Hole in One Definition: The Ace
A hole in one, also known as an ace, occurs when a golfer sinks the ball directly from the tee into the cup with a single stroke. It is the lowest possible score on any hole and the most thrilling moment a golfer can experience. While most commonly achieved on par 3 holes, a hole-in-one can theoretically happen on any hole, including par 4s and even par 5s (though the latter is astronomically rare).
On a par 3, a hole-in-one counts as an eagle (two under par). On a par 4, it would be an albatross (three under par). On a par 5, it would be a condor (four under par). Regardless of the par value, the experience of watching your ball disappear into the hole from the tee is universally electrifying.
The first recorded hole-in-one in golf history was made by Tom Morris Jr. at the 1868 Open Championship on the 8th hole at Prestwick Golf Club in Scotland. Since then, millions of aces have been recorded worldwide, each one a unique story of precision, luck, and perfect timing.
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Download Free on iOSHole in One Odds: What Are Your Chances?
The odds of making a hole-in-one vary significantly based on skill level and the specific hole being played. Here are the most widely cited statistics:
Amateur Golfers
The commonly cited odds for an average amateur golfer making a hole-in-one on any given par 3 are approximately 1 in 12,500. If you play 4 par 3s per round and play 40 rounds per year, you have roughly a 1-in-78 chance each year, or about once every 78 years of regular play. However, these odds improve significantly for better players.
Professional Golfers
For tour professionals, the odds drop to approximately 1 in 2,500 per par 3 hole. Pros hit the ball more accurately, generate more backspin for better stopping power, and have more control over trajectory and distance. A touring professional who plays 100+ rounds per year has a reasonable chance of recording at least one ace annually.
Factors That Affect the Odds
Shorter par 3s offer better odds than longer ones. A 120-yard hole provides much better chances than a 220-yard hole. Wind, green size, pin position, and elevation changes all play a role. Statistically, par 3 holes between 130 and 170 yards produce the most holes-in-one because they combine reasonable distance with full shots that generate backspin.
Hole in One Traditions: What Happens After an Ace?
Making a hole-in-one comes with a set of longstanding traditions that vary by culture and club. Here are the most common celebrations and customs:
Buying Drinks at the Clubhouse
The most universal tradition is that the golfer who makes a hole-in-one buys a round of drinks for everyone in the clubhouse bar. This can get expensive at a busy club on a Saturday afternoon, which is why some golfers have been known to quietly pocket the ball and say nothing. At many clubs, the bar tab for an ace can run into hundreds of dollars.
Plaque on the Wall
Many golf clubs maintain a dedicated board or plaque in the clubhouse listing every hole-in-one achieved at the club. Getting your name on the board is a permanent badge of honor and a conversation starter for years to come.
Keeping the Ball
Golfers almost always keep the ball they used to make the ace, often displaying it in a shadow box or special holder along with the scorecard, a photo, and details of the shot. Some golfers have the ball encased in a commemorative display.
In Japan: Celebrating Big
In Japan, the hole-in-one tradition is taken to another level. Golfers are expected to throw an elaborate celebration party and buy gifts for friends, family, and playing partners. The total cost can reach $10,000 or more, which is why hole-in-one insurance is extremely popular in Japan.
Hole in One Insurance: Yes, It Exists
Hole-in-one insurance is a real product offered by specialty insurance companies. It comes in two main forms:
Tournament Prize Insurance
Event organizers purchase this to cover a big prize (like a car or $50,000 cash) offered for a hole-in-one during a tournament. If someone aces the designated hole, the insurance company pays the prize. Premiums are based on hole difficulty, number of participants, and prize value.
Personal Ace Insurance
Popular in Japan and increasingly elsewhere, individual golfers purchase this to cover the cost of the post-ace celebration (drinks, gifts, parties). Annual premiums typically range from $50 to $200, and the policy pays out a set amount when the golfer records a verified hole-in-one.
Famous Holes-in-One in Golf History
Tiger Woods at the 1997 Phoenix Open (Hole 16)
At the famously rowdy 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale (the "Stadium Hole" surrounded by grandstands holding 20,000 fans), a 21-year-old Tiger Woods hit a hole-in-one and was engulfed by the loudest roar in golf history. The crowd erupted in a frenzy of thrown cups and deafening cheers. It remains one of the most electric moments ever captured on golf television.
The 1971 Ryder Cup: Five Aces in One Day
In one of the most statistically improbable events in golf history, five different players made holes-in-one during the 1971 Ryder Cup at Old Warson Country Club in St. Louis. The feat has never been replicated in Ryder Cup history and stands as one of the strangest coincidences in competitive golf.
Kim Jong-il: 11 Holes-in-One?
North Korean state media famously claimed that Kim Jong-il shot 38 under par including 11 holes-in-one during his first-ever round of golf in 1994. While universally dismissed as propaganda, the story has become one of golf's most amusing legends and a cautionary tale about unverified scoring claims.
Hole in One Records
Tips to Improve Your Chances of a Hole in One
While no one can guarantee a hole-in-one, you can stack the odds slightly more in your favor with these approaches:
Play More Par 3 Holes
The simplest way to improve your odds is to take more shots at par 3s. Consider playing par-3 courses, attending par-3 events, or simply playing more rounds. More attempts mean more chances.
Master Your 7-9 Iron Distances
Most holes-in-one occur on holes between 130 and 170 yards, which corresponds to a 7, 8, or 9 iron for most golfers. Having precise distance control with these clubs puts you in the right scoring zone more often.
Aim at the Pin, Not the Green
On par 3s with a reasonable pin position, actually aim at the flag rather than the center of the green. You will not hole every shot (or any, most of the time), but aiming at the pin puts more shots in close proximity.
Use Enough Club
One of the most common amateur mistakes is underclubbing. A ball that lands short of the green has zero chance of going in. Make sure your club selection gets the ball to the hole, not just to the front of the green.
Immortalize Your Ace Forever
When you finally make that hole-in-one, Golf Scorecard App will have the date, course, hole, and every detail recorded automatically. Your ace story deserves to be preserved.
