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Entrepreneur defies 67 million to 1 odds with 2 aces in first 9 of 18 holes at Doral in Miami



October 25, 2010 – MIAMI, Florida - Successful fitness entrepreneur made history at Doral Red Course last week. Lindsay G. Merrithew of Toronto, Ontario recorded two holes-in-one on the 2nd and the 8th during his game, both with a 6 iron from 173 and 177 yards respectively.

Lindsay G. Merrithew

“It was pretty exhilarating when the first one went in, but when the second one dropped on the 8th, I didn’t know whether I should continue to play or run out and buy a whole bunch of Lotto tickets.” Mr. Merrithew explains. “It was a rather surreal experience but one I will no doubt cherish for many years to come.”

According to a 2000 Golf Digest article, the odds of one player making two holes-in-one during the same round are 67 million to 1.

“We met up with Lindsay and his wife Moira on the first tee of the Red Course at Doral,” explains Brian Southwell, one of the foursome. “The 2nd hole was a par 3 playing 173 yards. Lindsay hit a beautiful 6 iron that had a slight draw on it. It was tracking perfectly to the hole. Sure enough, we get up to the green and there it is in the hole. Lindsay was quite pleased, however he was a very cool customer about it – I would have been screaming for all to hear!”

“As we continued on, it was clear that Lindsay was on his game. He was hitting some really great shots. When we reached the 8th tee box, we saw that it was another par 3, playing 177 yards. We all started getting on Lindsay,‘Come on, same club, hit it in again!’ So he gets up there and hits another beautiful 6 iron which is drawing in to the hole nicely. This green however was crowned, so it looked to us as if the ball had rolled off the back of the green,” Southwell continues. “As we grabbed our clubs and headed up the green, we did not see a ball off the back of the green. I was the closest to the hole so I went and looked to see if on chance it had gone in. I just rose up my arms, dropped my clubs and let out a yell ‘It’s in the hole!’ Now all four of us were shouting in disbelief, and Lindsay had the biggest smile on his face. What a day, to witness a holes-in-one is special, but to witness 2 holes-in-one in one round is unbelievable!”

John Napp, an avid golfer from New Jersey who’s only played one other time at Doral recalled a similar moment: “After the second ace on the 8th hole, I said to Lindsay, ‘You better not shoot a 60 on the back nine because no one will ever believe it!’ He ended up shooting a 73, two under par on the front nine. It was a pleasure to be a part of this event – I’ve been playing [golf] for 25 years and I’ve never seen a hole-in-one, let alone two in the same round.”

Long-time student of the prestigious Jim McLean Golf School, Merrithew travels to Miami for lessons at McLean’s flagship location several times a year with his wife Moira. His hometown course is St. George’s Golf and Country Club in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Mr. Merrithew is a member of Ontario’s prestigious Innovators Alliance for elite entrepreneurs, was nominated twice for Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur Of The Year® award, and is a five-time recipient of PROFIT Magazine’s 100 Fastest-Growing Companies award.

Corporate Director of Instruction and Lead Master Instructor at the Jim McLean Golf School, Christopher Toulson, can’t say enough about his student’s accomplishment. "Lindsay was striking the ball really well and his swing is very solid. He shot some great scores during his visit including a 72. To have two aces in 9 holes is just incredible!"

Jim McLean: “Lindsay making 2 aces in one round is a miracle. A number of great tour players haven’t had 2 aces in their lifetime of playing the game. I know it has not happened in my 20 years at Doral. Plus those are two great par threes and by no means short or easy. Fantastic!”

Merrithew’s Company is world-renowned in the health and fitness industry, most notably for its premier brand STOTT PILATES®. The connection between mind-body fitness and athletics has made headlines worldwide. “Golf demands a delicate balance of mental and physical skill. Pilates enables you to focus on both through mind–body awareness by gaining insight into the connection between the physical and psychological components of athletic performance. Tiger Woods, David Duval, Rocco Mediate, Sean O’Hare, Lee Jansen all incorporate Pilates into their training regimen,” says Merrithew.

In addition to directing and growing the fully integrated business from a visionary and strategic perspective, Mr. Merrithew has been instrumental in designing, producing and marketing the Company’s extensive equipment and DVD lines, having produced a unique collection of over 120 Pilates titles in the areas of athletic conditioning, rehab, pre/postnatal, active for life and more.

Lindsay G. Merrithew has been the driving force behind the growth of THE Merrithew HEALTH & FITNESS GROUP, and its premier brand STOTT PILATES®. He was nominated twice for Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur Of The Year® award and is a five-time recipient of PROFIT Magazine’s 100 Fastest-Growing Companies award. Merrithew was founded in 1988 by Lindsay and Moira Merrithew. The company’s mission is to promote the benefits of mind-body exercise worldwide. STOTT PILATES®, Merrithew’s premier Pilates brand, delivers innovation through equipment and high-caliber education with over 27,000 trained from 106 countries. Merrithew ENTERTAINMENT produces print and video-based exercise content for professional and consumer markets. For more information visit www.merrithew.com or call 1-800-910-0001

Jim McLean is recognized as one of the most innovative golf instructors in the world, and he is currently ranked #4 by Golf Digest. He is the owner of the # 1 Rated Golf School in America, The Jim McLean Golf School. There are 8 world-wide locations, 6 are in the United States, 1 in Mexico, and 1 in Spain. There are 85 teachers under the McLean umbrella. Eight McLean instructors have been ranked in America’s Top 100. Thirty-two have been ranked as Best in State by Golf Digest. Our network of golf instructors has also competed in an extensive number of top professional golf tournaments across the globe. To date our current instructors have competed in 128 TOUR Major Championships and 67 USGA Championships. For more information visit www.jimmclean.com or call 1–800–72–DORAL.


About Merrithew®

Merrithew® is the global leader in mind-body education and equipment. Founded in 1988, the company has trained more than 80,000 instructors and partners worldwide, developed six innovative education programs— STOTT PILATES®, ZEN•GA®, Total Barre®, Halo® Training, Merrithew Fascial Movement and CORE Athletic Conditioning & Performance Training— and has produced an extensive line of professional and at-home equipment and accessories for personal and professional use.

In 2020, Merrithew launched Merrithew Connect, a video streaming platform featuring new and signature Pilates, fitness and mind-body workouts and training from its internationally-recognized team of presenters.

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