My Shot

During the craziness after I made a hole in one on three consecutive days at Brookfield Hills Golf Club in my hometown of Waukesha, Wis., I learned that being a celebrity is a lot of fun. Country clubs offered me invitations. Kids asked for my autograph. Joe Sweeney, the agent for Ron Dayne, offered to help with interview and appearance requests. I know I'm no Tiger, but in Wisconsin my aces have been big news. Some Milwaukee TV stations did pieces on me. The crews set up at Brookfield's 185-yard 14th hole, the scene of my last ace, and I almost made another one with the cameras rolling. My ball grazed the right edge and stopped eight inches past the hole.

My fianc�e, Chris Almeida, realized the impact of my feat when she called Mo's, a Milwaukee steak house, to make a dinner reservation. "How about 5:30?" the hostess said. Chris replied, "I'm calling for Brian Lowe," and the hostess said, "Would 8:30 be O.K.?"

Before last week I'd never made a hole in one, even though I've played golf for 29 years. The first ace happened on Saturday, March 25. It was cold and windy, and it was my first round of the year. I was playing with three men the pro had grouped me with and using clubs that my dad, Bud, had given me for Christmas. I hit a four-iron at the 195-yard 5th hole, and the ace cost me only $40 in drinks because so few people were playing. On Sunday, paired with three ladies, I hit a nine-iron at the 135-yard 16th hole. The ball went kerplunk, and the ladies started screaming. I guess it was pretty unbelievable. When I called home, my mom, Marilyn, said, "That's great, Brian. Sure." Drinks that day cost me $90.

The three firemen who were with me on Monday went even more nuts when they witnessed my third ace. They were so happy that they said we had to quit and head straight to the clubhouse bar. That's where I got the best news all week: They picked up the tab.