
What is the percentage of golfers who have a hole in one?
A hole in one is scored once every 3,500 golf rounds. Odds of making a hole in one is 1:3500. Only 1-2% of golfers score a hole in one during the year. Average years of playing is 24. Average handicap of golfers making hole in one is 14. Age group that makes the most holes in one is 50-59 (25%) and the next highiest is 40-49 (24%)
What is "a hole in one" called in golf?
Golf Terms Explained - A Complete A to Z of Common Golfing Terms and Sayings
- A. Ace - Otherwise known as a hole in one an ace is when the ball finds the hole from the tee in a single stoke.
- B. Back Nine - This refers to the last 9 holes of a typical 18 hole course, also known as heading in. ...
- C. Cat Box - Another name for a bunker. ...
- D. Dance Floor - The Green. ...
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What does hole in one mean in golf?
It is simply an alternate golf term for “ hole-in-one “, which is when a player needs only one shot to get his ball in the hole. Virtually all “aces” or “holes-in-one” occur on par 3s. That’s because all players are expected to reach the green on par 3s with their tee shot (the first shot on the hole from the teeing ground).
What are odds of getting a hole in one?
The odds of that are very rare. According to the statistics, two golfers making a hole-in-one on the same hole, in the same tournament, are 1 in 32,000. The odds are even worse for a golfer making two hole-in-ones on two Par 3′s in a row.
What is a hole in one in golf?
Is it hard to make a hole in one?
Do holes in one happen in golf?

Is a hole in one called a birdie?
That's where those other terms — birdies, eagles, bogeys, and so on — come into play. They describe a golfer's performance on a hole in relation to the hole's par: A birdie is a score of 1-under par on a hole (for example, scoring 4 on a par-5). A bogey is 1-over par on a hole.
What is a hole in one on a par five called?
A “condor” is term given to a hole-in-one on a par 5. It is almost as rare as two hole-in-ones in a single game of golf.
What is a hole in one on a par four called?
Your odds of shooting an “albatross” — a hole in one on a par-4 (most holes in one are nailed on par-3s) — are even more steep: Try a staggering 6 million-to-1, according to the Double Eagle Club (though some believe it might be closer to 1 million-to-1).
What is a hole in one on a par 7 called?
Supposedly, this is the name assigned to completing a hole having struck the ball five fewer times than par. In other words, this is what happens when you hole-out a Par 7 with two strokes or shoot a Hole-In-One on a Par Six. Frankly, this is a case of folklore. I don't mean that making an ostrich is folklore.
Is a hole-in-one an albatross?
An albatross, also called a double eagle, is a score of three-under-par on a single hole. This is most commonly achieved with two shots on a par-5, but can be done with a hole-in-one on a par-4.
What is a turkey in golf?
Its origin is almost certainly American in nature. In ten-pin bowling, a trio of consecutive strikes is called a turkey, while six in a row is known as a wild, or golden, turkey. It wouldn't be the first time golf has borrowed from another sport to expand its lexicon.
What is a hole-in-one on a par 3 called?
A score of 1 is called a hole-in-one or ace. A score of 2 on a par 3 is a birdie. A score of 3 on a par 3 is a par. A score of 4 on a par 3 is a bogey. A score of 5 on a par 3 is a double bogey.
What does albatross mean in golf?
three under parAlbatross: This term means three under par, but the "double eagle" synonym is simply a continuation of the aviary theme of good scores. The albatross is rare, as is a three under par.
What is 2 strokes on a par 5 called?
Albatross or Double Eagle An albatross is achieved when a player either aces a par 4, or scores a "2" on a par 5.
What is 4 birdies in a row called?
1 = Strike. 2 = Double. 3 = Turkey or Gobbler. 4 = Hambone. 5 = Recently heard referred to as yatzee or five bagger.
What is 4 shots under par called?
Condor is an unofficial name for a hole score of four strokes fewer than par (four under par, −4). A condor is also known as a double albatross, or a triple eagle. This is the lowest individual hole score ever made, relative to par.
What is 3 birdies in a row called?
So three birdies in a row is either called the hat trick or a turkey.
Rules of Golf explained: Does my hole-in-one count?
