Club Members End Up in the Hole After Golfer Sinks a Hole in One

When Howard Robertson took aim on No. 9 at the University of Southern Mississippi golf course, he knocked a big hole in the Hattiesburg Sertoma Club budget.

“It happened during our June 11-12 benefit golf tournament,” said club member Joel Johnson. “This is our biggest money-raiser annually, and part of the package to attract golfers was we would give an $18,000 car to anyone who made a hole in one.”

The problem was that the member responsible for buying insurance to cover the hole in one purchased the policy for Saturday only and Robertson got his on Sunday, on the 175-yard, par 3 ninth.

“None of us knew the policy was not good for Sunday,” Johnson said.

The club agreed to pay Robertson $10,000 in cash, and while the club’s contingency fund covered half the debt, Johnson said the remaining debt has to be paid and the reserve built up.

“We usually make about $3,500 at the golf tournament and have smaller fund-raising events during the year,” Johnson said.

Now the 40 club members must find funds to pay off their debt and build up reserves used to aid to people who are speech and hearing impaired.