As part of the SCGA's annual membership renewal season, we are checking in with SCGA members and featuring their golf stories on SCGA.org! Have questions about renewing your membership for 2013? Visit scga.org/renew.
“It only took 50 years!”
That is what SCGA member Harold Rowden had to say about his first hole-in-one last week.
Rowden approached the tee just like any other, choking up on his driver on the 187 yard, par 3 at Hemet GC. With a nice swing and perfect aim, he hit the ball towards the flagstick. Losing the ball mid-flight, his fellow golfers began the search around the green and in the hazard. “I must have hit it over,” he said to himself. After feeling slightly discouraged, he took a walk onto the green and peeked in the hole. There it was.
“I never thought I’d get one. I kind of gave that up because of my age,” he said.
Rowden, 83 years young, started playing golf in his thirties. He picked up the game after finding out it provided great exercise. “It also allowed me to take out some aggression after a long day at work,” said the retired Los Angeles police officer. Rowden served 31 years with the LAPD and continued playing golf after retirement due to the camaraderie and honesty the game encompasses.
Born and raised in California, Rowden still plays in tournaments and lives on the course at Hemet. Although he has to figure out new distances on certain golf clubs and his eyesight plays a factor in putting, he never misses an opportunity to play and can still hit his drives 200 yards.
With his first hole-in-one in the books, Rowden played this same hole a week later. This time, he won closest to the pin and was happy to find his golf ball seven feet from the hole. “At least I didn’t have to buy the beer again that day!”
If you would like to submit your hole-in-one and receive a certificate, click here.
