Gus Gladding scores an ace

Gus Gladding makes hole-in one on TF East course.

Gus Gladding makes hole-in one on TF East course.

Howie Tiger

Gus Gladding made a hole-in-one on Thursday, January 17 while playing in the PebbleCreek Men’s Golf Association four-man scramble tournament. He made it on the par-3 17th hole on the Tuscany Falls East course.

The hole played 142 yards from the blue tee to a front pin. In calm conditions Gus hit his 7-iron about middle height just left of the hole. The ball kicked off the hill to the right and dead into the hole. He and his playing partners saw it go in. So exciting all started giving Gus high fives! Gus’ playing partners were Bill Schaffer, Ed Salko and Harry Apodaca.

Gus grew up in San Jose, CA. He started playing golf at his father’s club, San Jose CC at the tender age of eight. He is a graduate of Linfield College.

Gus was a 20-year career pilot for the U.S. Air Force. He was an aircraft commander with a crew of six flying B-52 Bombers. He was also an instructor and an evaluator pilot. After retiring from the Air Force, Gus flew MD-80s and 737s for U.S. Airways while based in Pittsburgh, PA.

This was Gus’ second hole-in-one. His first one came on February 20, 2009 on the fifth hole at Coldwater Golf Course in Avondale.

As it happened during a PCMGA event, Gus is now qualified to share in the hole-in-one annual prize fund which is usually about $2,000. Gus is the first PCMGA member to get a hole-in-one in 2019. Like all PCMGA players who make that first season hole-in one, we’re sure Gus is hoping no one else gets one this year!

Congratulations, Gus!