Richard Phinney, of Pinehurst, N.C., recorded his first hickory hole in one on April 3 on the No. 8 hole at Pinehurst No. 3, a 110-yard shot. Rick is a member of the Hickory Nuts, most of whom are members of the Pinehurst CC and have a regular Friday game. “But we encourage interlopers,” he says. This year, during a Ryder Cup-style event with Carolina Hickory Golf Association members, Rick got his ace using a Louisville Golf mashie niblick. “I was in the first of two threesomes on the fateful day, playing with Kirk Velett and Bob Asdal,” he says.