Hole-in-One

Duane Hoskinson and Russ Steglich

Lee Ayers

Both Duane Hoskinson and Russ Steglich, members of the West Verde Lane Golf Association here in PebbleCreek, recently each scored a hole-in-one! Duane aced his on the Tuscany Falls East course, hole number 8, on Nov. 8. Russ made his on Nov. 15, on par 3 hole number 8, on the Eagle’s Nest course.

Using a nine iron on hole number 8, a par 3 hole, on the Tuscany Falls East course, with the tee shot being 127 yards away, Duane hit a shot that landed about 4 inches from the hole, then back-spun into the cup! Russ Dyson, Brett Mackey, and Rick Mattern, 18-hole teammates of Duane’s that day, were happy celebrants, high-fiving Duane and cheering loudly for him in honor of his accomplishment!

Russ, a nine-hole member, using a seven iron, hit a high drive about 170 yards, just short of the green. After rolling onto the green, the ball traveled along the green, up a slight incline, slightly changed direction, and rolled straight into the cup! No one on his team truly knew the location of the ball. It was only when they finally looked into the cup and saw the ball that they realized Russ had scored a hole-in-one! Teammates Bernie Rubin and Bill Hipp were as excited as Russ, offering happy congratulations to him for his achievement.

The West Verde Golf Association for men was formed in April 2008 by four men who lived on that street: Lee Ayers, Bob Carlson, Pat Moore, and Don Richter. In the beginning, there was one foursome made up of the founders. Over the years, the association has grown to 35 members who reside in both the Eagle’s Nest and Tuscany Falls sides of PebbleCreek. Because the members are of various golfing abilities and all ages, the only game played is always a scramble. There are two divisions, one for those choosing to play only nine holes, with the other accommodating members who play 18 holes. All contests are played on Mondays. Foursomes are established in each division days before the contests are to be played. A great time is had by all, as they share their golfing day over food and drinks at the clubhouse after golf. These two days of golf were very special to Duane and Russ and to the golf group!

Ken Helman Makes Ace During PCMGA Event

Howie Tiger

On Nov. 18, Ken Helman made a hole-in-one on the 8th hole at Tuscany Falls East course. As he made this rare shot during a PebbleCreek Men’s Golf Association (PCMGA) event, he now qualifies to share in the year-end hole-in-one annual prize. Ken is the fourth player to do it this year, along with Phil Smyth, Ken Ogden, and Paul Polk. It’s funny that the four players’ first names start with a “K” or a “P” (FYI for non-golfers, “KP” is the nickname for a closest-to-the-pin shot).

On that calm weather day, the par three 8th hole was playing 170 yards from the blue tee with a front pin placement. Ken hit a seven wood with a slight draw, which landed on the green, then kicked a little left and poured into the hole.

While Ken hit from the blue tee, his playing partners, Harry Apodaca, Mike McMahon, and Ken Schumacher, watched from the white tee. They all saw it go in and started yelling, “It’s in!” Other witnesses to this amazing shot included the foursome playing behind Ken. Jim Bundschuh, John Abercrombie, Arnie Lawrence, and Cort Wyss were all waiting at the blue tee and celebrated with Ken. According to Ken, he had the calmest reaction to the shot while the other seven guys went crazy. Ken said, “Happiness was not having to putt,” as he was not having a great putting day.

People were soon asking Ken if he and his wife, Cathi, purchased a lottery ticket. Coincidentally, Cathi had just made a hole-in-one four days earlier on the 3rd hole of the west course.

This was Ken’s fourth hole-in-one in his 30-year playing career. His first was at Gleneagles Country Club in Plano, Texas, in 1997. That was the most memorable one, as it caromed off a tree and bounced in. His second one came at Tatum Ranch in Scottsdale in 2001 during a member-guest tourney practice round. His only prize was a sizable bar tab. His third one came at Chaparral Pines in Payson in 2008 while playing with three of his best friends.

Ken and Cathi moved to PebbleCreek in April 2018 and are loving it here. Ken is most grateful for the jubilant reactions of his playing partners and witnesses to his hole-in-one.

Cathi Helman Scores an Ace the Same Week as Ken

Diane Burns, PCL9GA President

PebbleCreek Lady Niner Cathi Helman had her second hole-in-one on Nov. 14 at Tuscany Falls West hole number 3, 97 yards using an eight iron.

Her first hole-in-one was at Chaparral Pines Golf Club in Payson, Ariz., on Sept. 7, 2016.

Cathi said, “It was really cool because I can recall the shot in my memory from the tee to the hole. I knew I connected, and I watched it go straight to the pin and roll in the hole.”

She was playing with her husband, Ken, and Mike and Carol Nadon.

On Nov. 18, 2021, Ken Helman got a hole-in-one of his own at the Tuscany Falls East course. What a memory for the couple to each score a hole-in-one in the same week. Congratulations, Cathi and Ken!