‘Every golfer’s dream’: vacationer hits wonder-shot at Signal Hill Golf Course

There may never be a better way to enter the New Year than what Brian Bocan achieved on the 13th hole at Signal Hill golf course in Panama City Beach.

An out-of-towner from Wisconsin, Bocan was in the area to enjoy the holidays with friends and family, as well as the stunning golf courses and pleasant weather. An avid golfer averaging 50-75 rounds per year, Bocan had previously played Signal Hill and was back hoping to enjoy a round before the cold weather arrived.

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“We went out and it was a slow day on the course, we were hitting the ball pretty decent and got some lunch before we started the back nine,” Bocan said. “We were joking around that we hadn’t hit any birdies yet so I told my buddy that we should name it and claim it.”

Bocan hit a birdie on No. 12 deemed, “the straight and narrow,” and felt the manifesting power as he headed to No. 13. The golfer pondered about claiming a hole-in-one on the upcoming par-3 over water but thought it improbable.

“Looking back I want even thinking about the shot, which you typically do especially on a par-3 you try to get it as close to the flag as possible,” Bocan said. “As soon as I hit it a couple of the guys said it’s going in but I blew it off and grabbed my tee.”

The ball hit just behind the flag and began spinning back right until it rolled right into the cup, that’s when everything erupted.

“Everyone started yelling, high fives, and even people a hole behind us started yelling and we even did a shot right there on the hole,” Bocan said. “It was surreal because it’s every golfer’s dream to hit a hole-in-one and when you get close you hope it’ll happen one day and it did.”

Bocan completed the course, making birdies on a few more holes toward the end. He contacted his golf buddies and video-called his 6-year-old son, who always encouraged him to hit a hole-in-one.

He then returned to the clubhouse, where he was welcomed with a certificate and the flag from the course as a keepsake of the occasion.

“It’s fun now to relive that moment and it may not happen again for a while but it was super exciting to go through it, especially down there at Signal Hill,” Bocan said.

Banji Bamidele is a sports reporter for the Panama City News Herald. He can be reached at abamidele@gannett.com or through X, formerly known as Twitter, @AdebanjiBamide1.

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Brian Bocan’s historic day at Panama City’s Signal Hill Golf Course