As a young man, Norton was an exceptional golfer. At the
age of 26, however, he decided to become a priest, and
joined a rather peculiar Order. He took the usual vows of
poverty, chastity, but his Order also required that he quit
golf and never play again. This was particularly difficult
for Norton, but he agreed and was finally ordained a
priest.
One Sunday morning, the Reverend Father Norton woke up and
realizing it was an exceptionally beautiful and sunny early
spring day, decided he just had to play golf.
So... he told the Associate Pastor that he was feeling sick
and convinced him to say Mass for him that day. As soon as
the Associate Pastor left the room, Father Norton headed
out of town to a golf course about forty miles away. This
way he knew he wouldn't accidentally meet anyone he knew
from his parish.
Setting up on the first tee, he was alone. After all, it
was Sunday morning and everyone else was in church! At
about this time, Saint Peter leaned over to the Lord while
looking down from the heavens and exclaimed, "You're not
going to let him get away with this, are you?"
The Lord sighed, and said, "No, I guess not." Just then
Father Norton hit the ball and it shot straight towards the
pin, dropping just short of it, rolled up and fell into the
hole. It WAS A 420 YARD HOLE IN ONE! St. Peter was
astonished. He looked at the Lord and asked, "Why did you
let him do that?" The Lord smiled and replied, "Who's he
going to tell?"