Picture this: the sheer exhilaration of watching your golf ball soar through the air and drop straight into the cup with a single swing – that's the magic of a hole-in-one! For golfers in Central New York, these rare feats are not just dreams but real accomplishments celebrated in the community. But here's where it gets controversial – are some courses making these shots too easy with shorter holes, or is it all about skill and luck? Stick around as we dive into the latest list of holes-in-one recorded through October 17, along with other standout performances that have our local players buzzing. And this is the part most people miss – the witnesses who share in the glory, turning solitary triumphs into shared stories.
To clarify for beginners, a hole-in-one is when a golfer hits the ball from the tee directly into the hole using just one stroke – it's like hitting a bullseye in darts, but on a golf course. It's incredibly rare and often requires perfect timing, club selection, and a bit of fortune. These achievements highlight the skill and dedication of local golfers, and seeing them listed out shows how active and passionate the Central New York golf scene is. For instance, imagine standing on a tee box, aiming at a distant green, and nailing it flawlessly – that's what makes golf so addictive!
Let's start with Luke Snyder, who achieved his hole-in-one on October 12. He did it on the 161-yard No. 10 hole at Weequahic Golf Course in Newark, New Jersey, using a trusty 7-iron. His witnesses were David Snyder and Tom Klein, who could attest to the perfect shot.
Next up, Kevin Collins also hit a hole-in-one on October 12, this time on the shorter 130-yard No. 3 hole at Camillus Golf Course. He used a pitching wedge, and it was witnessed by Casey Collins, Keven Collins, and Finn Collins – a family affair!
Rhonda Museum joined the club on October 12 as well, acing the No. 6 hole at Cazenovia Country Club with a 5 hybrid. Terri Fox and Mary Deuble were there to see it happen.
Larry Beyer marked his achievement on October 12 too, sinking one on the 143-yard No. 3 hole at Pinegrove with a 7-iron. Deb Beyer witnessed the spectacular moment.
Josh DeFino went for it a day earlier, on October 11, on the 113-yard No. 17 hole at Beaver Meadows, using a 9-iron. Sal Lomedico, Jason Coopper, and Jamie Crandall were his witnesses.
Timothy Hyatt also scored on October 11, on the 134-yard No. 12 hole at West Hill with an 8-iron. Gavin McGunnigle was there to confirm it.
John Landry's feat came on October 7, on the 133-yard No. 14 hole at Pinegrove, using an 8-iron. Don Cooke witnessed this one.
Going back a bit, Gene Tracy achieved his on September 13, on the 125-yard No. 4 hole at Stone Creek with a pitching wedge. Jim Bush, Tim McNamara, and Dennis Wallace saw it all.
Besides holes-in-one, golf has other ways to impress, like shooting your age – which means matching or beating your age in strokes on a round. Here's a standout: Zeke Zakreski, at age 82, shot a remarkable 77 at Battle Island Golf Course on October 14. Dick Shults, Doug Alexander, and Kevin McCarthy were his witnesses, proving that golf is a sport for all ages.
Now, here's a controversial angle to ponder: With modern golf equipment making clubs more forgiving and courses sometimes designing shorter par-3s, are holes-in-one becoming less of a fluke and more of an expectation? Or do they still represent pure talent? Some might argue that technology levels the playing field, while others say it diminishes the challenge. What do you think – is golf evolving for the better, or losing its edge? Share your thoughts in the comments below – do you agree that these accomplishments deserve more hype, or disagree that they're as rare as they used to be?
This article was published by the Post-Standard on October 18, 2025, at 9:30 a.m., written by Pat Spadafore (pspadfore@syracuse.com). If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
