The hole in one

[Herbie]

After many yrs of near misses, flag clipping and stopping short and never getting a hole in one I cant grasp the idea that something that only happens with varying degrees of luck gets such attention. Drinks all round by the unlucky person at the club house yet great accolades and reward when it happens in a comp. I remember comming joint 2nd third on countback in one comp, playing off 8h/c and producing 18 holes of very good golf and winning only a brolly that probably cost 4 quid when the entry fee was a fiver and the guy who got a hole in one taking a 3 wood to a 170yd par 3 running it through a bunker then clouting the flag after he topped it, gets a golf bag!
I think the hole in one deserves a reward even though luck is a significant factor but surely not something worth more than 18 holes of great golf!

So what are your views on the hole in one? I would be interested in what you feel its worth.

 

[viscount17]

I want one! but it's like birthdays at work - surely you should be bought the drinks!

 

[Atticus_Finch]

After many yrs of near misses, flag clipping and stopping short and never getting a hole in one I cant grasp the idea that something that only happens with varying degrees of luck gets such attention. Drinks all round by the unlucky person at the club house yet great accolades and reward when it happens in a comp. I remember comming joint 2nd third on countback in one comp, playing off 8h/c and producing 18 holes of very good golf and winning only a brolly that probably cost 4 quid when the entry fee was a fiver and the guy who got a hole in one taking a 3 wood to a 170yd par 3 running it through a bunker then clouting the flag after he topped it, gets a golf bag!
I think the hole in one deserves a reward even though luck is a significant factor but surely not something worth more than 18 holes of great golf!

So what are your views on the hole in one? I would be interested in what you feel its worth.

I hear what you're saying ,but I think you may change your mind when you eventually get one yourself.
I'm still waiting for mine BTW.

 

[Herbie]

have to wait and see

 

[Cernunnos]

Everyone wants that holy grail of golf, the hole in one, the ace.

Some players seem to get them all the time. Just look at the times Miguel Angel Jiminez gets a hole in one on a par 3. How many times he hits that shot from the fairway & pops straight in. Those shots from the rough, straight in, out of the bunker...straight in.



Now I've never had a hole in one, come close a few times, even hit the flag off the tee. What I have done & it always amazes me is get that shot out of a bunker or out of the rough & able to put zero putts down on a hole.

The amount of cars Miguel Angel Jiminez must have won during his career... Better than a golf bag any day of the week, though there again I wouldn't mind holding Jiminez's bag for a minute, or even a round of golf to see if some of the magic rubs off on me.

 

[Ken_A]

I think there is luck when you bash a runner into the hole - however, I was playing a a month or 2 ago and one of my playing partners got an ace. He was happy but then explained (to an extatic me) that it was his third (in 18 years playing).
I dont believe this is luck, this man is an exceptional Iron player - he always chooses a landing spot and factors in conditions and run. I think he has had his fair share of luck but he is also a skillful golfer, who tries to get one when possible.

Yes I understand that he has only had 3 - but I would not call it a total fluke.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I have to agree that the etiquette of hole in ones is askew as the player invariably ends up out of pocket (at least temporarily if the hole in 1 insurance kicks in). However I think it is worse in places in Japan where I believe the tradition is for the player to buy gifts forthe playing partners (we aren't talking a sleeve of balls either).

At least if you do it in a club comp there is the 2's money, and your name on the honours boards. I think the traditions need changing and maybe make the playing partners buy a drink rather than having to treat all and sundry due to a once in a lifetime shot

 

[SimonC]

I agree with Homer, I find it bizarre that you end up out of pocket for a hole in one. I've been fortunate enough to have 4 in total, though none of them were in competitive rounds. I bought my playing partners a drink but not everyone in the clubhouse.

 

[peteward15]

I do kind of agree with you. I know if I had won a brolly and the other guy got a golf bag I would feel the same.

However...... I've had 2 now and both of them were perfect in every way. Perfect distance and strike. Both pitched just in front of the hole and rolled in. I do appreciate that there is some luck involved but if you can't hit the ball close you haven't got any chance at all.

To get a hole in one is a great feeling. I reccomend it to you all! Seriously though the second time I aced I instructed my playing partners to keep quiet and just bought them a couple of rounds of drinks. There must have been 100 people in that bar and drinks at Woburn aren't cheap. Does that make me bad!?? I simply couldn't justify spending up to £300 on drinks when my kids need feeding!

I know some clubs allow you take a bottle of whiskey from behind the bar and replace it with the same bought from Tescos (other stores are available) which seems like a much fairer idea.

 

[Cernunnos]

I've heard about the bottle of whiskey idea where its provided by hole in one players for anyone wishing to share a drink with him at his good fortune in an ace. And its probably one of the nicer & friendlier ideas, as its only going to cost £10 or £25 if its a nice malt from the supermarket.

But really why should you buy anyone a drink, surely it should be your playing partners buying you drinks for your ace for the remainder of the day out.

If I was visiting a club I'd certainly not be buying the whole club house a round of anything. A short at most for each of my playing partners maybe.

Our works society had a bottle of whiskey set asside for anyone who got a hole in one for a number of years, before it was won by the worst golfer you could imagine, taking driver off a 170 yard parr three, which didn't even hit the green. His ball bounced over a bunker onto the green & rolled around the green until it just found its way to the hole. Jammy or what. But either way it was still a hole in one & he was a bottle of whiskey the richer... But tight sod didn't even share a meassure or two with anyone else.

 

[Herbie]

I think we all have a little common ground on this one, its about time the person who gets the hole in one got their drinks bought for them not the other way round.

I have no resentment against anyone who hits a decent golf shot and gets one, the pro's are more likely to with their consistantly high standards and skills, but when someone hits a duff shot and gets one I think they should buy everyone in the membership a drink for at least a year!

 

[shanker]

I have to agree that the etiquette of hole in ones is askew as the player invariably ends up out of pocket (at least temporarily if the hole in 1 insurance kicks in) either).

Sorry Homer, but I disagree. I'm lucky enough to have done it four times and on the only occasion it cost me money I was happy to buy a bottle of Scotch and share it round.

 

[andycap]

Herb I second that,
I play in a regular three ball , one of the guys has a bad hip,( one has been replaced the other is overdue.) As a result he has little hip rotation and stabs at the ball with no follow through. In the past 3 months he has hit the pin 4 times with the most awful shots! if he keeps up one will drop.

 

[USER1999]

I have had 3, one I kept quiet about (the first), and two where I have bought the drinks. These two were in my current club where we get a £100 float as part of the years subs for hole in ones. This is a good idea, as it doesn't leave you out of pocket. You can close the tab if it gets to £100, or chose to let it go over and pay the difference.