Area golfers reported three dozen holes-in-one last year

A hole in one may be the most unpredictable accomplishment in sports.

The fickle hand of fate often seems to hand out golf's Golden Grail without regard to experience, skill level or age. If the golf gods bestow an ace, a golfer should not ask questions, merely embrace the moment and memory of golf's fleeting perfection.

In 2009, a total of 36 holes-in-one were reported to the Southeast Missourian. Thirty-four of the aces occurred in Cape Girardeau County, while two players traveled to St. Francois Country Club in Farmington, Mo., to accomplish the feat.

The breakdown on the numbers and circumstances were intriguing.

Ken Swinford led the charge, twice marking down "1" on his scorecard. And if 13 is an unlucky number, one may have a hard time convincing Swinford. Both of his aces came on the 13th hole at Dalhousie Golf Club. The first occurred June 8 when Swinford used an 8-iron from 160 yards for his fourth career ace. He had to wait little more than three months for his fifth hole-in-one, which came Sept. 17 with a 5-iron and the hole playing 186 yards.

Making multiple holes-in-one on the same hole is hard to believe, but so is an ace on April 1. That April Fools shot was turned in by Tyler Thrower on the 8th hole at Bent Creek. Thrower's story was verified by Jim Burns, who witnessed the 6-iron shot on the 185-yard hole.

Also falling under the category of unusual was a two-shot snippet in Paul Giebler's round June 12 at Dalhousie when he carded back-to-back eagles. Giebler first holed out from the fairway at No. 4 for eagle. His next swing was even better, holing his 8-iron tee shot on No. 5, a par 3 that was playing 142 yards. Luckily for Giebler, the swings came on June 12 -- not April 1.

The golf gods also smiled on Cord Dombrowski for the 10th time Sept. 27 at Dalhousie.

Dombrowski's 5-iron shot on No. 8 may have been the most rewarding of his 10 aces. After all, it was his first ace at Dalhousie, a course which he had built and owns. Like most golfers who have played the private club, the golf gods apparently approve of Dombrowski's tract of land.

And then there were the favors returned by playing partners Gordon Feeney and Jesse Eaker at Kimbeland Country Club. Eaker witnessed Feeney's hole in one May 22 with a 6-iron on No. 8, and Feeney returned the favor, serving as witness on Oct. 13 when Eaker holed a 9-iron shot on No. 4.

And it was hole No. 4 at Kimbeland that was the site of the most hole-in-one celebrations. Seven of the 36 aces occurred on the hole, which plays between 108 and 146 yards. Nearly half of the aces reported came at Kimbeland, which had 17. Dalhousie was next with nine, while Cape Girardeau Country Club had seven.

Cape Country Club's No. 8 had the second-highest ace total with five, followed by No. 13 at Dalhousie (four), thanks to Swinford.

* The most common clubs of choice were 9-iron (nine) and 8-iron (seven).

* Women accounted for nine of the aces.

* Karen Heisel had the shortest hole in one, holing a wedge from 86 yards on No. 12 at Kimbeland.

* Mike Bennett, a Cape Girardeau dentist, had the distinction of the longest ace, which occurred Aug. 23 on No. 2 at Cape Girardeau Country Club. Bennett impressively displayed he can fill a cavity from 190 yards away.