Hole In One Insurance News & Notes

Hole In One Odds :: Golf's Rare Feat

2008-07-22T13:31:00.000-04:00

Each time an average golfer steps up to the tee of a par 3 hole, their probability of successfully making a hole in one is 1 in 12,500 attempts. This according to a recently completed five-year study conducted by US Hole In One, a provider of hole in one contest prize insurance. The findings suggest that previously published figures wildly exaggerate the ease or difficulty of actually completing the feat. According to US Hole In One President, Greg Esterhai, “The fallacy of other studies is that they typically rely on estimated data for the actual number of holes in one made. This study avoids such conjecture by utilizing actual par 3 scoring information.”

The conclusions of the study came from analyzing instances of a hole in one occurring over the course of six million shot attempts at par 3 holes by golfers of varying ability. Additionally, the findings point to professional golfers having a sizable advantage (1 in 2,500) when it comes to making an ace. “The PGA Tour’s slogan is ‘These Guys are Good’, and they aren’t kidding,” confesses Esterhai.

In terms of more fantastical hole in one feats, US Hole In One compiled the following list of probabilities, based on their findings, for curious observers (assuming four par 3 holes in an 18-hole round):

• Average golfer making hole in one on designated hole: 1 in 12,500
• Professional golfer making hole in one on designated hole: 1 in 2,500
• Average golfer making hole in one during single round: 1 in 3,125
• Average golfer making two holes in one during single round: 1 in 26,045,834
• Average golfer making three holes in one during single round: 1 in 488 billion
• Average golfer making four holes in one during single round: 1 in 24 quadrillion
• Two golfers, same foursome, acing same hole: 1 in 26,045,834
• Three golfers, same foursome, acing same hole: 1 in 488 billion
• Golfer making holes in one on back-to-back holes: 1 in 156,250,000
• Hole in one being made during full field (144 golfers) outing: 1 in 22

“We were finding that people was grossly misestimating the probability of certain hole in one stories occurring,” notes Esterhai, “When I read a story claiming that the odds of a father and son pair both making an ace on the same hole was a trillion to one – when the actual odds are only 156 million to one – we knew this comprehensive study would be a good start to setting the record on aces straight.”

Seeing Double in Yorktown Golf Tournament

2008-07-16T11:35:00.004-04:00

Heads turned on July 1st when Mike Yingst hit his 7-iron off hole 15 and his ball rolled in for a hole in one but the celebration really started when Yingst knocked down another ace on the very next hole! Mike Yingst a member of the Tailgaters, played in the Night Men’s League in Yorktown for the past 25 years and has never scored a hole in one, let alone two, in the same day! Yingst’s second ace was on the longest par three on the course at 160 yards, Yingst used his 5 wood off the tee and was not positive that the ball went into the hole until he walked up to the green!

After buying a round of drinks to celebrate at the clubhouse Yingst still walked away with money in his pocket claiming the hole in one pot of about $140. Had this golf tournament insured their hole with US Hole In One, Yingst could had the potential to walk away with a grand prize valuing up to $100,000, in addition to a bonus prize like a LCD Flat Screen TV that US Hole In One insures for any other par 3 on the golf course greater than 130 yards at no extra cost. Remember with US Hole In One grand prizes of $25,000 or less restore in your golf tournament just in case you have more than one lucky golfer to score an ace on the grand prize hole.

22 Holes In One In 30 Days In One Idaho Area

2008-06-27T09:36:00.004-04:00

An ace is one of the rarest achievements in the sporting world and definitely the biggest accomplishment in a golfer’s life. Well, they must be doing something right in the Treasure Valley area in Idaho where golfers celebrated holes-in-one at courses in the area. Twenty two holes-in-one to be exact and the most amazing part is that they all occurred within the month of June. Sean O’Gara’s ace on No. 14 at Boise Ranch Golf Course was by far the most impressive sinking a 302 yard drive on the par 4!