Rules of Golf explained: Our expert says… I want to say this is the golfing equivalent of a no-ball wicket – but a hole-in-one is much rarer so it’s got to be far more agonising.
What is a hole in one on a par 6 called? - Quora
Answer (1 of 4): What is a hole in one called on a par 6 called? Why, the bleedin obvious….it’s called ……….a hole in one! Same for any hole. Any golfer who ...
What is a hole in one?
For other uses, see Hole in one (disambiguation). In golf, a hole in one or hole-in-one (also known as an ace, mostly in American English) occurs when a ball hit from a tee to start a hole finishes in the cup. A ball hit from a tee following a lost ball, out-of-bounds, or water hazard is not a hole-in-one. Holes-in-one commonly occur on par 3 ...
What is the shortest distance hole in golf?
Holes-in-one commonly occur on par 3 holes, the shortest distance holes on a standard size golf course. Longer hitters have also accomplished this feat on longer holes, though nearly all par 4 and par 5 holes are too long for golfers to reach in a single shot. While well known outside golf and often requiring a well hit shot and significant power, ...
What is the longest straight drive hole in one?
The longest recorded straight drive hole-in-one is believed to be 517 yards or 473 metres, on the par 5 No. 9 hole at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club in Denver in 2002, aided by the thin air due to the high altitude. None of these four par 5 holes-in-one were achieved during a professional tournament. A condor is also known as a double albatross, ...
How many holes in one were made in 1922?
Time magazine reported 1,200 holes in one were made by American golfers in 1922. A memorable hole-in-one was made in the 1973 Open Championship by Gene Sarazen at age 71. Earl Dietering of Memphis, Tennessee, 78 years old at the time, is believed to hold the record for the oldest person to make a hole-in-one twice during one round.
How much chance of a golfer making a hole in one?
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.
How rare are holes in one?
It is traditional for a player who has scored a hole-in-one to buy a round of drinks for everyone at the clubhouse bar. Time magazine reported 1,200 holes in one were made by American golfers in 1922.
Who shot a hole in one in 2016?
On August 11, 2016, Justin Rose shot a hole-in-one during the first round of the golf tournament of the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, ...
What is a bogey in golf?
A bogey? Let’s start simply with the golf terms “par”, “birdie” and “bogey”. All three of these golf terms refer to scoring. “Par” represents the number of strokes an expert golfer is expected to make on the hole or course. Every golf hole has a “par” assigned to it. Most holes are either a par 3, par 4, or par 5.
What is a handicap in golf?
Handicap: A handicap is a measurement of the average number of strokes over par a particular golfer makes during a round on an average golf course. So, a person with a handicap of 15 is expected to shoot a score of 87 on a par-72 golf course of average difficulty. A 5-handicapper is expected to shoot a 77 on the same course.
What is even par in golf?
If a golfer makes two pars to start a round, he is “even par” for the round. If a player opens with two birdies, he is “two under” for the round. If a player makes two bogeys to start a round, he is “two over.”. Similarly, if a player makes a birdie on the 1st hole and follows it with a bogey on No. 2, he is “even par.”.
What is scratch golf?
Scratch: A “scratch” golfer is a golfer with a handicap of 0. These expert golfers are expected to shoot even par or better on most golf courses. Yips: A condition in which a muscle spasm or mental block prevents you from performing a simple golf task. Most often it’s associated with putting.
What is a mulligan in golf?
A mulligan is a golf term that only applies to recreational golfers. Sometimes (and sometimes often) amateur players will hit a poor drive on the 1st hole, whether it is due to nerves or failing to warm up properly.
What is a forecaddie in golf?
Some think it comes from the golf term “forecaddie”, which is a person that stands in a forward position on each golf hole to pinpoint where the players’ balls go. “Forecaddies” are often in the line of fire and need to be warned when a ball is flying toward them.
What is a Shank shot?
Attempts to cure the yips are often fruitless. Shank: A “shank” is a severely mishit shot, when instead of making pure contact with the golf ball, you hit the ball off the neck, toe, or heel of the club resulting in a wild, short and often embarrassing shot.
What is a hole in one?
A hole-in-one is a dream score for a golfer. Unlike many other aspects of golf, a hole-in-one is "available" to low handicappers, beginners, high handicappers, men, women and young golfers.
