Hole in one?

What I earn a year is neither here nor there as far as I am concerned.

I have played golf for about 30 years. Let's for arguments sake, say my salary during that time has been £15K per annum. That is £450,000 earned in that time. I have never had a hole in one during that time so were I to get one next week, I don't think I would mind buying a couple of bottles of Scottish wine to celebrate the event. It would equate to 0.01% of my earnings in that time.

In other words, a tiny expense in the grand scheme of things that is incredibly rare for any golfer. Surely not too much to bear?


If you have a hole in one every year and have only played the game for three years then I could understand it may be a bit tiresome to keep having to spend the money but in realistic terms, given the rarity of the event, it is hardly a lot of money.
 
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I do not think the majority on here (IMO) would grudge buying a bottle and dishing it out, i think where it changes (IMO) is buying individual drinks for everyone.
 
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SwingsitlikeHogan said:
We have a Hole-in-One crystal decanter that sit's on it's wooden plinth with plates for engraving the names of HIOers. You get a HIO - you pay for a bottle of whisky to fill the decanter and it sits on the bar with a load of nice spirits glasses and a wee notice telling of the lucky chap(pess) - help yourself.
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Like this idea with the crystal decanter. I might even suggest it for my gaff.
 
Yes, a bad tradition if you're playing with a bunch of strangers! But I suppose that it's a good way of getting to know everyone!!!!
 
sydney greenstreet said:
I do not think the majority on here (IMO) would grudge buying a bottle and dishing it out, i think where it changes is (IMO) is buying individual drinks for everyone.
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The event I was at last week had 126 players I believe. I am sure that no-one in their right mind would expect someone fortunate enough to get a hole in one on such a day to come in to the clubhouse and open a tab for everyone to get a pint of Pimms and a snack on.

What sensible people would expect though would be for the lucky person to foot the bill for a couple of bottles of whisky and two trays of shot glasses for those that wanted to raise a glass in respect of the hole in one. Not too much to ask and certainly in line with perceived current understanding and protocol in relation to this tradition.
 
I have been lucky enough to hit 2 hole in ones during my 1st season playing golf.

My 1st hole in 1 Tuesday 8th May 2012 @ 7pm, clubhouse very quiet I offered all folk a drink bar bill £30ish (Done the so called right thing).

My 2nd Hole in 1 Friday 27th June 2012 @ 3pm, clubhouse heaving as was lovely sunny day possible 100 people floating about (Got in my car and went straight home).

Did I feel bad no, both occassions I was having a friendly match with a friend in a 2 ball and nobody on the course was none the wiser. Did not buying everyone a drink take the gloss off it, not a chance!!! Would I have liked to buy everyone a drink YES but financially it doesn't makes sense.

I have seen poor chaps buy a large bottle of whisky for a small fortune only for it to remain largely untouched so where is the sense in this?.

I have also declined a drink of others when they have shot a hole in one as to me a £200 bar bill takes the buzz off a great achievement and agree this unwritten rule should be changed.
 
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Buying a bottle or two of whisky at the offy/cost price is a long long way from buying a round of each person's choice at full bar prices for all and sundry, and most people have suggested the bottle option seems perfectly reasonable and proportionate.

I have played golf for about 30 years. Let's for arguments sake, say my salary during that time has been £15K per annum. That is £450,000 earned in that time
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Paid any tax?
I suspect those that are on £15k a year have rather more to worry about paying for than some old golfing tradition, like rent, food, heating, transport etc.
 
Snelly said:
In other words, a tiny expense in the grand scheme of things that is incredibly rare for any golfer. Surely not too much to bear?
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If you take into account your entire life's earnings, then yes, £150 isn't that much. However, you don't get to pay the bar bill over the entire period of your life, you have to pay it in a oner...

When you take into account that after paying all of the bills I have about £100 a month to spend on myself then it's quite a stretch.

Perhaps peasants like me shouldn't play golf.
 
StrangelyBrown said:
If you take into account your entire life's earnings, then yes, £150 isn't that much. However, you don't get to pay the bar bill over the entire period of your life, you have to pay it in a oner...

