Positive Golf Inspiring Story - Two Holes in One in the Same Round
In January 2007, we posted our first in an ongoing series of Positive Golf Inspiring Stories, and today we are going to share another. These stories are about people who have achieved something extraordinary in golf by using the type of positive mental ideas and attitudes that we promote through TheHeartofGolf.com. They show us what is possible with focus, belief, and positivity. Our first story was about a local professional who shot his age in competition - a 59 at 59. Our next story is about a woman who is what Dr. Norman Vincent Peale refers to as "a possibilitarian." Here's why...
It happened this past winter and people are still talking about it and offering their congratulations. On February 4, 2007, Phyllis Semple - Rick's Aunt Phyllis - made two holes in one in the same round at the fourth and 10th holes at the St. Andrews Club in Delray Beach, Fla. As any golfer knows, it is a rare and exciting occurrence to record one hole in one in the same round, but TWO is quite extraordinary. And it is quite remarkable to do it at age 85. But then again, Phyllis Semple is a remarkable woman with a competitive spirit and a can-do attitude that never quits.
Over the years, Phyllis Semple has won the women's club championship many times at her home course, Allegheny Country Club in Sewickley, PA. She has also won the Pennsylvania Women's Amateur and Senior Championships and the Women's Golf Association of Western Pennsylvania Championship six times. In addition, she has also recorded four holes in one in her lifetime - two at Allegheny and two at Gulf Stream Golf Club in Delray Beach, her home course in the winter. While her last hole in one was in 1967, Phyllis has continued to play with the same determination and fervor in every practice and every round for the last 40 years, including that grand day at the St. Andrews Club.
The morning of February 4th, Phyllis attended a speech in Delray Beach given by her daughter, Carol Semple Thompson, who is a former U.S. and British Women's Amateur champion and a two-time U.S. Curtis Cup captain. During the Q&A section of the program, Carol responded to a question about visualization, self-talk, self hypnosis, and other mental golf techniques, and she described how these had helped her over the years, including the practice of them in preparation for the National Amateur which she went on to win. Interestingly enough, it was that afternoon after that speech when Carol and her mother played the round at the St. Andrews Club and Carol witnessed her mother make the two holes in one.
Was there a link for Phyllis between listening to Carol's inner game and making the "two aces" thereafter? Perhaps. What we do know is this: Aunt Phyllis has a perennially positive attitude. When playing in matches, she frequently marks her ball with a smiley face, "so that I remember to think positive thoughts even when I make a shot I don't like," she tells us. Phyllis sees life as full of possibilities rather than impossibilities, and she makes it a habit to focus on what she can do rather that what she can't do. Carol said this to a reporter from the Pittsburgh Post Gazette about her mother's attitude on the course the day of her great accomplishment: After her first one, she said, 'I can do it again.' And sure enough, she did. When friends at Allegheny Country Club heard the news about the two holes in one, they responded with acceptance rather than disbelief because they have been touched by Phyllis' can-do attitude.
According to the records, the oldest woman to record a hole in one is Elsie McLean in Chico, Calif. who was 102 when she made the amazing accomplishment earlier in 2007. Golf Digest reports that there have been 28 instances of a player recording two holes in one in the same round. But, there is no record listed for the oldest person to get TWO holes in one in the same round. We're not sure if Phyllis Semple's feat at age 85 will be entered in the record books because St. Andrews Club is a par-3 course and not a regulation course, which typically has between four and six par 3s. Whether it is in the "official" record books or not, it is a "feat extraordinaire," and we consider it a shining example of Positive Golf and Aunt Phyllis a stellar ambassador of the game.
And in case you wonder if Phyllis Semple is taking it easy after her two-holes-in-one-in-the-same-round accomplishment, we can assure you she is not. She can still be seen regularly on the practice tee at Allegheny, trying new moves to improve her putting and her swing. And within days of the posting of this story, she and her grandson placed first in an event at Allegheny. Phyllis Semple continues to show us that if you believe it and practice it, there are no limits to what positive thinking can do for you in golf and in life.
Here's to great golf!
