hole in one

A golf ball next to the hole

In golf, a hole in one or hole-in-one (also known as an ace, mostly in American English) is when a player hits the ball directly from the tee into the cup with one shot. This is most possible on a par 3 hole. Longer hitters have accomplished this feat on shorter par 4 holes. Nearly all par 4 and par 5 holes are too long for golfers to reach in a single shot.

Holes in one are extremely rare, and while it depends largely on the golfer's skill, many instances have been recorded when a ball has bounced off a tree, a bird in flight, or even a passing car, before settling into the hole. Amateur players who make a hole-in-one in a friendly game will usually be mentioned in the local newspaper's sports section, provided there was at least one witness.^{[citation needed]} In addition, it is customary at many clubs for the golfer to celebrate the feat by purchasing a round of drinks for fellow club patrons.^{[citation needed]}

Occasionally special events host a hole-in-one contest, where prizes as expensive as a new car, or cash awards sometimes reaching $4 million are offered if a contestant records a hole-in-one.^[1] Usually such expensive prizes are backed by an insurance company who offers prize indemnification services. Actuaries at such companies have calculated the chance of an average golfer making a hole in one at approximately 12,500 to 1, and the odds of a tour professional at 2,500 to 1.^[2]

The ultimate example of a hole-in-one prize, a $1m shoot-out, is an increasingly common occurrence at golf events, usually underwritten by a specialist prize insurer. Such prizes have even been won as this video of $1m hole-in-one winner shows ([1]).

It is stated that roughly 60% of all supposed hole in one shots are fraudulent and are typically "close enough" calls or staged to make it appear that a hole in one was completed.^{[citation needed]}

See also

• Golf glossary

References

1. ^ "Hole-in-one insurance policies provide safety net for glitzy tournament contests". http://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/stories/2006/02/27/focus2.html. Retrieved 2006-05-26. 
2. ^ "What Are The Odds of Making a Hole In One?". US Hole In One. http://www.holeinoneinsurance.com/hole-in-one-odds.html. Retrieved 2008-01-11. 

External links

• The official hole-in-one registry of the United States. United States Golf Register
• Hole-In-One FAQs United States Golf Association

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