First career aces finally arrive for Waynesborough coupleThe Kolmers — Jennifer and Kevin — started playing golf together 34 years ago. Neither netted a hole-in-one — until 2016. Jennifer dropped her first career ace on April 30 at Waynesborough Country Club. Three and a half months later, her husband Kevin, while traversing Applebrook Golf Club, joined her in “one-derland.” “It’s surreal,” Jennifer, 61, of Berwyn, Pa., said. “I know some people have them all of the time, and then you talk to people who are such good golfers and they’ve never had one.” During a shared round at Waynesborough on April 30, the Kolmers, alongside friends and fellow members Rick and Judy Owens, arrived at the par 3, No. 4 — the usual chitchat and casual atmosphere present. On the tee, Jennifer consults Judy, a 14-time club champion, on equipment selection. “I said, Judy, I’ve been using an 8-iron over this par 3 forever, and I really think I’m doing better and should use a 9-iron. She said, ‘I think you should go with an 8-iron because it’s the sure thing. You’re going to get it on the green,’” Jennifer said. “I hit the 8-iron and said, ‘God, that feels good.’ Judy goes, ‘God that looks good.’ It went over the bunker on the left, bounced onto the green and rolled into the hole. It was a gorgeous shot. The two of us started screaming. Our husbands weren’t paying attention at all.” “I saw her swing and hit the ball. It looked good, and then Rick asked me a question. I turned to him to answer, and the next thing I heard was a scream,” Kevin, 64, of Berwyn, Pa., added. “Rick was sure you could hear it on the 15th green at Waynesborough.” A family member did witness Kevin’s ace — from start to finish — on Aug. 15. Playing alongside son Kevin, Jr. and college roommate and friend Pat Brady, Kevin arrived at par 3, 190-yard 15th hole with good mojo. “One of our caddies always kids me and says, ‘Kevin, how did you on No. 14?’ I think I’ve dropped more balls on that tee shot than anywhere,” Kevin, 64, of Berwyn, Pa., said. “All of a sudden, I have a good tee shot on No. 14, a good second shot. I chip on and make a putt for par. So, I turned to Lou [Topper] and said, ‘The ghost of Lou is gone.’” Evil spirits extinguished, Kevin elected to hit 3-wood to a middle-right hole location on the 15th hole, despite Topper’s unsaid apprehensions. “It was one of these shots where it felt good. Pat says, ‘That’s a good shot,’” Kevin said. “The next thing we know we see it hit an inclined hill and start rolling. It just hit the pin and dropped in. it was so great being with two of the closest people in my life. My son was so excited. I’m not saying I wasn’t excited; I was more in shock that it just happened.” “My kids were all texting me. They said it was the happiest day in their life,” Jennifer added. “My husband is obsessed with golf and really wants to be a good golfer so badly. We were all so happy for him.” Kevin, an investment advisor with Merrill Lynch and Jennifer, an artist, play 15-20 rounds together during the summer. Although they hold nearly identical handicap indexes (14.7, 14.6), Kevin concedes that his wife is the better golfer. “She’s just a very good athlete. She beats me more than I beat her, I’ll say that,” Kevin said. “Most of the time I am, but not always,” Jennifer added. “He has a much better temperament than I do. I’m very competitive and I get very upset when I don’t play well. He’ll come home from playing golf and talk about all of his good holes. I’ll come home and say I screwed up on this hole or that hole.” Thinking No. 4 at Waynesborough and No. 15 at Applebrook will forever be good holes for the Kolmers.
Golf Association of Philadelphia
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A Walk Through Time
GAP is the oldest state or regional golf association in the country. It started courtesy of a friendly competition the Team Matches and has grown into the preeminent golf association in the country. Along the way, golf history has been made.
