Who here can say not only have they been hit by two golf balls while on the golf course in there lifetime, but by two members of their own family.

The first time:  Around 1982...  we lived in Louisville, Ky and we had taken a family trip to Lake Cumberland, Ky, on a houseboat for 5 days. We decided to play a par 3 golf course and my mom wanted to go with my dad and I. My mom might have been on a course maybe twice prior to this.

So... we are on the 6th or 7th hole and my mom is whacking around with her club, while chasing her ball. Keep in mind, we are in Eastern Kentucky, where there are many hills. So the green was elevated and I am standing on the green, waiting for my mom to hit up. I couldn't really see her at the time, but I turn to my dad to ask him what he did with my putter. Meanwhile, my mom is on here 9th shot, and it's only a par 3. My dad says, it's over there. As I turn to look for it... WHACK. My mom hit her best shot of the day. That shot hit me right below my left eye and dropped me right on the green. It actually knocked me out for a whole 20 to 30 seconds, which seemed like forever. Also keep in mind, my mom was a nurse for many years. They got me to a hospital and the doctor couldn't stitch the cut, which was a good inch deep, maybe a half inch...because it was right under my eye. I was lucky. 

And that shot of my mom, the best of the day, would have sailed over the green if it didn't hit me.  lol  And the rest of the trip?  I had to sit in a chair for 2 days while on the houseboat, with a bag of ice.

The 2nd time:  About 7 years ago while playing in a member/guest....father/son tournament. So, it's my uncle/cousin and my dad/myself. We are on the 2nd hole. I have the longest drive of the 4 of us. It has water in front of the hole and my dad is right center of the fairway. I am about 25 yards ahead of him. So I am standing over my ball, but I am a good 20 yards to the right and not even lined up with the flag. My dad is about 170 yards and tries crushing the ball. As he winds up, I stand sideways, so I can watch him and turn slightly to my right to watch the balls flight. Well, I didn't have to watch long and or far. I saw the ball come right at me. I have quick reflexes and turned my hand back to my side. Well, the ball found my hand and hit me right in the thumb on my right hand. OUCH...  yes, way OUCH!!

The ball hit right about my knuckle that attaches to the thumb. I was in severe pain, but luckily nothing was broken. I went to the club house. They wanted to take me to the hospital, but I sucked it up with ice on it and sucked down a few beers. I played the rest of the day, but sucked, because gripping the club was not easy.

So, have you ever been hit at least once, and I am not talking about a love tap. Both shots were hard shots. Both hitting tender spots. But the funny thing, both times by a family member. First Mom, and then Dad. I shared this story at their 60th wedding anniversary that we held for my parents last year. Everyone got a kick out of it.