The Lucky Ball That Wasn’t And Was–Monterey Man’s Ace at Poppy Hills
December 2, 2014
It’s a good bet that Monterey resident Jerry Robertson won’t ever lose track of where his lucky ball is ever again.
On the Sunday before Thanksgiving, Robertson was at Pacific Grove Golf Links where the semi-retired 67-year-old works part-time as a marshal. While spinning around the course, he’d stop in what is the no-man’s land area between the 18th fairway and driving range to help collect balls wayward balls that had found their way into the area.
Among Robertson’s finds? A new Titleist Pro-V1 ball with a No.4 stamp.
“I put the ball in my pocket. It was going to be my new lucky ball,” Robertson said.
Or so he thought.

Jerry Robertson with his Poppy Hills ace flag.
Come Monday morning, Robertson was out on the links again, but this time he was playing in what the locals call ‘Monday Madness’, a casual tournament featuring 18-20 players that is held each Monday morning.
He’d marked his lucky ball with a happy face and two dots, and through his first 11 holes all was good. On the seaside 12th, however, his lucky ball ended up in the sand dunes. Robertson would never find it. His lucky ball was gone forever.
Or so he thought.
Later on the same afternoon, Robertson went back to his duties as a marshal. On the 15th hole, he ran into a group that was playing slow. The group’s reply to Robertson when he asked them to speed it up? They’d been losing balls in the dunes.
“I just told them to do their best and try to keep pace. I didn’t want to get on them too hard,” Robertson said.
As the day wore on, and the sun began to slide down the adjacent Pacific, the groups that had been on the course began bringing in their carts. One group caught Robertson’s attention. It was the players he’d talked to on the 15th.
“So I got their cart and I’m driving down to the barn. And I hear this rattling noise. It’s a ball,” Robertson said.
Not just any ball, but his lucky ball.
“I couldn’t believe it. Same Pro-V1 No.4 with my happy face on it. I was thrilled. I told (Pacific Grove head professional) Joe Riekena about it. I couldn’t believe I got my ball back,” Robertson said.
A day later at nearby Poppy Hills Golf Course, Robertson decided to give his lucky ball another chance. It was to be his first round at Poppy Hills in 18 years. It was also time for the ball to pay off.
Yet there was no magic. On his front-nine, Robertson, a 7-handicap, shot 48.
“I thought, ‘So much for the ball being lucky,’” Robertson said.
As he headed to the 10th tee, Robertson began questioning whether it was time to give up on the ball. On a whim, however, he gave it one more chance and placed it on the tee at the par-5 10th.
“I hit a good tee shot and on my third shot I hit a 9-iron up on the green. Two-putted for a par,” Robertson said.
It was only a taste of what was ahead.

Robertson said he’ll frame his scorecard, flag and lucky ball.
On the par-3 11th, the pin was in the front of the green with 119 yards to the middle.
After some waffling, Robertson pulled out his 9-iron. His tee shot landed in the fringe and rolled straight into the cup.
His lucky ball had struck gold.
“We were all high fiving. It was quite a celebration,” said Robertson of his second career ace.
Or so he thought.
On the ensuing 12th hole, Robertson’s drive hit the cart path and appeared to bounce deep into the woods. The lucky ball was again lost!
Dismayed, Robertson pulled out a provisional. The lucky ball had done its thing and disappeared.
Or so he thought.
As Robertson and his group arrived at what would be their second shots, a player in the group exclaimed that there was an extra ball in the fairway bunker. Two players clearly had hit into the bunker. So where’d the third ball come from?
Upon further inspection, the extra ball was a ProV1 No.4 with a happy face.
“All that we could deduce was that my first drive had bounced and hit some trees and bounced back into the bunker,” Robertson said.
Following a bogey on the 12th, the ball’s travels ended. Robertson decided to take what he had received and to not let it taketh away anymore. He put the ball in his pocket for good, or at least until he returned to the Poppy Hills pro shop.
Following his round, Robertson was greeted by the Poppy Hills staff, with longtime golf operations supervisor Art Kerrick presenting him with a Poppy Hills flag for his ace.
Robertson says he’ll have his scorecard, the flag and his lucky ball framed.
–Jerry Stewart