How many holes do you have to play to win a golf game?
The basic rule that you must play at least a nine-hole round has one primary exception. If you are using match play (winning, losing, or tying your opponent on each hole) instead of stroke play (adding your total strokes, including handicaps) to decide the outcome of the game, you may not get to finish the full nine holes before the match is decided.
How many holes do you need to play to qualify for the USGA?
You must play a round of at least nine holes to qualify.
How many par 3 holes are there in 18 holes?
However, a 165-yard, par-3 might be a candidate. On most 18-hole rounds of golf, you'll typically face four par-3 holes, two on each nine. While a hole-in one should never be a realistic goal, the potential on a shorter par-3 hole is at least a possibility.
Do you have to land on the green on a tee shot?
While you aren't required to land on the green on your tee shot, there are a couple of rules that affect the hole and pin placement. For example, should you make your hole-in-one on a "temporary" green (installed when a permanent green is undergoing rebuilding, relocated after a bout of serious and heavy rain, or sometimes used in ...
What constitutes a hole in one?
What constitutes a valid hole in one? The Rules of Golf do not address the issue of the validity of a hole in one. The USGA recommends that a hole in one be considered valid: If made during a round of at least nine holes, except that a hole in one made during a match should be acceptable even if the match ends before the stipulated round is ...
What is the average handicap of a golfer making a hole in one?
Average handicap of golfers making hole in one is 14. Age group that makes the most holes in one is 50-59 (25%) and the next highiest is 40-49 (24%) Ball used most often is Titleist (45%), Nike (14%), and Top Flite (11%) A Hole in One on a par four is called an Albatross. Facts just for women.
How many rounds of golf are played in the US?
There are approximately 450 million rounds of golf played each year in the U.S. On average each course has about 25,000 – 30,000 rounds played each year. Each course reports 10-15 hole in ones each year. A hole in one is scored once every 3,500 golf rounds. Odds of making a hole in one is 1:3500.
What is a hole in one called?
But a hole-in-one — knocking the ball in the hole with your first shot — is also called an " ace .". ( On a par-5 hole, making an ace means a golfer is 4-under on that hole and, yes, golfers have a term for that, too: condor .)
What does "par" mean in golf?
"Par" refers to the number of strokes an expert golfer is expected to need to complete the play of one hole on a golf course. Golf holes of different lengths will require more or fewer strokes by a golfer.
What is the highest par in golf?
A double eagle (very rare) is 3-under par (also called an " albatross "). A triple bogey is 3-over par. Given that a par-5 hole is the highest par most golfers will ever see, there is a limit to how far under par a golfer can go.
What is a birdie in golf?
They describe a golfer's performance on a hole in relation to the hole's par: A birdie is a score of 1-under par on a hole (for example, scoring 4 on a par-5). A bogey is 1-over par on a hole. An eagle is 2-under par on a hole. A double bogey is 2-over par on a hole.
What is it called when you need more strokes than the par?
And of course, most of us are not "experts" at golf, and so on most holes we'll need more strokes than the par (called "over par"). That's where those other terms — birdies, eagles, bogeys, and so on — come into play.
How many strokes are required to finish a 150 yard hole?
So a 150-yard hole is one on which the expert is expected to hit the green with his tee shot, take two putts, and, therefore, require three strokes to finish that hole.
What does "double eagle" mean in golf?
Double eagle: On a par-5, means you finished the hole in 2 strokes. Eagle: You finished the hole in 3 strokes. Birdie: You finished the hole in 4 strokes. Par: You finished the hole in 5 strokes.
What is a hole in one golf?
A hole- in-one occurs when the ball is hit from the tee into the cup and stays there. (The last bit might seem a tad pedantic, but I know of one chap who hit the ball into the hole on the full, but it bounced out and rolled into a greenside lake.) A hole-in-one is also known, albeit less commonly, as an ace.
What does it mean to buy a drink after a hole in golf?
Golfing tradition dictates that any golfer who makes a hole in one buys the drinks afterwards. Who he buys for can vary upon whatever local tradition exists as the club. The most widespread one is that the golfer buys a drink for his playing partners after the round and also a drink for everyone else in the clubhouse or bar when he returns.
