One of the quotes that strikes me as most apt regarding our sport appears to be by an unknown author. Although it features in numerous publications, websites and coffee-table books on golf, I have not actually been able to trace its origin.

“Golf is an endless series of tragedies obscured by occasional miracles”

There are various versions of it, but the meaning remains the same.

A real-life example : Last week, I’d booked a tee time very early, given the current heatwave, at the Royal Golf Course in Hua Hin, Thailand.

It was the day I was lucky enough to achieve the hole-in-one I mentioned earlier. But here I’m telling you about another miracle.

When I made my booking the day before, the charming receptionist told me I would probably have to share the round with other early risers.

In fact, when I arrived at the tee with my caddie Tae, there were already two groups of four there.

Tae explained that they were very good players there to do a course walk-through for the upcoming PGA Thailand tournament at the weekend, and that I would tee off alone after them.

Indeed, whilst warming up, I had the chance to watch their drives – both powerful and very relaxed – which was a great source of inspiration. The first four drive down the fairway and, as soon as they’ve played their second shot, the second group follows with equally good tee shots.

I play cautiously, sticking to my current strategy with my 3-iron on this par 5 ; although my driver is improving, it’s still too inconsistent for a hole with water on the left and trees on the right.
I follow up with a good 6-iron and a pitching wedge onto the green, far from the flag, finishing less well with a three-putt, but it’s a good score for me.

By the time I reach the tee of the 2nd, the players have obviously teed off and I can see three of them playing their second shots near the right-hand fairway bunker – the ideal spot to aim for, according to Tae, on this left-dogleg (par 4).

But where is the fourth player ? I’ll find out later : he’s lost his way in the trees on the left. It’s reassuring to know that even these pros can occasionally completely mess up a drive, unless he was trying to cut the dogleg.

The three players wave me through, which instantly throws me off. I hate being let through ; I usually handle it badly, especially as in this case I have to play in their direction. Full of confidence, they barely move out of the way, whereas for years I’ve been haunted by the image of a female player I once injured because I played while she was in my line of sight.

Fortunately, Tae knows just the right words to use. She hands me the 3-iron : “Straight to the bunker, daddy, and slowly” (play straight towards the bunker but gently).

Phew ! A deep breath, a practice swing with a very slow take-back, and the miracle begins : a slow, relaxed backswing, a release without forcing it or accelerating too much ; the ball flies towards the bunker, passes it on the left, and comes to rest a few metres from the three pros.

Now I have to play my second shot right in front of these players, who are watching me from less than 5 metres away.

A chat with Tae, choosing the club. The green is slightly elevated, the flag is 138 metres away. It’ll be a 7-iron.

I take a breath, practise my swing, making sure not to look in the players’ direction ; a very relaxed shot, the ball soars high and seems to land near the flag.

I turn round, quickly wave to the three Thais and murmur a “khop khun krap” (thank you) in response to the three simultaneous “nice shot !”s.

“They told you it was a nice shot !” Tae whispers to me as we head towards the green ; the fourth player, having found his ball, waves to me from a distance to finish the hole before he plays. Tae seems as proud as if she’d been the one to make that shot.

Two putts and a par before I quickly leave the green, though not before that cheeky Tae kindly points out that my ball is closer to the flag than the other three.

The rest of the round, as always, has its ups and downs ; the scorecard won’t be memorable (except for the hole-in-one on the 5th), but I had my moment of magic – the one that will have me back on this course or another as early as this week.