Rick Semple
Positive Golfer
Co-Founder, TheHeartofGolf.com
http://www.TheHeartofGolf.com
In January 2007, we posted our first in an ongoing series of Positive Golf Inspiring Stories, and today we are going to share another. These stories are about people who have achieved something extraordinary in golf by using the type of positive mental ideas and attitudes that we promote through TheHeartofGolf.com. They show us what is possible with focus, belief, and positivity. Our first story was about a local professional who shot his age in competition - a 59 at 59. Our next story is about a woman who is what Dr. Norman Vincent Peale refers to as "a possibilitarian." Here's why...
It happened this past winter and people are still talking about it and offering their congratulations. On February 4, 2007, Phyllis Semple - Rick's Aunt Phyllis - made two holes in one in the same round at the fourth and 10th holes at the St. Andrews Club in Delray Beach, Fla. As any golfer knows, it is a rare and exciting occurrence to record one hole in one in the same round, but TWO is quite extraordinary. And it is quite remarkable to do it at age 85. But then again, Phyllis Semple is a remarkable woman with a competitive spirit and a can-do attitude that never quits.
Over the years, Phyllis Semple has won the women's club championship many times at her home course, Allegheny Country Club in Sewickley, PA. She has also won the Pennsylvania Women's Amateur and Senior Championships and the Women's Golf Association of Western Pennsylvania Championship six times. In addition, she has also recorded four holes in one in her lifetime - two at Allegheny and two at Gulf Stream Golf Club in Delray Beach, her home course in the winter. While her last hole in one was in 1967, Phyllis has continued to play with the same determination and fervor in every practice and every round for the last 40 years, including that grand day at the St. Andrews Club.
The morning of February 4th, Phyllis attended a speech in Delray Beach given by her daughter, Carol Semple Thompson, who is a former U.S. and British Women's Amateur champion and a two-time U.S. Curtis Cup captain. During the Q&A section of the program, Carol responded to a question about visualization, self-talk, self hypnosis, and other mental golf techniques, and she described how these had helped her over the years, including the practice of them in preparation for the National Amateur which she went on to win. Interestingly enough, it was that afternoon after that speech when Carol and her mother played the round at the St. Andrews Club and Carol witnessed her mother make the two holes in one.
Was there a link for Phyllis between listening to Carol's inner game and making the "two aces" thereafter? Perhaps. What we do know is this: Aunt Phyllis has a perennially positive attitude. When playing in matches, she frequently marks her ball with a smiley face, "so that I remember to think positive thoughts even when I make a shot I don't like," she tells us. Phyllis sees life as full of possibilities rather than impossibilities, and she makes it a habit to focus on what she can do rather that what she can't do. Carol said this to a reporter from the Pittsburgh Post Gazette about her mother's attitude on the course the day of her great accomplishment: After her first one, she said, 'I can do it again.' And sure enough, she did. When friends at Allegheny Country Club heard the news about the two holes in one, they responded with acceptance rather than disbelief because they have been touched by Phyllis' can-do attitude.
According to the records, the oldest woman to record a hole in one is Elsie McLean in Chico, Calif. who was 102 when she made the amazing accomplishment earlier in 2007. Golf Digest reports that there have been 28 instances of a player recording two holes in one in the same round. But, there is no record listed for the oldest person to get TWO holes in one in the same round. We're not sure if Phyllis Semple's feat at age 85 will be entered in the record books because St. Andrews Club is a par-3 course and not a regulation course, which typically has between four and six par 3s. Whether it is in the "official" record books or not, it is a "feat extraordinaire," and we consider it a shining example of Positive Golf and Aunt Phyllis a stellar ambassador of the game.
And in case you wonder if Phyllis Semple is taking it easy after her two-holes-in-one-in-the-same-round accomplishment, we can assure you she is not. She can still be seen regularly on the practice tee at Allegheny, trying new moves to improve her putting and her swing. And within days of the posting of this story, she and her grandson placed first in an event at Allegheny. Phyllis Semple continues to show us that if you believe it and practice it, there are no limits to what positive thinking can do for you in golf and in life.
Here's to great golf!
Rick Semple
Positive Golfer
Co-Founder, TheHeartofGolf.com
http://www.TheHeartofGolf.com
posted by Rick Semple at 1:02 PM
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