Michael t. Mondak speaks: 40 til 40 day 16

We have made it to day 16 of the 40 til 40 series of blog entries about anything and everything relevant to the number 40 leading to my 40th birthday on July 10.

Last time I spoke about the 40th National Hockey League All Star Game held in Edmonton in 1989.  Today I will speak about the 40 best golf shots I have ever hit.

40. September 5, 2000:  It was almost the end of golf team practice at Hickory VFW Golf Course in Hermitage.  I hit an 8 iron to the par 3 18th hole in front of teammates Eric Cullen and David Haynes.  My shot landed just two feet from the cup.  Not surprisingly, I tapped in for birdie.

39.  March 21, 2012:  I was playing my first round of the year at Tam O’Shanter in Hermitage on an unseasonably warm day.  On the par 4 17th hole, I hit a pitching wedge to within nine feet and made a birdie.

38.  May 13, 2018:  I was playing at the Links at Firestone Farms in Columbiana, Ohio as part of that year’s Ohio Swing.  On the par 4 ninth, I hit a perfect tee shot from the championship tees and with the aid of a strong tailwind, led to the longest tee shot I have ever hit, 292 yards.

37.  August 6, 2024:  I was playing at Shenango Lake Golf Club in Transfer.  On the par 4 opening hole, my third shot had landed on the fringe.  No matter.  I promptly sank the par putt.

36.  August 21, 2010:  I was playing at Green Meadows Golf Course in Volant.  Joining me were a student at Penn State and her father.  On the par 3 9th, my last hole as a college student (I started on the back nine), I hit a 6 iron to within 19 feet.  I made a routine two putt par to close out my last round as a college student.

35.  July 7, 2000:  I was playing with my father at Bide-A-Wee Golf Course in my native Portsmouth, Virginia.  On the par 5 5th hole, I sank a long 32 foot double breaking putt.  It was at the time the longest single putt that I had ever sank.

34. May 24, 2025:  I was playing at Kennsington Golf Club in Canfield, Ohio.  On the par 4 opening hole, I played a 3 iron for my second shot where the ball was above my feet.  So I choked up on my club and aimed right to allow for a hook.  My ball landed fifteen feet from the hole, and despite missing my birdie putt, I still tapped in to save par.

33.  June 17, 2017:  I was playing in the Penn State Shenango Alumni golf scramble at Pine Lakes Golf Club in Hubbard, Ohio.  On the first hole of the day, the par 5 14th, I set the tone for my team with the opening tee shot that went 247 yards.

32. May 14, 2011:  I was playing at Pine Grove Golf Course outside of Grove City.  On the par 4 13th hole, I left my approach shot just inches short of the green.  No matter.  I pulled out my 7 iron and chipped in for a birdie.

31. May 10, 2005:  I was playing with my father at Pine Lakes Country Club in Myrtle Beach during our vacation.  When we got to the par 4 closing hole, I was having some difficulty closing out my round.  I hit a pitching wedge for my final approach shot.  As the ball was in flight, I channeled my inner Hal Sutton and said, “Be the right club.  BE THE RIGHT CLUB TODAY!”  The ball listened and landed within 10 feet.

30. July 1, 1999:  I was playing a round at Buhl Farm in Sharon.  On the par 4 3rd hole, with a 3 wood, I hit my tee shot 215 yards, which was the longest tee shot I had ever hit at that point in my life.

29. April 10, 2021:  I was playing my first round of the year at Tam O’Shanter in Hermitage.  On the par 5 3rd hole, I hit my third shot to within 10 feet and made a birdie on the course’s most difficult hole.

28. May 2, 2020:  I was playing my first round of the year at Old Avalon Golf Club in Warren, Ohio with my father.  On the par 5 17th hole, I hit a lovely approach shot with an 8 iron that set up a two putt par.

27. October 2, 2009:  I was playing in the Penn State Greater Allegheny Invitational on the Woodside Course at Butler’s Golf Course in Elizabeth.  On the par 3 second hole, I hit a 5 iron to 30 feet.  I did make a routine two putt par for the only highlight of my round.

26. June 28, 2012:  I was playing at Clarion Oaks Golf Club in Clarion.  On the par 3 8th hole, I hit a driver from the elevated championship tees (they played 240 yards) to within 12 feet for what ended up being a birdie.

25. April 10, 2021:  At Tam O’Shanter in Hermitage, I hit a 9 iron to the par 3 14th hole, known as “Death Valley” for the many good scores that have died in its depths, to within six feet.  I sank my birdie putt for my second birdie of that round.

24. May 5, 2001:  I was the captain of a team that played in the junior golf scramble at Buhl Farm in Sharon.  My teammates hit awful shots on the par 3 opening hole.  No matter.  Leave it to their captain to bail them out with a scintillating 5 iron to the green.

23. August 10, 2022:  I was playing with my father on the White Course at Penn State during a pilgrimage to Happy Valley.  On the par 3 16th hole, I hit a 3 iron to within 15 feet and made a two putt par.

22. September 5, 2004:  I was playing in a family golf event with my father, my grandfather, uncle Mark, uncle Ed, cousin Evan, and two other extended family members on the Woodside course at Butler’s Golf Course in Elizabeth.  On the par 4 6th hole, I hit a scintillating shot from the greenside bunker and saved par.

21. April 28, 2025:  I was playing at the Links at Firestone Farms in Columbiana, Ohio.  On the par 5 7th hole, I nearly hit the green in two.  I pulled out my 7 iron and had a near-chip in for eagle.  And yes, I made birdie.

