7-year-old Fischer aces at Lake Arthur
FRANKLIN TWP — Trace Fischer received a set of golf clubs for Christmas.
It hasn't taken him long to figure out how to use them.
Trace, 7, of Renfrew shot a hole-in-one Saturday at Lake Arthur Golf Club. He did so while practicing with Rob McClellan's PGA Junior Golf League team.
“He's not even old enough to play on this team yet,” McClellan said of his 10-golfer squad. “His older brother (12-year-old Steele) plays on the team, so Trace comes along to practice with us.”
Trace's ace occurred on the No. 2, 120-yard hole. He used a driver.
The ball landed halfway up the fairway, then rolled onto the green.
“I hit it straight and I saw it roll on to the green,” Trace said. “I couldn't see the hole from there.”
So when he walked up to the hole and found his ball resting in it?
“I was pretty excited,” he said.
McClellan, who has been a club professional and has played in the PGA Championship, witnessed the ace.
“I've been playing golf since I was 12 — for 28 years — and have never gotten a hole-in-one,” McClellan said. “This kid's been playing for maybe three months and this happens?
“I mean ... He's 7 years old. Good for him. That was pretty amazing to see.”
Trace started taking golf lessons three weeks ago. His father and grandfather are golfers as well.
“I've been playing golf for 15 years, my dad for 27 years,” said Mark Fischer, Trace's father. “Neither one of us has ever had a hole-in-one.
“I dropped my sons off at the golf course. I didn't see the shot. Rob sent me a text to tell me what happened.
“I don't know ... It must be the coach,” Fischer added, laughing.
Though his sons haven't been playing golf for long, they're certainly willing to practice their game.
“They've sort of put together a little makeshift par-3 course in our backyard,” Fischer said. “They practice out there practically every day.”
And for Trace, practice made perfect — at least for one shot.
“He'll have that for the rest of his life,” McClellan said.