What happens when you get a hole in one?
A hole- in-one occurs when the ball is hit from the tee into the cup and stays there.
Is a hole in one an ace?
A hole-in-one is also known, albeit less commonly, as an ace. To count as a true hole-in-hole a couple of criteria have to apply. The first is that you are not alone; you can be playing alone, but someone has to be there marking your card to testify to your feat.
What is a hole in one on a par 5?
But, technically speaking, a hole-in-one on a par-5 is a score of 4-under par, so it could, in theory, be called a "double albatross" or a "triple eagle.". Those just sound goofy, though. So, sticking with the avian theme of golf's scoring terms ( birdie, eagle, albatross ), a par-5 ace is called a condor .
Who aced the 5th hole in the golf course?
The hole was 480 yards when measured as it was intended to be played, going around the dogleg. The golfer who aced a par-5 using a 3-iron was Shaun Lynch, playing at Teign Valley Golf Club in Christow, England, in 1995, on the 496-yard No. 17.
What percentage of par 5 aces are doglegs?
Sixty-percent of the par-5 aces we know about happened on holes with severe doglegs, or even horseshoe-shaped holes, that allow a golfer to cut the corner. But not the longest-known hole-in-one. It happened on a mostly straight par-5 hole.
Where did Mike Crean drive the 9th hole?
On July 4, 2002, a golfer named Mike Crean teed off with a driver on the 517-yard No. 9 hole at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club in Denver, Colo. And not only—in the high, thin air of the "Mile High City"—did he drive the green, but when he and his playing companions reached the green, his ball was in the hole .
Who was the golfer who teed up on the 17th hole?
In 2007, another hole-in-one on a par-5 dogleg happened, this time in Australia. The golfer was Jack Bartlett, and on Nov. 2, 2007, he teed up on the 17th hole at Royal Wentworth Falls Country Club in New South Wales.
Where did Dick Hogan play golf?
On July 4, 1973, Dick Hogan (no relation to Ben) aced the par-5, 456-yard No. 8 hole at Piedmont Crescent Golf Course in Burlington, N.C. At the time, Hogan was a scratch golfer playing college golf at North Carolina State. One of his playing partners that day later became a golf professional at Southern Pines Golf Club in Pinehurst, N.C.
Did Crean ever see the ball roll into the hole?
It should be noted that nobody actually saw the ball roll into the hole. They discovered the ball in the hole when they got to the green. Crean was a 4-handicapper at the time, he was using a Callaway Big Bertha driver, and he and his three playing partners swore affidavits attesting to the hole-in-one.
What is a stroke in golf?
Golf Scoring Terms Explained. Stroke - In golf, a "Stroke" is any forward club swing, including when putting, that a golfer is trying to hit the ball. You can essentially use "Stroke" as a synonym for a shot/putt, but keep in mind that it also includes "whiffs" if you miss the ball when trying to hit it. Par - " Par " is the number of strokes that ...
How many chances do you get on a hole in one?
According to American Hole 'N One, the average golfer's chances of making a hole-in-one on a par-3 hole are 12,500 to 1. The odds improve for professional golfers at 2,500 to 1. When aces do occur, it's almost always on a par-3 hole, though hole-in-ones have been accomplished on par-4 and even par-5 holes.
How many strokes to complete a par-3?
A golfer would be even through three holes if they took 4 strokes to complete a par-3, 3 strokes to complete a par-4, and 5 strokes to complete a par-5 hole. Birdie - A " Birdie " is when a golfer scores one less stroke than par on an individual golf hole. Ex: 2 strokes on a par-3 hole.
Is a bogey bad for golf?
While a bogey is a bad result for a low handicap or professional golfer, new and less skilled golfers are often fine with only needing one more stroke than par to complete a hole. If you got a bogey on every hole of a par-72 course, you'd shoot a 90. This is a major milestone for newer golfers.
What does it mean to halve a hole?
In match play a golfer or a team is said to halve a hole when its score is identical to that of its opponent. In essence, it is a term used to indicate that the hole was tied. In addition to a single hole, the term halve is also used to describe a match that ends in a tie, with no winner which can be referred as a halved match. Note that this can only apply when the rules of the tournament or round allow for a match to end in a tie. Indeed, in many cases if a match were to stand at all square after 18 holes, extra holes of sudden death are played as long as needed in order to determine a winner.