The odds for an average golfer to hit a hole-in-one are around 12,000 to 1, and while these odds are still extremely rare, the story of the golfers in Treasure Valley proves that a hole-in-one is possible! This is why when planning a golf tournament you should always insure your contest with US Hole In One. Not only will the hole in one insurance benefit the foundation running the outing, it also creates exciting incentives for the participates of the event. Remember when you sign on with US Hole In One to cover the prize at your golf tournament you also receive additional bonus prizes at no extra charge for up to three other par 3 holes on the course! These prizes include Callaway Golf Big Bertha irons, a Sharp LCD flat-screen television, or domestic roundtrip plane tickets for two.

Florida Husband and Wife Get Back to Back Aces…On the same hole!

2008-03-26T12:34:00.001-04:00

Monday was a quite a good day for Cheryl and Bob Wheeler; they set out for a nice game of golf and it turned out to be a day of inconceivable odds. The wind was blowing against Bob as he stepped up to the 9th hole at Cranes Roost Golf Course, a 177 yard par-3. Due to the wind, he clubbed up to his 7 wood and let ‘er rip. He could feel it had been a great swing and saw the ball nearing the pin but could not see where it landed. His wife Cheryl teed up next at 130 yards and pulled her 5 iron, she too hit a great shot that headed straight for the pin. After their two other partners took their shots they all made their way to the green, with no sight of Bob or Cheryl’s balls they decided to check the cup. Low and behold there were two balls in there!! Bob and Cheryl had both hit a hole in one on the same hole.

The Wheelers probably are wishing they were playing in a golf tournament that had a hole in one prize on that hole! If they had been playing in a golf tournament that day that had hole in one prize coverage with US Hole In One they would have been even luckier. Many people think that hole in one insurance only covers the first hole in one but not at US Hole In One. In the case of the Wheelers they could have both been awarded the prize had there been one on that hole and the ladies tee was a tad longer. US Hole In One prize coverage includes coverage for multiple holes in one whether it be on the same par 3 or different par 3’s.

Hole In One Insurance :: Cancellation and Rescheduling Instructions

2008-03-13T16:58:00.003-04:00

If your tournament has to be postponed due to inclement weather there is no need to worry. All you need to do is let us know via email or fax within a business day of your event and your hole in one insurance will not be affected. Whether you fax or email us, make sure your note includes your event number.

If for some reason you are forced to cancel your hole in one insurance you will receive a total refund minus US Hole In One’s $40 (forty) cancellation fee. If the weather turns on you mid-way through, you will need to let us know the number of shots taken at the target hole and the refund will then be prorated. However, keep in mind if you are only postponing the event there is not a fee. It is okay if you do not know the new date for you event. Just make sure that you mention in the note that you send to us that you do want to reschedule and that you will notify us of the new date as soon as it is available to you. If in any case there is a failure to notify US Hole In One that your event did not take place within one business day, we will assume the event took place and your hole in one insurance cannot be rescheduled.

This policy in regard to cancellation or rescheduling goes for putting and shootout contests as well as hole in one insurance. The cancellation fee of $40 (forty) also applies. In many cases putting and shootout events are scheduled to take place at the end of the tournament. If the weather allows you to play the tournament but you are unable to complete the putting and/or shootout contest, not to worry, just make sure you notify US Hole In One within a business day.

Hole Distance for Women in Your Outing

2008-03-12T16:55:00.004-04:00

If you are in charge of running a golf tournament for your company or local organization, you want to make sure that your event runs as smoothly as possible. Obviously, you are looking to run a top notch event with as few complaints from participants as possible. One of the most common complaints we hear from participants in golf tournaments is that the hole in one insurance provider that their tournament director selected required all of the golfers to shoot from the same distance. Unfortunately, that means the tournament director went with one of our competitors and not US Hole In One.

At US Hole In One, we base the price of the coverage on three different factors. The first factor is the number of golfers, the second is the value of the prize, and the third is the distance of the hole for men. We explicitly ask for the distance of the men's tee because we allow the women to shoot from 15 yards closer than the men. We have a minimum distance of 150 yards for the men but that means that the women can shoot from 135 yards if the men are set up at 150 yards. This 15 yard advantage for the women helps to make the possibility of hitting a hole in one equally feasible for both men and women.

The closer distance for the women applies to any of the contest holes covered with prizes from US Hole In One. That means that whether it is a grand prize or bonus prize hole, the women at your event can most likely tee up at their own tees and still have a shot at the prize. Sometimes the women's tee box is more than 15 yards in front of the men's tee box in which case you would simply ask the pro to move the women's tee back on that hole to within 15 yards of the men's tees. Remember, if you have any questions in regards to the terms of your agreement with US Hole In One simply call or email us and we would be glad to help.

