ZELIENOPLE — Nick Szwez waited 40 years to shoot a hole-in-one.

The Seven Fields resident made the shot one worth waiting for.

Playing a round of golf alone last Sunday at Strawberry Ridge, Szwez, 55, scored an ace on the 291-yard, par-4 No. 9 hole with a driver.

The double eagle was the first in the golf course's seven-year history.

"We've had holes-in-one on par 3s, of course, but never on a par 4," Strawberry Ridge course manager Andy Graff said. "That No. 9 hole is a dog-leg left with water involved.

"If you cut your shot straight across (the water), you can make the distance 276 yards. I'm sure that's what he did."

Szwez was supposed to play that round with a couple of friends, but they backed out.

"One guy had the flu and the other one always rides with him,"Szwez said. "I'm an early riser and we already had the tee time set for 7:48 a.m., so I went out and played anyway."

Originally from Connecticut, Szwez moved to Seven Fields in 1998. He hasn't played in a golf league in 13 years, but participates in an occasional scramble and plays about once a week. He's won longest drive and closest to the pin awards at some of those events.

"I've always played long off the tee," he said. "When I was younger, I drove a green from 357 yards away with one of those old-fashioned Jack Nicklaus wooden drivers.

"As I approached the green, I saw a couple of guys walking toward me. I thought they were mad at me, but they just wanted to congratulate me on hitting that shot."

They should have been there Sunday.

Szwez said his tee shot off No. 9 landed about 10 yards in front of the green, bounced onto it, then rolled out of sight.

"I lost sight of the ball. I figured it rolled off the green on the other side," he said.

When Szwez got to the green and saw the ball in the cup, "I just jumped. Some guys who were just leaving that hole saw the ball roll in. They laughed at my reaction.

"I've come close to holes-in-one in the past. I've hit the pin on some par 3s, had shots roll over the hole, around the hole — just never had one fall into the hole.

"That was my first double eagle, too. To get an ace on a par 4, I couldn't believe it,"Szwez added.

He said his average drive travels 260 to 275 yards today.

"I've lost a little steam,"Szwez said, smiling. "I caught that shot pretty good, though. I shot a 79 for the day, but it should have been better. I missed a few putts."

Strawberry Ridge is in its fourth year as an 18-hole course. Graff said he's had holes-in-one at Green Meadows and Connoquenessing Country Club.

"Those were both par 3s," he said. "I can't imagine getting one on a par 4."