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Kurt Giammattei, CCAC Golf Team member, shot the college's first hole-in-one. photo/North Campus Student Life/permission to Voice

Giammattei gets first ace in CCAC history

By: Joe Arciuolo

Posted: 5/31/09

Kurt Giammattei, a first-year CCAC Golf Team member, shot the first and only hole-in-one in CCAC's 20-year intercollegiate golf team history.

Giammattei, using a 6-iron, recorded the hole-in-one Apr. 24, 2009, at the 13th hole during a regular spring season match held at the Norvelt Golf Course. Thirteen is a par-3 hole with a distance of 170 yards from the hole to the tee box.

"I knew it was a good shot, but I've never had a hole-in-one. I didn't expect it," Giammattei told the Voice.

"You never expect anything. I didn't know I got a hole-in-one until an old guy yelled, 'Someone is buying beer tonight!'"

Golf Digest magazine reported that a PGA tour pro's chance at a hole-in-one is 1 in 3,756, and an amateur's odds are 1 in 12,750.

While these statistics are never 100 percent accurate, the odds or chances of Giammattei's hole-in-one were staggering.

"Kurt is looking to get his tour card and with be attending the PGM [Professional Golf Management] program that is run by the PGA," said Chuck Bell, CCAC North Campus athletic director and head golf coach.

Although there have been nine former CCAC Golf team members that have received their PGA tour cards, and two of these former players have turned professional, Giammattei is the first player to record an ace while playing for CCAC.

"When I heard that it sank, I jumped up and down," said Giammattei. "I high-fived a bunch of people--and everyone around."

Giammattei has been playing golf for six years and wants to major in professional golf management in coastal Carolina or Myrtle Beach. He is already aware of the challenges he faces in order to achieve his dream.

"It is a ridiculously hard major and is the second most dropped major underneath law," said Giammattei.

Giammattei said his favorite golfer on the pro circuit is Tiger Woods, who has proven hard work and staying focused on one's individual goals pays off.

"Kurt's game has improved a lot here at CCAC," said Bell. "He has been a nice player as well as a good student. Everyone at CCAC wishes him the best in his pursuit of obtaining his PGA tour card."