My name is Dave Valdez, I have been a golf nut for 30+ years, and this is my first! My brothers and I were all athletes and grew up competing in every sport you can imagine. So it is no surprise that we all gravitated toward golf. We compete, but we are the best of friends first (mostly). My golf memories with my brothers are by far some of the greatest in my lifetime, and we've added a new one! My brother Rick flew in from Seattle and James drove up from Carlsbad to play Arrowood GC. Our friend and local man Shawn gave us four. The place is special to us as Rick and I moved into the development and had houses a door away from one another. James was directly involved in the building of the course, that opened months after we had moved in. Of course, we were excited to visit our old track, where our kids (some in college) hit balls at the range, and we lost plenty of "pocket change" to each other. Shawn still lives here. It was on 15, playing 186 yards this day, with a slight breeze in our face. The sun was beginning to drop as it was around 5pm. There were a few skins on the line as the we are all close in index (7.5-9.5). I pulled my 6 iron and gave it the standard rub of the towel, placed my Pro V down with the number up as I usually do (the number was 2). I thought, 2 would be nice here, and as I hit 3rd, 2 would likely win the hole. I thought 6 might be too much but the flag was placed on the lower tier in the front, and I thought i could use the backstop. Stepping behind the ball I chose a old tee a few feet in front of my Pro V to align to. Settled in, and took it back about 80%. I cleared the hips and let the clubhead speed through the zone. Impact was sweet, almost no feeling at all, like when you hit a home run from the sweet spot on the barrel. Trajectory and shape were immediately recognized as a good shot. A baby draw heading toward the right side of the pin. The ball hit the green and I lost it, I figured it had checked up on the upper tier beyond the hole. James (the youngest with the best eyesight), started talking to us and the ball simultaneously, "That's gonna be good, one hop just left of the pin and taking the backstop, now back toward the hole. GET IN!" he yelled, "GET IN! - I think that's in guys, I saw it disappear!" I wanted to believe that it did go in, but had to manage my disappointment had it not, the emotional rollercoaster can be described as a cocktail of excitement and dread, that you must have drunken too fast. As we approached the green, Rick started doing his best Gary McCord, although I thought he was doing Jim Nance, and recording the walk up. I saw two balls on the green deep, and one just short left. As approached the hole, the lip and pin kept me in suspense until just above the horizon of the lip, that familiar 2 showed itself. It had indeed gone in! The men were as excited and celebratory as I was for the ace. But i think I was even more grateful that I got to share the occasion with my brothers and buddy Shawn! That was fun - I'd like to do it again!