Snyder finds perfection on the links

Well-known local golfer John Snyder achieved the dream of every golfer in a recent round at Old Corkscrew Golf Club in Estero.

Snyder, who is an Allstate Insurance agent in Sebring, recorded a hole-in-one on the par 3 17th hole on Dec. 14 at the exclusive Old Corkscrew Golf Club.

Snyder, who had never seen the Jack Nicklaus designed 6,617-yard layout, used a 7-iron on the demanding 151-yard hole and knew he had hit a good shot when the ball left his club.

"I hit the shot with a little fade and it looked good the moment it left the clubface," said the affable Snyder. "My playing partners Mark Stockeland and Andrew Katsanis were hitting 8-irons, but I felt more comfortable with the 7-iron.

"The ball landed on the green, took one hop and went in the hole."

Snyder and his playing partners didn't see the ball go in the hole, but the foursome in front of them were on the next tee and saw the ball bounce into the cup for the rare golfing feat.

"We knew the shot was close to the pin, but the group in front of us started hollering that it took one hop and went into the hole," Snyder said. "I couldn't believe that the ball had actually gone in.

"It was a real thrill and something I'll always remember."

The ironic part of Snyder's perfect shot was that Old Corkscrew Golf Club is the site of numerous golf tournaments and the prize for a hole-in-one during the events is usually a Cadillac Escalade.

"We were joking before we played the 17th hole that there wasn't a hole-in-one prize," said Snyder. "Winning a car would have been a great Christmas present, but I had a great time and it was a memorable moment on a great golf course."

Snyder managed to shoot a 79 over the challenging Old Corkscrew Golf Club links, while Stockeland, who is the defending Bill Jarrett Champion and Katsanis, who is the pastor at Grace Bible Church and is also an outstanding golfer, came in a few shots lower.

"I had never seen Old Corkscrew Golf Club before the day we went down there," said Snyder. "It is a very exclusive course and one that I enjoyed playing very much."

For Snyder, who has been playing golf for 15 years, the ace was the second of his career.

"I had a hole-in-one on the ninth hole at Harder Hall Country Club last year and that was my first one," said Snyder. "I haven't been playing golf that long, but it's a great game because you never know what's going to happen."