20. August 24, 2008:  During practice with the Penn State Shenango golf team at Tam O’Shanter in Hermitage, I hit an 8 iron to the par 3 14th hole known as “Death Valley”.  My shot landed just three feet from the hole for an easy birdie.

19. July 4, 2015:  I was playing with my uncle Mark on the Woodside Course at Butler’s Golf Course in Elizabeth in what proved to be my last round in my 20s.  On the par 3 2nd hole, I hit a 5 iron to within 25 feet and it led to a two putt par.

18. June 14, 2012:  I was playing in the Penn State Shenango Alumni Society golf scramble at the Avalon Golf Club at Buhl Park.  On the par 3 14th hole, I set a personal record for the longest single putt that I sank, a 35 foot downhill putt for a birdie, one that was better than most… better than most… BETTER THAN MOST!

17. August 11, 2022:  I was playing with my father at White Deer Golf Club’s Heritage Course outside of Williamsport.  On the par 5 15th hole, I chipped in for birdie with my 3 wood.  It was my personal best fourth birdie of the round.

16. September 20, 2008:  I was with the Penn State Shenango golf team at the Greens of Greenville for a matchup against the Thiel Tomcats.  Amber McConahy and I went out as part of the final group that started on the back nine.  On the par 3 16th hole, I provided my only highlight when I sank a 20 foot downhill putt for a par.  Despite this highlight, I expressed my disdain for the course itself, vowing never to play that course again.  And I kept that vow as the course itself was gone for good by 2021.

15. May 8, 2005:  I was playing with my father at the Long Bay Club in Longs, South Carolina during our Myrtle Beach vacation.  On the par 4 10th hole, I hit a spectacular third shot from the waste bunker to within five feet and saved par.

14. May 8, 2005:  After my par on the par 4 10th hole at Long Bay, I then proceeded to hit what was then my longest drive ever on the par 5 11th, 273 yards.  It remains the longest tee shot I have ever hit in South Carolina.

13. August 6, 2016:  I was playing at Castle Hills Golf Club in New Castle.  On the par 5 8th hole, I came within 8 feet of a double eagle with driver and 3 wood.  Although I pulled my putt for eagle, I still tapped in for birdie.

12. August 1, 2015:  I was playing my first round in my 30s at Whispering Woods Golf Club in Erie.  On the par 3 2nd hole, I hit a 5 iron to within 20 feet where I managed to make a routine two putt par.

11. July 10, 1996:  It was my 11th birthday and I was playing with my father at the Hickory VFW Golf Course in Hermitage.  On the par 4 4th hole, I hit a 9 iron approach and guess where it landed?  In the hole!  (Those were the exact words from my father.)

10. May 11, 2014:  I was playing the Links at Firestone Farms in Columbiana, Ohio.  On the par 4 5th hole, I hit a 9 iron from the right hand rough to within 7 feet and a birdie.

9. April 30, 2016:  I was playing at Boulder Creek Golf Club in Streetsboro, Ohio.  On the par 4 15th hole, I hit what was then my second-longest tee shot, 264 yards.  I made a par on the hole.

8. April 17, 2021:  I was playing a round at Castle Hills Golf Club in New Castle.  On the par 4 16th hole, I put my second shot into a fairway bunker.  No matter.  I pulled out my 9 iron and dug in to blast one out of the trap.  And boy, did I ever blast one.  The ball landed just mere inches from the cup and rolled back down to 14 feet.  I wound up sinking the par putt to earn me a helium balloon.

7. July 24, 2000:  I was playing in the final group of the Shenango Valley Jaycees Junior tournament at the Hickory VFW Golf Course in Hermitage.  That was the only tournament where I was fortunate to have a sponsor:  Hanzes Drywall & Construction.  On the par 5 16th, I hit a spectacular third shot to within six feet for a birdie, which would be the only birdie I would ever record in a junior golf tournament.

6. June 19, 2010:  I was playing a round with Ben Setar on the Blue course at Lindenwood Golf Club in Canonsburg.  On the par 5 9th hole, I hit a 3 iron for my second shot and landed on the green in two.  It was the first time I reached a par 5 in two.

5. April 30, 2016:  At Boulder Creek in Streetsboro, Ohio, I hit a 7 iron to the par 3 17th hole with an island green.  The ball found the green and I went on to two putt for a par.

4. July 4, 2002:  I was playing with my father at Buhl Farm in Sharon as part of Fourth of July festivities.  On the par 3 opening hole, I set off early fireworks when I hit a 5 iron to within 6 feet for an opening birdie.  I then proceeded to finish two loops around the course by breaking 90 for the very first time at the tender age of 16 years and 359 days.

3. October 6, 2000:  It was the regular season finale of the 2000 high school golf season.  The Hickory Hornets were participating in a tri-match with the Kennedy Catholic Golden Eagles and the Wilmington Greyhounds at Borland Golf Course in New Wilmington.  On the par 3 9th hole of the regulation course, I was fortunate enough to close out the exhibition match with a par from 25 feet.

2. August 11, 2022:  On the Heritage Course at White Deer outside of Williamsport, I hit a 1 iron off the tee on the par 4 2nd hole.  The tee shot went 275 yards, which is the longest tee shot I have ever hit in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  This shot led to the first of a personal best four birdies in that round.

1. September 14, 2008:  I was playing at Yankee Run Golf Course in Brookfield, Ohio.  On the par 3 11th hole, I hit a 4 wood and came within less than one foot from my very first ace.  As of 2025, it is the closest I have come to my first ace.