Bill Palmer celebrates his sixth hole-in-one
Bill Palmer Scores His Sixth Ace
Howie Tiger
On Aug. 29 Bill Palmer made a hole-in-one on hole number 12 of the Eagle’s Nest course. This was Bill’s sixth career hole-in-one! He made it while playing in his regular golf group, the Bandits.
The 12th hole was playing 138 yards from the white tees with a front-pin position on the right side of the green. Bill hit his 7-iron solid with a ball flight straight at the flagstick. He and his playing partners, Wayne Cox and Dick Helmstetter, could not see the hole due to a slight ridge in that part of the green. So, they did not see the ball go in.
As the threesome approached the green, they saw Wayne’s ball on the back of the green, but not Bill’s. Bill thought his ball would be somewhere on the green based on his shot trajectory. So, he wondered if it went in. Wayne checked the hole and said, “Hey, it’s in the hole!” Wayne was so nice, he even took it out of the hole for Bill. What a guy! The celebrations commenced.
Bill grew up in Dinuba, Calif. (near Fresno). He has been playing golf for 70+ years. His first five aces were all made in California. His first ace came in 1962 at the Kings River Golf and Country Club near Fresno. His second in the early ’70s was at Rancho Murieta golf course near Sacramento. His third in the early ’80s at Swenson Park Golf Course in Stockton. His fourth in the early ’90s was at Brookside Country Club (CC) in Stockton, and his fifth in the early 2000s was at that same Brookside CC on the same hole as his fourth one.
Bill graduated from San Francisco State University with a business degree. He served in the U.S. Coast Guard in the mid ’60s. We thank him for his service. He spent his 35-year working career at Royal Insurance, his last position being an Underwriting Manager.
He and his wife of 58 years, Evelyn, moved to PebbleCreek in 1998 and are absolutely enjoying their retirement here.
Congrats on this recent terrific shot! Quite an accomplishment to make a hole-in-one in six out of seven decades! Wouldn’t it be awesome if he makes one in the early 2030s?
Tim Niccum makes a hole-in-one on the same hole as his second ace
Tim Niccum Makes His Third Hole-in-One
Howie Tiger
On Aug. 11 Tim Niccum made a hole-in-one on the 17th hole of the Eagle’s Nest course. He made this awesome shot while playing in his regular golf group, the Rattlers. This was Tim’s third career hole-in-one.
The 17th hole was playing 133 yards from the white tees to a back right-pin placement. Tim’s playing partners were Clint Hull, Dave Condon, and LJ Benjamin. Tim hit his 7-hybrid with a high trajectory to the middle of the green just left of the flagstick. It had a little left to right cut spin so it bounced to the right and rolled toward the hole. Tim thought he saw his ball go in and yelled, “That went into the hole!” Dave said, “Yeah, it might have gone in!”
Dave was the first to arrive at the green and he looked into the hole. He said, “No, there’s no ball in there.” Tim disappointedly said,” “Really, that has to be in the hole!” Then, Dave gave Tim a wry smile and said, “Yes, it’s in there.” Clint and LJ just laughed and the celebration began with some more laughter and high fives. After the round, Tim bought drinks for the group, even for that rascal Dave.
Tim has been playing golf for 38 years. His first ace came in 2002 while playing with his son at the Honeywell Golf Course in Wabash, Ind. His second one came on this same Eagle’s Nest hole number 17 in 2022. That one was during a PebbleCreek Men’s Golf Association tourney, so he had shared in the annual hole-in-one prize.
Tim was born and raised in Wabash living on his family’s farm. On their 640–acre farm they grew corn, beans, and wheat as well as raised “show” hogs. The farm was initially purchased by his grandfather in 1941. In addition to farming, Tim also served on the Wabash Fire Department for more than 26 years. He finished out his career there as Fire Chief. Thank you for your service!
Tim retired in 2006 and moved to Buckeye, Ariz., with his wife, Dr. Sheri Niccum. Sheri was a general practitioner. Tim and Sheri moved to PebbleCreek in 2015.
Congrats on this terrific shot!