The Shadow
HOT SPRINGS, Va. (VR) In a feat that defies the odds and will be remembered for years to come, Bath County resident Hunter Brown achieved the first known hole-in-one on the 17th hole of the Old Course at the Omni Homestead Resort, a par four that has long challenged even the most seasoned golfers.
On August 5, Brown, 25, was enjoying a casual round of golf with friends at the historic course in Hot Springs, when he accomplished what many golfers only dream of, acing a 311-yard, blind par four.
The shot, witnessed by members of the Bath County High School golf team and their coach, Bret Kampf, unfolded in dramatic fashion and has quickly become the talk of the local golf community. Hunter has alluded to the fact that he was just having some fun playing golf with his friends. He could never have imagined that he would be making history.
A historic result, the 17th hole at the Old Course is notorious for its difficulty. The tee shot is blind, with only the tip of the flag visible from the tee box if no one is holding it. Most players aim to avoid the right-side bunker, a common landing spot for errant drives. Brown, who typically plays to a three or four handicap and averages nearly three hundred yards off the tee, figured his drive would end up in that very bunker. Instead, as Brown and his friends Caleb Fry, Dylan McComb, and Kris Phillips walked up the fairway, they heard shouts and cheers coming from the green. The Bath County High School golf team was gathered there, receiving a lesson from Coach Kampf.
“I heard all this excitement and saw the high school team celebrating,” Brown recalled. Not knowing exactly what was going on. Coach Kampf, who was holding the flagstick at the time, witnessed the ball roll between his legs and drop into the cup. The high school players, stunned by what they had just seen, became noticeably ecstatic.
A rare feat in golf, the odds of making a hole-in-one on a par four are estimated at one in roughly six million according to golf statisticians. Such an achievement is rare even among professional golfers, with only a handful of aces on a par four recorded in PGA Tour history. For Brown, who graduated from Bath County High School in 2018, the moment was surreal.
Brown’s been close a couple of times, but never actually made a hole-in-one before. The ball, according to witnesses, landed four or five feet from the hole before rolling in, capping a drive of approximately 306 yards. The shot not only stunned those present but also set a new benchmark for the storied course.
News of Brown’s accomplishment spread quickly throughout Bath County and beyond. For a region steeped in golf tradition, the event has become a source of pride and excitement. The Old Course at the Homestead, known for its challenging layout and scenic beauty, has hosted countless memorable moments over the years. But Brown’s hole-in-one on the 17th will stand out as one of the most remarkable in current history.
Looking ahead, as for Brown, “the memory of that day will be hard to top. It was a once-in-a-lifetime moment.” With his name now etched in local golf lore, Hunter Brown’s incredible shot serves as a reminder of the magic that can happen on the course and the enduring appeal of the game.