What does "1 up" mean in golf?
The term can also be used to characterize the final score of a match played using the match play format. Indeed, a golfer who is successful in winning the last hole of a round while the match was all square at the tee will win the match. That golfer will be said to have won his match 1-up.
What does triple bogey mean?
Similarly, a triple bogey occurs when using 3 strokes over par, a quadruple occurs when using 4 strokes over par, and so on. On the scorecard a golfer who has hit a double bogey will mark his score as +2 or will put the number of strokes hit inside two squares.
How many strokes does it take to score an eagle?
As such, a golfer that posts an eagle is said to be 2 under par on that hole. In practice, an eagle is achieved when requiring 3 strokes on a par-5, two strokes on a par-4, and 1 stroke on a par-3 for a hole-in-one. On the scorecard a golfer who has scored an eagle will either mark his score as -2 or will put the number ...
What is a birdie on a hole?
As such, a golfer that posts a birdie on a hole can be referred as having shot one under par. Consequently, a birdie is achieved when using 4 strokes on a par-5, 3 strokes on a par-4, and 2 strokes on a par-3. On the scorecard the golfer who has hit a birdie will ...
What is par in golf?
A par is obtained on a hole when a golfer uses a number of strokes that is in line with what is deemed standard. It is a score that golfers strive to match – if not beat – and is referred to as “even”, or “even-par”.
How many strokes do you need to par on a par 5?
For example, on a hole that is a par-5, a golfer will par the hole if he requires 5 strokes. On a par-4, 4 strokes and finally 3 strokes on a par-3. On the scorecard, a golfer can write down the letter ‘E’ to designate a par or alternatively can simply mark down the number of strokes that was required for that hole.
What is a hole in one in golf?
A "hole in one" occurs when the golfer gets his golf ball into the cup on the green with just one stroke. That means hitting the ball directly from the teeing ground into the hole.
Is it hard to make a hole in one?
It's very hard. But your chances of making a hole in one improve the better you are as a golfer, and the shorter the hole you are playing. After all, the first step in making an ace is reaching the green with your tee shot. So holes-in-one are far, far more likely to occur on par-3 holes.
Do holes in one happen in golf?
Holes-in-one are scarce; they are not a common sight in golf, but they do happen for golfers of all skill levels. Luck plays a very big part in scoring an ace, too, and there are many stories of golfers who make holes-in-one right after learning how to swing a club.

Overview
In golf, a hole in one or hole-in-one (also known as an ace, mostly in American English) occurs when a ball hit from a tee to start a hole finishes in the cup. A ball hit from a tee following a lost ball, out-of-bounds, or water hazard is not a hole-in-one due to the application of a stroke penalty.
Holes-in-one commonly occur on par 3 holes, the shortest distance holes on a standard size golf course. Longer hitters have also accomplished this feat on longer holes, though nearly all par 4 …
Rarity
Holes-in-one are rare, and although skill increases the probability, there is a great element of luck involved. It is traditional for a player who has scored a hole-in-one to buy a round of drinks for everyone at the clubhouse bar.
Time magazine reported 1,200 holes in one were made by American golfers in 1922.
A memorable hole-in-one was made in the 1973 Open Championship by Gene Sarazen at age 71. E…
Competitions
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. 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 …
Holes-in-one on par 5 (or higher) holes
As of January 2021, a condor (four under par) hole-in-one on a par-5 hole had been recorded on five occasions. A horseshoe-shaped par 5 hole once enabled a condor hole-in-one to be achieved with a 3-iron club. Another may have been achieved at the former Piedmont Crescent Golf Course in 1973 after bouncing multiple times on a very firm fairway due to unseasonably dry weather. The longest recorded straight drive hole-in-one is believed to be 517 yards or 473 metres, on the par-…
See also
• Golf glossary
• Hail Mary pass, similar feat in American football
• List of longest NBA field goals, (all of which are buzzer beaters) for context on the similar feat in basketball
External links
• Hole-In-One FAQs United States Golf Association