Mike Platt, a longtime caddy at Vineyard Golf Course known to some in the community as “Chappy Mike,” hit a little shot around the big tree on the ninth hole of the Royal and Ancient Chappaquiddick Links on Monday, June 22.
He thought the ball rolled over the green, but after he peaked into the hole he realized that he had hit the first ever hole-in-one albatross on the Island course’s ninth hole, a feat that still hadn’t quite hit him when he spoke with The Times on Wednesday, June 24.
Platt said he did not bury the shot without help. While in his hands was the driver of a friend, it wasn’t that either that sank the ball. He said it was Nala, his best friend and dog from the other side, who gave it the nudge it needed.
“I know she helped with that,” said Platt in an interview with The Times.
Platt, a seven-year member at the Chappaquiddick course, was playing with friends when he made the hole-in-one, and Chris Kennedy, general manager of the course, was there to record the moment.
“It was wild, first one on record over there for hole nine,” said Platt. “It was special to share it with them, everyone was fired up. It was a cool moment and thanks to Brad [Woodger] and Chris for keeping that place around and keeping it in shape.”
If you have ever played the serene Chappaquiddick course, you’ll remember the ninth hole. It’s longer than the rest which, for the most part, require only irons to reach the green. But the ninth is a driver hole for most and at the back of the long hole, there is possibly the most quaint lake in the world: Lake Nala, marked by a small, blue and orange sign.
For Platt, Lake Nala is more than just a small body of water on a beautiful course. It’s a remembrance of his dog and best friend, who watched, supported, and trekked alongside him across hundreds of hours golfing on the course. But most importantly, Nala’s favorite part of the rounds was always cooling off in what would otherwise just be known as a simple puddle at the back of the ninth hole.
“She just always liked to find a puddle and there was always a puddle behind that green, so whenever we would get to that hole she would cool herself off in that little lake,” Platt said. “So, that was kind of always her spot and we made a sign.”
As Nala got older and couldn’t trek the fairways like she used to, Brad Woodger, a business partner to the course’s owner, Douglas Halbert, and Chris Kennedy allowed Platt and Nala to use a course golf cart to continue their travels over the greens in her final days.
The shot at hole nine also marked Platts’ third hole-in-one on the course. Platt said he previously sprinkled Nala’s ashes on hole seven of the Chappaquiddick Course, before he hit a hole-in-one there. Platt said he also hit a hole-in-one on hole three.
“You gotta think a higher power or something is going on when something like that happens,” said Platt in an interview with The Times. “All credit to the old doggy Nala.”