June 3, 2026 I had an amazing nine holes on the back nine at Palo Alto Hills.  Playing from the three trees tees, I shot even par.  This is the first time that I have ever shot even par on either nine in my thirty-seven years at Palo Alto Hills.  I think the back nine is the more difficult of the two nines.

On the par 4 10^th, I was in front of the green and I had 2 chips and one putt for bogey.

On the par 3 11^th, I was in front of the green and I made a chip and two putts for bogey.

THE MAGIC HAPPENS

On the par five 12^th, from just off the right side of the green, pin high, I made a chip and one putt for par.

On the par 4 13^th I was just in front of the bunker in front of the green in two and the chip was thin and I thought I hit it off the green, but the ball did a slam dunk into the hole, on the fly, for a birdie.  Zero putts.

On the par 4 14^th I was in front of the green in two and I made a 40-yard pitch to a back pin to within two feet of the hole and I made a one putt.

On the par 3 15^th I was in front of the green on my first shot and I made a chip to within two feet of the pin and made a one putt.

On the par 4 16^th my drive was just in front of the fairway bunker, the longest drive I have ever had on the 16^th.  I hit the green in regulation and I had two putts.

On the par 4 17^th my second shot was in the green side bunker on the right of the green and I hit my bunker shot to within three feet and I made a one putt

On the par 5 18^th I was on the green in regulation about 12 feet pass the hole and I made a one putt for a birdie.

FINAL THOUGHTS

I was two over after two holes and then I shot two under the last seven holes.  Amazing!!

I had 10 putts for nine holes.  Hey, golf is really easy when you only have 10 putts for nine holes!!

I made five up and downs out of seven attempts.  A much higher percentage than normal.  The short game is really important in golf.

With such a lucky nine holes, on the course, I bought a five-dollar Mega Millions lottery ticket that night and the ticket was a ten-dollar winner!

It was definitely a lucky day and a day to remember.