Bonus Prizes and Signs with Hole In One Insurance

2008-02-28T17:13:00.003-05:00

If you order hole in one insurance from US Hole In One, the representative on the phone will typically ask you if you want bonus prizes and/or signs. What are bonus prizes, why would I need signs & how in the world could I get those in time for my event tomorrow.... you ask?

Well, it's pretty simple. Bonus prizes are included (free) every time you decide to cover a grand prize hole with US Hole In One. We will cover as many other par-3 holes that you have over 130 yards with smaller prizes. Those prizes are awarded to any golfer in your event who hits a hole in one on one of the other par-3 holes that day. This year our Bonus Prizes are an LCD Flat Screen TV, Domestic Airline Tickets for Two, and a set of Callaway Big Bertha Irons. We also throw in a sign displaying what the prize is for each of those bonus holes so that people know what they are shooting for on those other par-3 holes. Those signs are 22" x 35", double sided, full color signs that can even have your sponsor name displayed. All signage is produced in house and therefore can be shipped immediately to arrive at your event on time. Make sure you take advantage of those freebies the next time one of our representatives asks you whether you want bonus prizes and signs with that!

Pilates Can Better Your Golf Game?

2008-02-07T16:20:00.000-05:00

So Pilates, in general, can help your flexibility in your golf game but you probably didn’t know that there are specific Pilates regimens designed to help better your game. There are clinics that take place at golf courses around the country to teach this very workout. Most clinics are 2-hours and cost about $250.

A very interesting fact about Pilates for golf is that the background on which your personal workout is designed is your golf swing! So get yourself positioned into your perfect stance and let ‘er rip! After this you will learn what you can work on to make your swing better. You will also be educated based on a “12-point swing biomechanics analysis.” This analysis focuses on your balance, flexibility, strength, alignment, and posture. Ultimately, your new Pilates workout will have you swinging like Tiger in no time! Maybe you’ll even get your very first hole in one!

A Hole In One for Tiger (x18)!!

2008-02-01T20:54:00.000-05:00

We are often asked at US Hole In One, "How many holes in one does Tiger Woods have?" The answer is an astounding 18! A hole in one is golf's ultimate shot and one of the toughest feats in all of sports. Tiger, arguably the world's best golfer, has a total of 18 holes in one in his lifetime with 2 coming during his PGA career. Just how impressive is that? With the odds of a professional golfer hitting a hole in one at about 2,500 to 1 that means that Tiger would have had to play approximately 45,000 par-3 holes or 11,250 rounds (avereage course has 4 par 3s) in his life. That's a lot of golf!

The bottom line is that Tiger is not your average golfer (not even your average professional golfer). Based on those statistics and the fact that Tiger has many more years of golf in front of him it is safe to say that Tiger isn't done racking up the holes in one.

You finally made a Hole In One! Who cares?

2008-01-11T10:05:00.000-05:00

So you finally got a hole in one, huh? And though your celebratory scream may have been heard for miles, only you and your partner saw the shot, so what? You have a story to tell your friends and family for years to come but that's it. What greater recognition could there be than seeing your name in the bright lights of the PGA's website. That's just it, you can do this. You may not be Tiger Woods (who made his first hole in one when he was 6 and has a total of 18 to date) but at least the next time you tell your story and someone doubts you, you can tell them, "Go to PGA.com!"

It really is that easy. Once you get to the PGA's website all you have to do is submit the name of the course and the date of your hole in one along with your contact information. Once the PGA verifies your fantastic achievement with the club professional your name will appear in lights! As an added bonus, you will also receive a commemorative certificate from The PGA of America.

Congratulations!

Hole In One Record Falls to 102 Year Old Golfer

2007-04-10T09:22:00.000-04:00

Congratulations Elsie McLean!!

At the ripe old age of 102, that's correct, one hundred and two, Elsie McLean became the oldest known person ever to record a hole in one. Ms. McLean reportedly aced the par 3 fourth hole at Bidwell Park in California from 100 yards away using her trusty driver. In doing so, Elsie broke the previous mark for oldest person to hit a hole in one that had been held since 2001 by Harold Stilson. Mr. Stilson made a hole in one at Deerfield Country Club in Florida when he was 101.

