Donnie Iris is used to big hits in the recording studio.

Earlier this summer, the longtime singer and songwriter had one on the golf course.

Iris, 66, of Beaver Falls, aced the 160-yard No. 3 hole at Strawberry Ridge Golf Course June 28.

"It was the third time I've golfed there," Iris said of the course, located outside of Harmony. "The other two times, I scored a four or five on that hole. I hadn't played it too well.

"A few weeks before the hole-in-one, I came within a few inches of getting one on another course," Iris said. "I thought to myself, 'I'll never come that close again.'"

The day he aced the hole at Strawberry Ridge, the No. 3 pin was placed to the left at the back of the green.

"I was aiming for the right side of the green because it sloped to the left," said Iris. "When the ball landed on the green, it rolled toward the hole, but I thought it may have rolled off the green.

"One of my buddies said it went in. I couldn't believe it!"

Iris used a utility club on the hole.

"It's a club that I'll use, depending on how long the hole is and what the weather conditions are. I can usually hit the ball longer with it than with a 7-iron," he said.

Three of Iris' friends — Mike Rayz, Joe Fox and John Pinchiotti — witnessed the hole-in-one.

"They were excited," said Iris. "They're having a trophy made for me with the ball on it, so that's going to be pretty cool."

Iris played Little League baseball, but was too involved in music by his teenage years to play sports, playing the drums in the Lincoln (Ellwood City) High School band.

"I started playing golf about 15 years ago," he said. "My game has definitely improved, but a lot of that is due to the technology of the game, the improvements made to the clubs.

"The hole-in-one is absolutely my biggest sports achievement."

Iris, who shot an 85 on June 28, has been able to golf more recently.

"My three buddies and I used to get out once every week, but this year, we're getting out twice a week and we'll golf until it's too cold to play.

"We usually go to Stonecrest (Golf Course in Lawrence County) every Sunday, but every four or five weeks, we try another place. Strawberry Ridge is a newer course, and they're making improvements to it every year. A lot of golfers are going to be playing there."