Jim Seimas, Golf Scene: Ace for the ages — San Jose man’s third hole-in-one a first for Valley Gardens

Divine intervention, that’s how 47-year-old Kevin Tuttle described his latest ace, which he holed Jan. 22. The "holy-in-one" gives him three lifetime — golf’s Holy Trinity.

Blasphemy or not, it was special.

"I’d say so," said witness Rol Bridston, 85. "I think it’s a miracle."

While holes-in-one aren’t rare at Scotts Valley’s par-31 Valley Gardens Golf Course — two years ago, Bridston aced the fifth hole the first time he used his new natural-golf 3-wood — Tuttle has separated himself from the crowd of proud hackers.

Tuttle, who lives in San Jose, aced the 223-yard, par-4 seventh hole. It is believed to be the first time the seventh hole has been aced in the course’s 34-year-history.

"I checked with (owner) Sandy Woodruff and the superintendent and they can’t remember anyone doing it," said longtime pro shop employee Jerry Imel. "It’s a pretty amazing shot."

The uphill green is guarded by two, tall-lipped sand traps and a mammoth pine tree sits to the right of the green. While the pin is visible from the tee box, the cup isn’t.

The ball-gobbling lake surrounding the tee box is imposing enough for most beginners. Tuttle, who carries a 7-handicap, is not a beginner.

"Before he hits it, he says, ‘Conventional wisdom says to hit for the trap and go for the green,’" Bridston said. "‘But I’m going to go for it.’"

Tuttle used his old, steel Big Bertha Callaway 3-wood and connected with a nice fade that, he thought, caught the front left bunker.

When he searched the bunker, the ball was nowhere to be seen. So he checked the thick-roughed hill behind the green. Nope.

He turned around, visualizing the flight of his ball, and his eyes locked on the pin.

"I know I’ll never duplicate this," said Tuttle, who started playing the game when he was 7.

Perhaps it was divine intervention. Tuttle regularly attends services at Valley Vineyard Church, where Bridston’s step-son is the pastor. Church, that’s where Tuttle and Bridston met.

It was the first time the two played together. "He’s going to have to go out with me every week," Tuttle said.

Moreover, Tuttle and Bridston initially had plans to play another course that day. They settled on Valley Gardens so Bridston, who works in real estate, could attend a noon business meeting.

Tuttle probably shouldn’t even be playing golf. His body is constantly in pain after being involved in two auto accidents, including one near-death accident in 1986. That incident kept him off the golf course for six years.

His second collision, a Corvette spun into him while he was idling at a stop light, came in 2002. He has put off two surgeries, one on his neck and one on his lower back, so he can keep playing golf.

"I love golf, and I’m not going to stop until the wheels fall off.," he said.

With his ace, Tuttle finished his round with a 2-under 29. He celebrated the hole-in-one by playing another nine holes. He closed with a 33 while Bridston was at his meeting.

There’s another twist. Tuttle didn’t buy any cocktails to celebrate his accomplishment. And that added to another admirable feat.

"Five years," Tuttle said of his sobriety stretch.

He said he was once addicted to drugs and alcohol. It was religion that helped him work out his life.

Now he works as an alcohol intake counselor for the Salvation Army in San Jose, where he picked up his employee-discounted set of Ping I2 irons.

"He has an ‘up’ personality," Bridston said. "He is perfect for helping people who are stuck in that groove. He’s a Christian now. He not only believes it, he lives it."

Tuttle also aced two par-3s in Palm Springs, where his late parents, John and Lucille, moved after they retired in 1978.

"This one’s a little more special," Tuttle said. "It was a little tougher shot."

To Tuttle, it was heaven sent.

Contact Jim Seimas at jseimas@santacruzsentinel.com.