Staff writer
One hole. One club. One ball. One shot. Travis Hett of Marion is one gleeful golfer.
He beat the odds and realized every golfer’s dream by sinking his first hole-in-one July 24 at Marion Country Club. By doing so, he also became the fourth of five family members to score the astonishing feat.
Hett had started the back nine of an after work match with his brother Nickolas and friend Roger Schroeder when he aced hole No. 2, a 291 yard par 4 with a slight dogleg.
“It was a competitive round where low ball gets bragging rights,” Hett said. “I was down three strokes to Nickolas, and I was trying to make something happen. I decided to go big and hit my driver.”
When Hett struck the ball, he knew it was a good shot that likely would hit the green, but trees obstructed the trio’s view.
“I always hit short or long on that hole,” Hett said. “I was telling my brother in the golf cart that he was the only person I know who regularly eagles hole No. 2.”
This time Hett thought he was long. When they stopped the cart, he grabbed several wedges and his putter and began to search for his ball. He looked everywhere behind the green. Nothing. He checked in front and all around. Still nothing.
“I was about to go back to the tee and hit another ball when Nickolas told me to check the hole,” Hett said. “I peeked over the edge of the hole and sure enough there it was. I just threw my clubs up in the air. It was an adrenaline rush. I got a huge tingle down the back of my neck.”
Hett said Schroeder threw his hands up in the air and laughed and Nickolas stared in disbelief.
“Nickolas was happy for me but he said something like, ‘Dang, it’s down to me now’,” Hett said. “We’ve both always dreamed of getting a hole-in-one, but I never thought I would get one on a par 4.”
His parents, Aaron and Lanell, and his sister, Lindsey, all previously scored hole-in-ones on No. 9, a par 3, at Marion Country Club.
“I looked up the chances of getting a hole in one on a par 4,” Hett said. “The chances are a lot slimmer than on a par three. One site said it was like a 1-in-1 million chance, another site it said a 1-in-6 million chance.”
Hett’s hole-in-one brought him even with his brother and Schroeder, but despite his rare accomplishment, Hett said Nickolas ended up beating him 69 to 74.
“It wouldn’t surprise me to see Nickolas get his own hole-in-one soon,” Hett said.