Hole in one?

[richart]

A chap at a recent big charity day at Bearwood Lakes got a hole in one. He bought everyone a drink, and his bar bill came to over a grand. Think he might have been worth a few bob though, as he didn't seem to care, and even gave back the nice set of irons he won to the charity auction.

I have played for nearly 40 years, and never had a hole in one. I would happily buy a couple of bottles of whisky if I did get one, as for me it is a small price to pay for the sheer joy of the feat.

 

[Swinger]

I have played for nearly 40 years, and never had a hole in one. I would happily buy a couple of bottles of whisky if I did get one, as for me it is a small price to pay for the sheer joy of the feat.

Haven't you been fit for that new driver yet rich?

 

[Foxholer]

It can be even more costly in Japan!

http://www.gaffneyledger.com/news/2006-12-08/columns/010.html

 

[richart]

Haven't you been fit for that new driver yet rich?

I will have you know that given a good following wind I don't need driver on a couple of our par threes.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

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'd enjoy the moment and Kudos a lot more if I didn't have to go home and tell the Mrs I hit a lucky shot that cost me a fortune at the bar.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I have to say if I get a hole in one in a club event or a GM event there is more chance of me reaching Cat 1 than buying everyone in the bar a drink. I won't know some of them and won't abide others. It is an antiquated tradition in my opinion. Fair play if you have the money and the inclination to do so but not for me. My club is another that offers whiskey on the bar atrade price. I'd be more than happy with that. Not only does is satisfy those already in the 19th but gives those playing later a chance to enjoy my success.

 

[Hobbit]

I have played for nearly 40 years, and never had a hole in one. I would happily buy a couple of bottles of whisky if I did get one, as for me it is a small price to pay for the sheer joy of the feat.

Took me 41 yrs to get one. I bought two bottles of whisky at cost in the bar and absolutely thoroughly enjoyed going from table to table with the tray of glasses and having a bit of a laugh with everyone. Not sure how I got home... Definitely one of the highlights of my golfing life, and I'd love to do it again.

As to buying a 100+ people a drink of their choice - no chance of a tight Yorkshireman being that daft!

 

[Mark_G]

I dont know if my club does the bottles at cost price, but I think I may ask, although I will probably never need it, it would be nice to know that a special experience wouldn't be spoiled by worrying about the cost when getting back to the bar.

 

[OMcG]

Think its one of the most stupid traditions in the game. I recently got a hole in one in a competition and the possible cost didn't even cross my mind as I wasn't going to pay out for drinks. Why should someone be expected to pay out after hitting a good shot. They should be rewarded not out a fortune! If someone wants to however fair enough.

 

[backwoodsman]

We pay an insurance fee to the club - and get £200 on your bar card. Not sure, but don't think it has to be a comp to qualify - as don't think it was a comp when I saw a fellow player get one.

On balance, think I'm in favour of the tradition - I know it would cost me a bit (disregarding insurance that is) but can't envisage it ever being for that many people.

One nice thing at our place though, is that your fellow players buy you a HOI tie if you get one

 

[garyinderry]

i think buying to your 4 ball is fine. the two bottles of scotch would also cut it for me!

 

[John Boy Saint]

The Bottles of Scottish Wine is a good solution, as for the cover on Golf insurance it ain't worth the paper it's written on.

My mate had a mare of a round at his Golf club, his highlight was a free drink off some poor soul he didn't know who had nailed a HIO.

 

[MashieNiblick]

The idea of buying drinks for everyone present seems a bit out dated these days. Throw back to a day when members were wealthier and drinks were cheaper.

Practice at our place is a bottle of Scotch on the bar. Just symbolic really and keeps the tradition alive in an affordable way.

Having said that when I got my HiO many years ago we were the last group in the Feb stableford (stroke hole so I got 5 points ). Bar was nearly empty so I was in fact able to offer everyone a drink .

Also got a HiO tie courtesy of the club.

We now have insurance up to about £75 if you get one in a club comp.

Out of interest has anyone ever got one at a forum meet? If so, given the variety of views expressed above, what was, or would be, the accepted practice?

 

[ArnoldArmChewer]

I have been fairly lucky and had 3 HIO's. The first time was at an away club and I diid ask everyone in the bar (around 30 people) if they wanted a drink, snotty b*****s mostly said no. The 2nd was at our new captains driving in day bought 2 bottles of whisky as is usual but bought all the ladies a drink. 3rd time sunday morning so just 2 bottles of whisky again.

Each time I was so chuffed that frankly I didnt even consider cost

 

[drutz]

Now for me a compromise would be to buy your playing partners a drink. If your in a friendly round buy your friends a drink for the hole in one. If it is a competition then the people you play with and maybe the winner. That way you will have probably no more than 8 drinks to pay out for an still have that glow of the hole in one without thinking how will buy the shopping this week.

 

[dufferman]

I know traditions are traditions and lots of people are very passionate on those traditions, but it's still a loss to me why the HiO-er is the one to buy the drinks. It's like buying a gift for all your family on YOUR birthday. Madness!

 

[harvey4banger]

I wouldnt walk and I wouldnt buy everyone a drink. I'd buy everyone of my playing partners a drink, if anyone else moaned, I'd tell them to Foxtrot Oscar

What can they do?

 

[Whereditgo]

Out of interest has anyone ever got one at a forum meet? If so, given the variety of views expressed above, what was, or would be, the accepted practice?

I seem to remember the Belfry meet a couple of years ago someone had a HIO on the Saturday, dont know what happened in the bar we were only there for the Sunday.

 

[d2cko]

Think its one of the most stupid traditions in the game. I recently got a hole in one in a competition and the possible cost didn't even cross my mind as I wasn't going to pay out for drinks. Why should someone be expected to pay out after hitting a good shot. They should be rewarded not out a fortune! If someone wants to however fair enough.

Trust me, there's not a golfer on this planet that would consider my hole in one a 'good shot'.

 

[RobbieD]

Had a hole in one on sunday playing at my club stockwood vale only 7 of us playing usually 12-16 go out on sundays i bought a round for the 7 of us could have put a bottle of whiskey on the bar but the club was unusually quiet for a sunday.