Due to the blind tee shot at the fourth hole at Bidwell Park, Ms. McLean reportedly didn't even know about her achievement at first. It wasn't until one of her playing partners checked the hole that their search for her tee shot ended and they happily realized that the shot was an ace. It was also the first hole in one of her golfing life.

Congratulations, once again, to Ms. Elsie McLean on your fine achievement.

Playing by the Rules: Witness Requirements

2007-04-06T11:53:00.000-04:00

"Where is the best place to have the witness view the winning shot?"

Not everyone has the luxury of having network television broadcasting their golf tournament; with filmed evidence of a hole in one being made. Conseuqently, what is a golf tournament organizer to do when they're running a hole in one contest and need to abide by witness requirements?

At US Hole In One, we're frequently asked about the ideal location to place a hole in one contest witness. The easy answer: any place where the witness can see both the teeing ground and the hole. Many events place the witness either at the tee box (where they are out of harm's way and safe from incoming golf shots) or have them situated near the green (sometimes, even with a hard, construction helmet): both are acceptable. The key to proper witness placement for a hole in one contest is merely that the contest witness has a clear, unobstructed view of each golfer striking their shot from the tee box, and of the golf ball making its way all the way into the hole. As long as the witness can see these things happening for every golfer, they can be anywhere on the golf course.

If your course has a unique hole with a blind tee shot of some kind, we recommend having two witnesses for the hole to make sure that you have at least have one witness who saw the golfer tee off, and one witnessing the ball going into the cup. Remember, if a hole in one occurs without the verifiable presence of witnesses as stated in the terms and conditions of the application, your hole in one insurance provider will have no obligation to pay the prize value, or any portion thereof, to the client. One other caveat, all liability for the safety of the witnesses is usually borne by you, the Client; and not your coverage provider.

O'Meara, Toms, Sabbatini Shine at Par 3 Contest

2007-04-05T10:13:00.000-04:00

Congratulations go out to Mark O'Meara, Rory Sabbatini and David Toms for their excellent play in yesterday's Par 3 Contest at the Masters. Sabbatini and Toms both made a hole in one during their round; Rory's coming at the 7th hole from 115 yards away, while David's was made at the 5th with a 9-iron from 130 yards. Their aces marked the 62nd and 63rd in Par 3 Contest history.

The contest itself was captured by Mark O'Meara, the 1998 green jacket winner. His winning score of 22 was only two strokes off the tournament record. Unfortunately for Mark, while victorious in this fun-filled event, he must take solace in knowing that no Par 3 Contest winner has ever gone on to seize the title at Augusta National come Sunday.

Source: "O'Meara Wins Par 3 Contest" - Art Stricklin

The Odds of a "Masters"-ful Hole In One

2007-04-04T10:07:00.000-04:00

Ready. Set. Go!

At precisely 7:40 tomorrow morning, the Masters, the first major of the PGA Tour season, will get started when Arnold Palmer, this year's Honorary Starter, ceremoniously strikes a ball from the tee of hole number one. 97 of the best players in the world will then follow Mr. Palmer's lead, thus marking the start of the 2007 Masters. Reigning Masters Champion, Phil Mickelson begins his round at 10:56, while world #1, and four-time green jacket winner, Tiger Woods, tees off at 1:52.

For all of you Ace Weekly readers out there wondering about this tournament's hole in one opportunities, Augusta National will not disappoint. Over the years, participants have recorded 18 holes in one during tournament play beginning with Ross Somerville's ace at hole 16 in 1934. "What club did he use?" you may ask. A mashie niblick, believe it or not.

Furthermore, the Masters has witnessed an astonishing 3 double eagles, including Gene Sarazen's "Shot Heard Round the World" at number 15 in 1935 that vaulted The Squire into a share of the lead that he would not relinquish.

Augusta National's four par 3 holes (4, 6, 12, 16) have all been aced over the years. Jeff Sluman is the only golfer to hole out on number 4, while number 16 has been aced most often with 10 competitors having made an elusive hole in one there. Holes 6 and 12 have been conquered four and three times respectively.

