middle (almost literally bisects the fairway). I get a decent roll and now I have about 220 to the green, which is raised. I take my 5 wood and mash another pro looking shot that bounds off a down slope and follows the contours of the green complex to leave me pin high, 25-30 feet away with a sneaky slider downhill. Dad is VERY impressed with these two shots! After he is on I mark it up, size it up and putt - IN IT GOES! Eagle. Dad says "I bet you don't do that very often!" and I say "That's my first one"

I've hit lots of great shots before and since, including some probably better executed shots, but this was three in a row and with Dad there it will always be a great memory.

But who knows - I'm organising a game for tomorrow and maybe I'll hit something even more glorious.

Playing with Dad is always special, isn't it?

When I was 13 we had moved to a small town just north of Monroe, Louisiana. We'd been back from living in South Africa for about 6 months, and my brother and I hadn't played much since we left there. One Saturday my Dad wakes us up, and we thought we were going fishing, which is what we usually did when getting up before dawn. But instead he loads up our clubs, and we drive down towards Monroe to a nice country club , Bayou Desiard (sp?). My brother and I were really excited to play again. We played from the white tees, my dad from the tips. The first nine holes were kind of sloppy for my brother and me, but by the back nine we were playing fairly well. On the 18th, a par 4 (as far as I can remember), I hit a great drive down the middle. We got to my ball, and I was about 150 yards out. I remember pulling my 5 iron, and my Dad asking if that was enough club. I was sure it was, so I nailed it, and watched the shot land just on the front of the green and roll up about 3 feet from the hole! We got up to my Dad's ball, and he had a short pitch up to the green, maybe 50-60 yards, and he hit it beyond the hole and it backed up about 6 feet past it. I'd finally put a shot inside my dad's shot! I then made the putt for my first real birdie! He made his putt as well, and I've long forgotten how my brother did! But that was a special day and a special finish. I probably played a half dozen times after that before I outgrew my clubs and lost interest. I'm so glad I came back to the game 20 years later!

[Darth Fader]

The best shot i have hit to date happened in the final of our clubs singles matchplay. The ball was sitting down in the rough below some trees,it was about 30 yards short of the green,there were 2 bunkers in front of the green as well. I hit it hard enough to get out the rough,but not so hard it hit any branches,landed between the bunkers and rolled up to gimme range,the fact that it was in a final is what makes it my best shot.

[JungleJ]

Originally Posted by GolfSavage

Playing with Dad is always special, isn't it?

Yes it is. I'm finally packing up and moving back to Canada, and the plan is to live near the mater and pater, so I should get a few more chances soon.

[Wazmankg]

I've told this before, but it hasn't changed. Playing #11 a 370-ish par 4. I was playing with a guy I'd been paired up with. He hit his down the middle. I snap-hooked my drive into fairway #2 which ran parallel. There were woods... pines thick, deep and tall between me and the green. Other than hitting backward and then around my only shot was over. I could barely make out the flag peering between the pine trunks. I had no idea how far I was, but pulled a 6 iron because I figured it was the most club I could get over the trees. I hit it pure and lost it as it barely cleared the trees. I heard him yell "you're gonna like it". I'd apparently caught part of the cup and rolled 5' past....which unfortunately I missed but it was a sweet par.

[indacup]

My best shot......






...is yet to come

[Pistol]

I would say one of the best was in a club championship several years back. Our course plays a 2 day 18 hole tournament for the club championship. On the second day I was leading by a couple coming to the last hole. I was in the last group of the day and hit a drive right down the gut and had around 115 to the pin that was down in a swell of the green. I hit a PW and it was going right at the stick. There were a couple people standing around the green and they threw there hands up and said it went into the hole. What a way to end a championship.

[Anthony792]

Originally Posted by JungleJ

Yes it is. I'm finally packing up and moving back to Canada, and the plan is to live near the mater and pater, so I should get a few more chances soon.

Good luck in your return to Canada,trust that you,ll be staying with GRW though

[jshiver15]

I have a couple.

