Aces hard to come by at Ray’s

Ryan Schmidt, a UND flight instructor, is the latest to record a hole in one on UND’s golf course

UND’s Ray Richards has a reputation for being a challenging course.

Since reopening in June 2020, the course has had just two holes in one. Ryan Schmidt recorded the latest ace on Aug. 25 on the 148-yard Hole No. 4. Dylan Brandner witnessed the shot.

Schmidt said he had no idea after he hit the ball that it reached the bottom of the hole.

The UND flight instructor, who grew up in Wisconsin, swung and saw the ball hit the flagstick. Since he and Brandner couldn’t see where the ball landed because of the shade on the green, they raced up to the green.

“In the hole,” Schmidt said. “It was pretty crazy.”

The hole in one was Schmidt’s first of his career. He said he plays Rays often and enjoys the challenging 9-hole layout.

Schmidt’s ace was the first on the course since Tim Anderson recorded one on the same hole in a 2020 tournament.

While Ray Richards just reopened in 2020 after being shuttered a few years after budget concerns, in 2015, alone, four holes in one were reported to Ray Richards staff. Making those were:

• Franklin Sage – Hole 8 181 yards, according to Ray Richards Facebook page
• Andy Gudajtes – Hole 4 148 yards. Witness: Donny Riendeau
• Sande Hodge – Hole 4 148 yards. Witnesses: Zach Brunig, Kirby Schock
• Vance Bowersox – Hole 4 148 yards. Witness: Dustin Hetletved