Not surprisingly, oddsmakers in Ireland allow wagering on an hole in one being made at the Masters. One group has set the odds of an ace being made this week at 6-5, with the odds for none being set at 4-6. And if you're really ready to go out on a limb, you can even place a bet for the first hole to be aced this week. Hole 4 is set at 18-1; hole 6 is at 9-1; hole 12 is currently 8-1; and hole 16 is the favorite at 7-2. Best of luck to all of you brave souls out there betting on a hole in one being made on the PGA Tour this week!

Sources: The Official Site of the Masters Tournament
The Belfast Telegraph

Wednesday at the Masters

2007-04-03T14:44:00.000-04:00

Sam Snead, Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson, Ben Crenshaw, Vijay Singh: all of them have won at Augusta National, all of them have defied the odds and outplayed the competition on Augusta's famed 1,060 yard layout...That's right, 1,060 yards! Oh, you thought we were talking about the other course at Augusta. No, no, no. Wednesday at the Masters is all about the Par 3 Contest.

Every year since 1960, patrons have enjoyed the spectacle that takes place over and around DeSoto Springs Pond and Ike's Pond at Augusta National. Tournament participants, non-competing past champions and honorary invitees are invited to participate in the event that takes place at Augusta's own par 3 course. The course, which does in fact measure only 1,060 yards, was constructed in 1958 by architect George Cobb and Augusta National co-founder Clifford Roberts. And while par is only 27, each year a golfer finds a way to post birdie after birdie in their pursuit of the championship.

Past winners Art Wall (1965) and Gay Brewer (1973) hold the course record in the Par 3 Contest at a staggering seven under-par 20. Last year's champion was PGA Tour regular Ben Crane, who posted a masterful 23 en route to victory.

Of special interest to us here at US Hole In One, there have reportedly been a total of 61 aces made during the event's 47-year history, including a record 5 holes in one made in 2002 alone.

To all of those participating in tomorrow's event, we wish you the best of luck. However, it should be noted that never has the winner of the Par 3 Contest gone on to capture the coveted green jacket four days later on Sunday...birdies beware!

Source: The Official Site of the Masters Tournament

What is the Difference Between a Scramble and a Shamble?

2007-04-02T10:33:00.000-04:00

So you're running an upcoming golf outing, and wondering what kind of scoring system to use. You're kind of familiar with the standard scramble format, but you've also heard about something called a shamble. Which do you use? Which will speed play along the course? Thankfully, we have some answers for you.

In a scramble, each and every golfer in the foursome (or threesome) takes a shot from the tee. From this point, the team decides who had the best drive, and all players advance forward to that spot to take their second shots. This process then continues, with the best shot being taken each time, until a member of the team is able to hole out. The team's score for that particular hole is recorded as the number of team "strokes" it took to get the ball in the cup (e.g. third, fourth, fifth, etc.). A shamble is slightly different in that only the best drive (or tee shot) is used for each tem member's second shot. From that point, normal stroke play ensues as each player plays his or her individual own ball, and each golfer is responsible for holing out in the fewest number of shots. Thus, whereas a scramble continuously uses the best shot from the group, in a shamble, only the best drive is used for the foursome.

The decision to use a scramble or a shamble for your golf tournament largely depends on the overall skill level of your field. If your golfers are not particularly talented, a scramble is preferable as group's aren't at the mercy of multiple shanks, skulls, tops, chunks and other poor shots that extend play on each hole for each troubled player. Instead, the continuous best shot format, hopefully, results in a lower team score, fewer shots taken, and less waiting time for groups behind.

On the other hand, shambles provide a more competitive course of play when your field is more consistent on the course. With each golfer being responsible for posting a score, your event benefits from everyone being focused on playing well, while at the same time having fun.

It's Attack of the Aces at The Players Championship

2006-03-28T13:46:00.000-05:00

Last week's Players Championship turned out to be a thriller. Those of you who watched television coverage of the event no doubt witnessed Stephen Ames brilliant victory at the TPC Sawgrass course as well as highlights of the event's four holes in one! The assault on the flagstick at number thirteen started on Friday when Justin Leonard and Jesper Parnevik both aced the par 3 hole at Sawgrass from approximately 160 yards away. Commentators referenced the friendly flag placement as a key contributor to the excellent shots made on the hole that day. Shots seemed to funnel straight towards the cup all day long it seemed. Saturday proved to be an equally exciting day for the spectators at 13 as European standout Henrik Stenson made yet another ace at the hole.