When you take into account that after paying all of the bills I have about £100 a month to spend on myself then it's quite a stretch.

Perhaps peasants like me shouldn't play golf.
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No, you can play. Just don't aim right at the flag.
 
Snelly said:
You are 100% wrong and so are all the other posters responding in the same vein.

If you get a hole in one, buy a bottle of whisky and give everyone a dram. Or two or three bottles even. It is hardly going to break the bank. In the grand scheme of things, relative to what you are going to earn and spend in your life, it is a pittance. A once (more if you are lucky) in a lifetime expense that should be borne with a smile on your face.

And by coincidence, I was very close to a hole in one last Friday and I did not for a nanosecond wish that my ball would miss. It would have been a brilliant moment for me and I would have gladly bought a couple of bottles of scotch for those in the bar.

It is an excellent tradition and of course it should stay. If you disagree then you are probably too tight to consider buying a round. So what if they are all strangers? So what if it is at a big day out? Enjoy the moment and the kudos that your feat and subsequent generosity brings.


I cannot believe that any sane golfer would think otherwise. I cannot abide avarice - it is a serious character flaw for those afflicted with it.
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Madness... when you have bulk of bills to pay in the middle of the month, a car with next to no petrol in the tank, family birthdays with presents to buy, I would always put a bottle of whiskey to a bunch of people I've never met on top of the list. Why not?

"Hunny, where's the car? Did you walk home from the golf course?"
"Yes my dear, it ran out of petrol on the way home. But it's ok, because I bought those 6 men I've never met before half a bottle of whiskey."

Get with it.
 
Maybe the golf club should credit check the lucky person!;)

I don't mind buying a bottle of whiskey for people to share, but sticking a couple of hundred quid of my money into other peoples pockets is not the way a working class bloke like me is going to celebrate. I'm sorry Snelly, but in my opinion, you are living in rarified air if you think that this outdated tradition ranks higher than such luxuries as mortgages, food, fuel etc.
 
bluewolf said:
Maybe the golf club should credit check the lucky person!;)

I don't mind buying a bottle of whiskey for people to share, but sticking a couple of hundred quid of my money into other peoples pockets is not the way a working class bloke like me is going to celebrate. I'm sorry Snelly, but in my opinion, you are living in rarified air if you think that this outdated tradition ranks higher than such luxuries as mortgages, food, fuel etc.
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Your post and Dufferman's are completely missing the point. I suggest you re-read my posts.

I am not for one second suggesting you buy whisky every month by direct debit for a bunch of strangers as a priority over your essential bills or mortgage. You are close to insinuating this and it is a total misrepresentation.


What I am saying in essence is that for such are rare feat, buying two bottles of scotch and sticking them on the bar is not too much to ask for nearly all golfers, rich or poor. If you want to paraphrase this as meaning that once every decade, your children go hungry then fine, but that sounds a little over-dramatic to me.
 
Snelly said:
Your post and Dufferman's are completely missing the point. I suggest you re-read my posts.

I am not for one second suggesting you buy whisky every month by direct debit for a bunch of strangers as a priority over your essential bills or mortgage. You are close to insinuating this and it is a total misrepresentation.


What I am saying in essence is that for such are rare feat, buying two bottles of scotch and sticking them on the bar is not too much to ask for nearly all golfers, rich or poor. If you want to paraphrase this as meaning that once every decade, your children go hungry then fine, but that sounds a little over-dramatic to me.
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But most are already in agreement that the bottle of whiskey on the bar to be a decent compromise.

What people are objecting quite rightly is a bar tab running into the hundreds.

What you have failed to show in your Maths is your average yearly outgoings. I would imagine for most there wouldn't be too much daylight between lifetime incomes and outgoings.

For the record I hope my club lets you buy a bottle or there would be a few dry whistles.
 
Gotta agree, got an ace last year in a society meet at Wallasey, but spent the second half of my round worrying about the bar bill. Bought my playing partners a drink and a few in the bar but wasn't going to wait around to buy a load of folk I don't know a drink. Stingy - you bet. :ears:
 
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