Local golfer comes up aces — twice

Published 12:01 am Sunday, July 31, 2011

Nineteen proved to be a lucky number for Bob Wallin in 2010.

Twice.

Wallin, 69, was the only golfer on The Herald’s 2010 hole-in-one list who scored two aces — and both came on the 19th of the month.

Wallin, from Everett, recorded his first hole-in-one on Jan. 19, acing the 105-yard No. 3 hole at Battle Creek Golf Course in Marysville. His 8-iron from the tee landed just beyond the flag and spun back toward the cup.

“It sat there (on the edge) for a second before it fell in,” he said.

Ace No. 2 came exactly seven months later, Aug. 19, on the 144-yard No. 17 hole at Battle Creek, again using his trusty 8-iron. This time, Wallin’s tee shot landed short of the pin and rolled directly into the hole.

Both of Wallin’s holes-in-one occurred during men’s league play, meaning he had to spring for drinks for all the competitors. The first shot cost him about $75, the second around $40.

“There weren’t as many men there,” Wallin, who carried a 5 handicap at the time, said of the second hole-in-one.

Part of Wallin’s success might be his familiarity with the Battle Creek layout. He is a member of the course’s maintenance crew. Then again, he has five holes-in-one to his name, not all of them at his home course.

A few years ago, he recorded a hole-in-one at a “big tournament” on Whidbey Island. The event cost him $250 to enter. So what prize did he get for his effort?

“A couple sleeves of balls,” he said.