Hole-In-One – May 2024

Gerry Schmelzer Scores an Ace on Leap Day

Howie Tiger

On Feb. 29 Gerry Schmelzer made a hole-in-one on hole number 8 of the Tuscany Falls East course. This was Gerry’s first ever hole-in-one and he did it on the rarest of all days in a leap year! He made it while playing in a PebbleCreek Men’s Golf Association (PCMGA) scheduled event. As such, Gerry is now eligible to share in the annual hole-in-one prize along with Lloyd Chilton, who made one in January.

The 8th hole played 139 yards from the white tees to a front-center pin-placement. Gerry hit his 8-iron straight at the flagstick. The ball first took a 10-foot high bounce into the air, then a couple more bounces before rolling into the hole. Gerry and all three of his playing partners (Richard Holbeck, Kelly Schunke, and John Barlow) saw the ball go in. A marshal making his rounds also witnessed the ace. The marshal said, “That shot made my day!” Whooping, hollering, and high fives all around!

Gerry had just joined the PCMGA six weeks earlier. On this day, he was playing well and had lots of birdie “looks.” He helped his team in the “quota” game, the format for the day.

Gerry was born and raised in Perry, Ohio, and has been playing golf for 50 years. He graduated from Ohio State with a business degree. He spent most of his career in logistics and was the Divisional Logistics Manager at Hendrickson Trailer CVS in Canton, Ohio, for 24 years.

Besides golf, his hobbies include fishing, home remodeling and playing the guitar. He plays in a worship band that performs at services about 40 times a year.

He retired in August 2023. He and his wife, Sandy (a retired nurse), came to Arizona to be near their daughter and grandkids. Retirement has given him “time to pursue his passions.” According to Gerry, he and Sandy are “living the dream” here in PebbleCreek.

Congrats to him on a great shot on the rarest of days!

Kathy Hubert-Wyss Scores Her Fourth HIO During PCLGA Member/Member Tournament

Carole Schumacher

Kathy Hubert-Wyss scored an ace on March 12 at Tuscany Falls East on hole number 4 during the second day of the annual PCLGA Member/Member Tournament.

Her playing partners for the day were Margaret Dlhouy, Mary Harris, and Amber Rivera. The hole measured 126 yards, and her 6 iron was her lucky stick.

This is Kathy’s fourth hole-in-one after scoring three at various courses in her home state of Minnesota.

“This one was so funny because Mary Harris started commenting on the shot the moment it left my clubface—‘great swing, great looking shot, go in the hole, go in the hole’—and it went into the hole!” said Kathy. Following golf, Kathy got to celebrate in the Tuscany Falls Ballroom with all the PCLGA ladies during the Member/Member luncheon.

Kathy and her husband, Cort Wyss, still have a home in Blaine, Minn.

Congratulations, Kathy!

Lynn Walkowski Scores Her First Ace!

Carole Schumacher

Lynn Walkowski got her first hole-in-one on March 16 at Tuscany Falls East on hole number 8 using her lucky 7 wood! Her playing partners for the day were her husband, Ray, and cousin Joan and Vic Knight. The hole measured 127 yards.

“When I teed off, the ball was heading toward the trap on the right, but fell short, and Ray yelled, “kick left,” and it did!” Lynn said. “Then it rolled up to the pin and just disappeared! The entire group was very excited, but I had to see it for myself. I was shocked!”

Following the round of golf, the foursome celebrated with happy hour and munchies at Lynn and Ray’s.

Lynn and Ray moved to PebbleCreek in February 2021, and Lynn has been a member of the PebbleCreek Ladies Golf Association since then. They also have a home in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Congratulations, Lynn!

Steve Tamparo Makes Hole-in-One During PCMGA Tourney

Howie Tiger

On March 7, Steve Tamparo made a hole-in-one on hole number 17 at Tuscany Falls East. It was his first ever ace. He made it while playing in a PebbleCreek Men’s Golf Association (PCMGA) event and is now eligible to share in the annual hole-in-one prize. In 2024, we now have a third consecutive month where an ace was made during PCMGA play. Lloyd Chilton made one in January, and Gerry Schmelzer made one in February. In each case, it was their first ever hole-in-one. Question: Will there be a first ever ace made every month this year?

The 17th hole played 148 yards from the white tees to a back left pin-placement. Steve hit his 7-iron with a high fade trajectory at the left edge of the green. The ball landed and disappeared. Steve said to his playing partners (Tom Mamrak, Joe Bannon, and Ken Helman), “That could be in the hole!” Or maybe it just rolled into the swale just over the green? Steve brought his wedges to the green preparing to chip. They checked the swale and he did not see his ball. Steve thought it must be in the hole. So he checked the hole, and the party began!

As a coincidence, on the next day, Steve’s wife, Jennifer, missed an ace on Eagle’s Nest hole number 8 by a mere two inches!

Steve spent most of his life in Seattle, Wash., and spent his 32-year career in software development at Boeing in their Information Technology department.

Steve has been playing golf for 40 years. Even though this was his first “ace,” he did make a “hole-in-three” once. A while back, he hit his first shot to a par 3 into a pond in front of the green. He re-teed and holed that one! He saw that “three” go in.

Besides golf, Steve is an avid pickleball player playing five times a week. Other than sports, he is a cellist. As a student he played in his high school and college orchestras. As an adult, he played in the West Seattle Community Orchestra, performing concerts three times a year.

He retired from Boeing in 2017. He and Jennifer moved to PebbleCreek in 2018.

Congrats to Steve on his great shot and to Jennifer for her great shot, as well!