Not to be outdone, tour veteran and past Masters champion Fred Couples stroked a brilliant shot from 159 yards away at the 13th on Sunday for the fourth ace of the week at the par 3 hole. In doing so, Fred also became the first player in tournament history to have made a hole in one twice at The Players. His other miraculous shot came in 1997 when he managed to tame the terrifying island green at 17.

Sunday's finish also marks the end of an era for The Players Championship. As a part of the PGA Tour's reshuffled schedule beginning next season, The Players event will move from its typical spot in late March to a date in early May. The event will no doubt be just as exciting in its new position, however, as weather in May is more amenable to Tour play than late March. Congratulations goes out once again to Stephen Ames on his fantastic victory at the 2006 Players Championship!

Improving Hole In One Insurance Packages One Tournament at a Time

2006-03-24T09:46:00.001-05:00

In our continuing effort to improve the hole in one insurance prize packages that we offer, US Hole In One is proud to announce the start of a new program. Beginning today, any tournament director or contest sponsor who requests information from us for hole in one contest insurance will receive, at no charge, golf club certificates for every golfer in their event. Each certificate is redeemable for a brand-new golf club from Upswing Golf, the premier golf equipment designer in the country.
Following the success of our new & improved bonus hole in one prize lineup in 2005 (Sharp LCD Flat-Screen Television, Set of Big Bertha Irons from Callaway Golf & Two Roundtrip Airline Tickets), US Hole In One is continuing its commitment to providing golf event organizers with a premium service experience by extending this special, limited-time offer. While offers similar to this have appeared throughout the golf industry in the past, US Hole In One is revolutionizing the concept by offering these certificates to every golf tournament organizer or sponsor, irregardless of whether or not they purchase hole in one insurance from us. We remain confident that this token of appreciation will clearly illustrate our commitment to excellence and will further distinguish us from our competitors.

Many will undoubtedly ask us what the catch is in all of this. Thankfully, there is no catch. Each certificate is in fact redeemable for a brand-new golf club from Upswing Golf. The only nominal fees a golfer is responsible for are shipping & handling and custom-fitting. In addition, golfers have their choice of receiving either a driver, 7-wood, wedge or putter.

We came across Upswing Golf following the recent PGA equipment show in Orlando, Florida. Founded by industry veterans Richard Merk and Bret Larsen, Upswing's mission is to provide high-performance equipment that fuses classic design techniques with state-of-the-art technology. The result, we've found, is a lineup of clubs that perform exceptionally well for all golfers, without the extraordinary price tags typically seen from today's club manufacturers. Undoubtedly, their combined 40 years of experience in the industry at juggernauts like Callaway and TaylorMade has greatly contributed to Upswing's excellent clubhead design talents.

If you would like to learn more about this complimentary golf club certificate program or any other portion of US Hole In One's industry-leading, hole in one prize packages, please feel free to contact us by telephone toll-free at 888-882-5440 or by online request.

The 17th at Sawgrass: Golf's Most Recognized Island Green

2006-03-21T11:57:00.000-05:00

This week, the PGA Tour makes its annual stop at the TPC at Sawgrass for The Players Championship. Widely considered to be the "fifth" major on the professional cirucuit, The Players features the world's best golfers on one of the world's most famous courses. Besides the fanfare associated with the event's ultra-talented field and the prestige of winning the "players" event, a certain hole at Sawgrass inevitably tries to steal the spotlight each and every year: the 17th.

