Steve Hanna from Glencairn and Zach Lindgren from Club de golf Hautes Plaines each aced their way to the 2024 Presidents Cup in the Michelob ULTRA Hole Challenge and Presidents Cup Ticket Giveaway.
For Steve, the luck struck twice—both at Glencairn Golf Club. His first hole-in-one came during the season’s first Men's Night on Speyside hole No. 8. With a 5 iron in hand, Steve sent the ball sailing straight into the cup, and the celebration began! "It was the perfect way to kick off the year, especially with so many friends around to see it." said Steve, who didn’t know yet that his incredible luck wasn’t finished.
Five weeks later, on a sunny Saturday morning round at Glencairn, it happened again! This time, Steve found magic on Scotch Block hole No. 3, once again with his trusty 5 iron. Another ace, another round of cheers from his fellow golfers, and more drinks in the Black Friar Pub to celebrate. "It felt surreal—two holes-in-one in one season? And the fact that so many people were there to celebrate with me both times made it even more special," he added.
At the Presidents Cup at Royal Montreal Golf Club, Steve and his guest spent Saturday watching from the Labatt box on hole No. 15, a perfect spot to witness high-pressure shots from the world's best golfers. "Being there in person, seeing how the top players handled those tense situations, was unbelievable," Steve recounted. "It was inspiring to see how they thrived under pressure," Steve reflected, comparing it to the excitement of his own aces.
For Zach of Club de golf Hautes Plaines, this win came on the heels of his first-ever hole-in-one! Armed with a gap wedge on Hautes Plaines' 9th hole, Zach sent his shot soaring—and right into the hole. "I couldn’t believe it," Zach said, recalling the excitement. "It’s the kind of thing you dream about as a golfer, and it finally happened. Of course, we celebrated with a few drinks afterward!"
Zach's time at the Presidents Cup was equally unforgettable. He soaked in the atmosphere of Saturday’s matches, witnessing the U.S. team bounce back from a rough Friday where the Internationals swept the foursomes. "The energy at Royal Montreal was electrifying," Zach said, recalling how Patrick Cantlay sank a pivotal 17-foot putt to restore the Americans' lead heading into the final day. "Watching the U.S. team execute under pressure made me appreciate just how tough it can be out there."
Adding to the excitement of the Presidents Cup was the Michelob ULTRA Hole Challenge. Michael Block and Canadian legend Wayne Gretzky went head-to-head to see who could make a hole-in-one under the lights at Golf St-Raphael. Each had 90 attempts to try and hole out from a designated distance, creating a buzz among fans and players alike.
Although he's widely regarded as one of Canada's greatest athletes, Gretzky remained realistic about his odds.
“People think because you’re an athlete, because I was a hockey player, I should be a good golfer. No, I’m not,” said Gretzky in the clubhouse at Royal Montreal. “I’m like everyone else. I’m a 12 handicap. I don’t practise, I don’t take lessons.
“I play for fun. It’s a great family sport, and I love it.”
Block, already known for his ace during the 2023 PGA Championship alongside Rory McIlroy, delivered yet again, marking his sixth hole-in-one in his life. While Gretzky didn’t manage to repeat his hole in one, his performance still delighted the crowd.
For both Steve and Zach, their holes-in-one led to not only unforgettable memories at their Home Club but also an amazing trip. After witnessing some of the best PGA TOUR players bring their A-game to the Presidents Cup and watching Michael Block pull off yet another incredible ace, they’re more excited than ever to tee it up again next season. Here's to more aces, epic moments, and future adventures for ClubLink Members.
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