When I was about 19 years old, I had just finished playing 9 with my Dad. After we played, my Dad decided to head home and I decided to walk another 9. I tee off on the back side and stripe my drive down the middle of the fairway. Hitting from 155 out with my 8 iron, I hit it right over the pin and back it into the hole. A couple of guys on the next tee box were clapping so that was my first indication that it went in. Kinda bummed that my Dad was driving off when it happened.

About two months ago when playing a local course, I hit into a bunker on my approach. I ended up flying the ball into the hole from about 40 feet. Maybe not the most spectacular shot ever, but I thought it was pretty darn cool.

[stlcard_25]

Originally Posted by Ty_Webb

There is another one I remember from my junior days. Playing in the club junior knockout. I hit my approach to the 10th green about 35 feet away from the flag and was walking down to the green. The knockout was played over the winter, so the greens were patchy and bumpy at the time. When I was about 50 yards short of the green, I got this sudden feeling. I knew beyond any doubt that I was going to hole the putt (holing 35 footers was not a common occurrence for me). I walked down to the green, put my bag down and took my putter out. Walked over, had a quick look from behind the ball and hit my putt. It was bouncing all over the place, but the whole time I knew it was going in. It was the weirdest feeling. Ball went right in the middle. The kid I was playing turned to me and he said "you knew you were going to do that didn't you? I could see from the grin on your face from well short of the green that you knew it was going to happen." I've never had that feeling before or since. I've had spells where I've putted very well and been very confident over everything, but I've never since felt like I knew. As far as something that you would want to bottle up and reproduce to order, there can be nothing better though. I'm not sure I'd call this the best shot I ever hit, but for the best feeling over a shot, no question.

It's strange...I get that feeling a few times a year over a putt. Never over anything else though. It's like you're in TW08 and you've got that meter all the way to the top and there's just no feeling, pure confidence and all you have to do is move the club.

As for my best shot, probably the swing that set up my first ever eagle. I had 195 to the middle of the green, uphill on a shortish par 5. Pulled a 5 iron that I knew I had to nail, and nail it I did. It landed on the front fringe took a hop and rolled up the hill to about a foot. The group in front of my congratulated me on the shot as I walked to the green, and I barely managed to brush in the hard breaking (for that length putt) 12" putt for a 3.

[GolfSavage]

I'm going to mention another, this from my adult golfing career.
The course we're playing is an on an old phosphate strip mine, and the longer fairways lay between ridges left over from the mining. Some of these ridges rise 20-30 feet above the fairway, and are maybe 15-20 yards wide, and they are covered with trees and brush.

A 140 yard par three to an elevated green. The green is on a "shelf" even with the top of a ridge, and two steps off the green to the front, left or right it slopes away pretty fast. Behind the green is a stand of trees, mostly oaks about 30-40 feet high. they sit on top of the ridge, and beyond them the side of the ridge falls away sharply to the previous hole's fairway about 30 feet below.

The tee box is on top of a ridge opposite. In the "valley" below is a small pond. I hit my 9 iron and hit it full, and watched it carry over the flag and into the tops of the oaks behind the green. When I went to find my ball it was at the base of the hill on the other side of the trees, on the edge of that fairway in some sandy soil that looked like mower tracks. From where I stood, it was about 20 yards to the hole. But I had to hit it up and over the trees, the tops now about 60 feet above me. I couldn't see the flag or green, so I had to guess the direction, and I knew I was hitting right back towards the pond near the tee, the one everything off the green slopes towards! So basically I had to hit about a 70 foot high flop shot that only carries about 15-20 yards. My only other option was to take about three extra shots to get around the end of the ridge and have a shot back at the green.

With three guys looking down from in the trees above, I took my sand wedge, opened the face wide open, and hit it with a full swing. It rose up, over the trees, and as it came down on the other side I heard it hit some small branches, then I heard someone yell,"Holy "!" When I got back up the hill and to the green, there sat my ball, 6 feet left for par! Made the putt, too!