The 17th at Sawgrass is a par 3 hole measuring no more than 145 yards for the pros. Its green is roughly 4000 square feet in size, which isn't overly small by tour standards. And statistically, it usually isn't one of the most difficult holes on the course as most players are capable of reaching the green with a 9-iron or pitching wedge. However, before declaring the hole a pushover, you have to see it for yourself (click for flyover). You see, the 17th hole at Sawgrass is an island green. Thus, at least a 130 of those yards are a carry over water; plus if you happen to fly the green, you find the drink as well. All four sides of the green are surrounded by H20, and when the wind blows the hole becomes terribly intimidating. Last year, almost 30 tee shots found themselves wet, which is an awful lot considering the hole's length and the talent of the golfers playing it. In the 25 year history of the event, only six players have been able to make a hole in one on the 17th at Sawgrass. Brad Fabel accomplished the difficult feat first in 1986 while the next ace didn't come for another five years when Brian Claar made one in 1991. This year, look for the chaos to continue as the hole brings tour professionals to their knees once again.

Yardage Requirements for Hole In One Contests

2006-02-27T10:53:00.000-05:00

A question we're frequently asked at US Hole In One concerns the minimum distances required for a par 3 hole to be eligible for a golf contest. Essentially there are three types of hole in one contests (grand prize, bonus prize & shootout), and each has its own requirements. In addition, there are different minimums for men and women.

For the grand prize hole (meaning the hole with the large prize determined by you), the minimum distance possible is 150 yards for the men and 135 yards for the ladies. If your preferred hole is a little less than those figures, never fear: most golf courses have approximately 10 yards of "wiggle room" on all of their par 3s. They can move the tees back a bit and move the pin back as well, in most cases. So, never rule out a par 3 just because the scorecard indicates a distance less than 150 yards. For bonus prize holes (meaning the holes with the set of Callaway Big Bertha Irons, Sharp LCD Flat-Screen Television, or the Roundtrip Plane Tickets for Two), the minimum yardage is 130 yards for the guys and 115 yards for the women.

An important rule to also remember when dealing with yardages is difference between the mens and ladies tees. While the minimums are discussed above, there can never be a difference of more than 15 yards between the two sets of tees. For example, if you have a hole where the mens tees are at 160 yards and the ladies tees are at 137, while both tee boxes are acceptable with regards to minimum distances, these distances would not qualify because the yardage difference between the two is more than 15 yards (it is in fact 23 yards). Thus, in this example, either the men would have to move up to 152 or the ladies would need to move back to 145.

Finally, for shootout contests the minimums are slightly further back. As shootout hole in one contests have much more valuable prizes, the minimum distances for men is 165 yards and the minimum for ladies is 150 yards. It is also important to remember that shootouts do not need to take place at a par 3 hole. It is perfectly acceptable to run a shootout from the middle of the fairway on a par 4 or par 5 hole. Just make sure that when doing so, you still abide by the aforementioned distance requirements.

Crane's Ace Isn't Enough

2006-02-24T15:24:00.000-05:00

Apparently the PGA Tour's advertising slogan is right on, because those guys are good! Not to be outdone by Tiger's perfect 9 and 8 victory on Wednsday, Ben Crane reportedly put together a valiant, last effort against Retief Goosen on Thursday with a hole in one on the par 3, 16th hole at La Costa. Two holes down at the time, Crane hit a laser from 183 yards right to the green that ended up in the cup for an ace. Unfortunately for Ben, he bogeyed 17 to lose the match to Goosen 2 and 1; but not before he made the fourth hole in one of the year on the PGA Tour.

Coverage of the World Match Play Championship continues through the weekend with television coverage on ESPN and ABC. The rest of the tour is playing in Tucson this week at the Chrysler Classic of Tucson. Coverage of that event can be seen throughout the week on USA. Full television times can be found here.

Tiger's Perfect Match Play Round

2006-02-23T09:55:00.000-05:00

At Ace Weekly, we report on the pursuit of perfection in golf. After all, when you hit a hole in one, there is not better shot in the game. You cannot have a better score on any hole than a "one". That being said, we felt the need to report on another example of perfection in the game which turned out to be Tiger Woods' thrashing of opponent Stephen Ames in Wednesday's first round of the PGA Tour's Accenture Match Play Championship.

For those of you unfamiliar with match play, two golfers are pitted against one and other for 18 holes, mano y mano. At the end of each hole, the player with the best score "wins" the hole. At the end of the round, each player tallies up how many holes thay have won, and a winner is declared. In a perfect world, one player is able to win the first nine holes and then either "halve" (a term for tying scores on a hole) or win the 10th. Doing so would finish the match in the shortest possible time.

On Wednesday, that is exactly what Woods did against Ames. Tiger reeled off six birdies to start the round and finished with seven during the day. Ames on the other hand "struggled" with seven pars during the shortened round. When all was said and done, Tiger had beaten Ames by a score of 9 and 8 (this is shorthand for 9 holes up with 8 holes to play), thus finishing a "perfect" match play win.

Some may ask how Tiger mustered the fabulous play considering the wayward accuracy he displayed during the first two tournaments of his season (both of which he won, by the way) and the fact that he was forced to withdraw from last week's Nissan Open due to a case of the flu. Unfortunately for Stephen Ames, he voiced these questions out loud on Monday. When asked whether he had a chance at beating the world's number one player, Ames was quoted as saying, "especially where he's hitting the ball," a direct reference to Tiger's accuracy struggles. Mr. Woods heard these comments and apparently decided to demonstrate his immense talent against Ames on Wednesday. In a post-round interview, Tiger was asked if he heard Stephen's comments before the round. He curtly replied, "yes". When posed the follow-up question asking what went through his mind at the time, Tiger gave one of his fiendish grins and said, "9 and 8".

Immelman's Ace: #3 on PGA Tour

2006-02-21T10:01:00.000-05:00

Friday's play at the PGA Tour's Nissan Open saw the tour's third hole in one of the year. South African Trevor Immelman made an elusive ace during the second round at the par 3 16th hole. Immelman reportedly made the hole in one with an easy 7-iron from 165 yards. The hole in one was only the third of the year on the PGA Tour following Lucas Glover's ace at the Mercedes Championships and Roger Clemens' miraculous shot during the pro-am portion of the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic. It was not clear, however, whether Immelman drove away with the new Nissan 350Z Roadster that was on display at the 16th throughout the weekend.

Nissan Open Preview: The Wrong Hole In One

2006-02-16T09:47:00.000-05:00

The players of the PGA Tour tee it up this week at the heralded Riviera Country Club located just outside of Los Angeles, CA for the 2006 Nissan Open (Broadcast Schedule). While the media will be focusing its attention on whether or not Tiger Woods can finally win this event (it is the only PGA Tour stop that Mr. Woods has played at least 3 times, but never won), we here at Ace Weekly want to focus on another, more interesting golf story: the par 3 sixth hole.

For those of you not familiar with this devilish par 3, it is renowned for its unusual bunker placement. While most golf course architects choose to protect a green with sand traps located all around the putting surface, Riviera's decided the most appropriate place for a bunker was in fact in the middle of the green! (Watch video flyover of the sixth hole)

This unique setup will undoubtedly create some wildly exciting choices for this week's golfers. While common golf etiquette teaches us not to ever chip the ball while on the putting surface, you will surely see some professionals at this week's event consider doing so should their tee shots end up on the wrong side of the bunker. You can just imagine the grimace on the face of Riviera's greenskeeper every time a golfer takes a wedge out of his bag to chip the ball over the sand trap.

Also of note to all you hole in one contest fans out there, if your tee shot ends up in the sixth's in-green bunker, it most certainly does not count as an ace!

What makes a golfer a professional?

2006-02-14T16:09:00.000-05:00

We've gotten many questions asking for a more detailed discussion regarding amateur status in golf. The distinction is important, after all, when setting up a hole in one contest, as customers are responsible for accurately portraying the makeup of their participants. As professional golfers are presumably more skilled, this skill typically translates into a different price for hole in one contest coverage.

According to the USGA, "an 'amateur golfer' is one who plays the game as a non-remunerative and non-profit-making sport and who does not receive remuneration for teaching golf or for other activities because of golf skill or reputation, except as provided in the Rules [of Golf]." Thus, just because a golfer does not compete on the PGA Tour does not mean that he or she cannot be a professional golfer. In fact, a vast majority of professional golfers are just instructors or players who teach the game for a living.

If you would like to read the full rules and regulations regarding amateur status in golf, we recommend that you visit the USGA's website on the subject:

Amateur Status United States Golf Association

In the end, most golfers are amateurs, and those who are not will typically tell you so, but be extra careful when applying for hole in one contest insurance because while the distinction may not seem important at the time, it is very important to the insurance company covering your event.