
What does'Ace'mean in golf?
The term "ace" comes from the name Ace, which is generally a boy's name and derives from Latin. Ace means "a very skilled person" or "a person who excels at something," according to the Merriam-Webster's Dictionary. To hit an ace means the golfer has excelled at mastering that hole.
How many shots does it take to hit an ace in golf?
Golf holes range between par three and par five, meaning it should take three, four or five shots to get the ball into the hole. To even think about a hold-in-one, a golfer needs to take into account wind, hazards and length--and then hit a perfect shot. The term "ace" comes from the name Ace, which is generally a boy's name and derives from Latin.
Where can I report an ace on a golf course?
Michael Crean his a 517-yard ace on the par five ninth hole in Denver, Colorado's, Green Valley Ranch Golf Club. Golfers can report an ace to the United States Golf Register, whose mission is to record every hole-in-one in golf. Golfers must be playing on a course with at least nine holes.
What are the odds of making an ace in golf?
For an average golfer playing an average par-3 hole, the odds of making an ace are calculated at 12,500 to 1. See What are the Odds of Making a Hole-in-One? for much more on the odds of the shot and how those odds change depending on the skill of the golfer.

What is considered an ace in golf?
An “ace” is one of the most coveted accomplishments in the 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.
Is ace good in golf?
The word's origins lay in its use in games: The ace in a deck of cards represents "1" and is the highest-ranking card; the side of a die with one dot on it is an ace; a domino with one dot is an ace.
What is the difference between a hole-in-one and an ace?
Basically, that means a hole-in-one is scored once in every 3,500 rounds. Only 1-2% of golfers score an ace in a year. The average years of playing golf for a player before making an ace is 24.
Is a hole-in-one called an ace?
[A] Ace When a player hits the ball directly from the tee into the hole with one stroke. Also called a hole in one.
Is an ace an eagle?
Note that any hole-in-one or ace will be called by those terms, rather than by double eagle (on a par-4) or eagle (on a par-3).
How many strokes is an ace?
one strokeHole-in-One / Ace - A "Hole-in-One" or "Ace" occurs when a golfer hits their first shot into the hole (cup), completing the hole in just one stroke. Aces are very rare. 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.
What is 3 shots under par called?
Albatross. An albatross is—you guessed it—a term for three under par. Like the bird itself, achieving an albatross in golf is rare indeed.
What's an eagle in golf terms?
An eagle in golf is a score that is achieved when you are 2-under par. For example, you need to do it in one stroke to score an “eagle” on a par-3 hole and two strokes on a par-4 hole. An eagle is a good indicator of advanced gameplay and is typically not achieved until the professional level.
What is the lowest golf score ever?
The lowest officially recorded round is 55 by Rhein Gibson (12 birdies and two eagles on a par 71) on May 12, 2012 at River Oaks Golf Club in Edmond, Oklahoma. This score is recognized by the Guinness World Records.
What is the best shot in golf called?
An ace, commonly known as a hole-in-one, is the best score out there.
What is a mulligan in golf?
The basic definition of mulligan, a term most associated with golf, is a "do-over," a second try after your first has gone awry. Every weekend golfer has taken a few mulligans in their lifetime, and there's no shame in that.
What is a bad golf shot called?
Shank - A shot struck on the clubs hosel that travels dead right (for a right-handed player). The shank is typically considered the worst shot in golf – even worse than a “whiff”.
How many points is an ace in golf?
1 pointEach ace counts 1 point. Each 2 counts minus 2 points. Each numeral card from 3 to 10 scores face value.
What is a field ace?
The word "ace" signifies the number 1. Call it whatever you like but unless there's a "1" on the scorecard, it's not an ace. Field Ace* I use this term lots when talking with other DG people. Throwing one in from 150+ feels great and it easy way to not only show how excited you are.
What is 3 shots under par called?
Albatross. An albatross is—you guessed it—a term for three under par. Like the bird itself, achieving an albatross in golf is rare indeed.
Has there ever been a hole-in-one on a par 4?
There has been one hole-in-one on a par 4 in PGA Tour history. That famously came at the 2001 Phoenix Open, when Andrew Magee's tee shot on the 332-yard 17th at TPC Scottsdale fortuitously bounded off Tom Byrum's putter and into the hole for an ace.
What is an ace in golf?
Brent Kelley. Updated February 06, 2018. An ace in golf is a score of "1" on any given hole. In other words, "ace" is another term for a hole-in-one — the golfer knocks the ball into the hole on his or her first swing.
How did the word "ace" become a golf word?
How did "ace" become a golf word? The word's origins lay in its use in games: The ace in a deck of cards represents "1" and is the highest-ranking card; the side of a die with one dot on it is an ace; a domino with one dot is an ace.
What holes do aces occur on?
Aces are most commonly made on par-3s holes, because those are the shortest holes on a golf course and the holes on which all golfers have their best opportunities to hit the green with their first stroke. But aces do sometimes (rarely) occur on short par-4 holes being played by long hitters.
Do professional golfers make multiple aces?
Most recreational golfers never make an ace, most professional golfers make multiple aces. This is for the obvious reasons: Pros are much, much better than the rest of us, so are much more likely to a) hit the green and b) do so in closer proximity to the hole.
Is "ace" a noun?
The definition of ace and that of hole-in-one are identical when the terms are used as nouns: Both terms mean a score of one on a golf hole. But ace does have one advantage over hole-in-one. Unlike "hole-in-one," "ace" can also be used as a verb.
Is an ace rare?
Aces are not the rarest achievement in golf, however. Double eagles (aka, albatrosses) are much rarer. See What are the Odds of Making an Albatross? for more, including comparisons of the rarity of aces to double eagles.
Do ace holes occur on short par 4?
But aces do sometimes (rarely) occur on short par-4 holes being played by long hitters. And there have even been a handful of aces recorded on par-5 holes . The chances of a golfer making an ace increase the better his or her skill level; after all, the first requirement in scoring an ace is to get the ball onto the green.
What is an ace in golf?
An ace is golf is a rare, exciting feat. To hit the golf ball into the hole in just one shot requires the right mixture of skill and luck. Some professional players have never hit a hole-in-one, while many amateur players have.
How many rounds does a golfer score an ace?
The average score for a male golfer is just over 100 per 18-hole round. This means, on average, a golfer would scores an ace every 330 rounds. Sorry, the video player failed to load. (Error Code: 100013)
How many shots does it take to get an ace in golf?
This type of shot requires perfect accuracy and direction. Golf holes range between par three and par five, meaning it should take three, four or five shots to get the ball into the hole. To even think about a hold-in-one, ...
How many people have made a hole in one on a par 5?
Only two people have made a hole-in-one on a par-five, according to the United States Golfer Registry. Michael Crean did it in 2002 on a 517-yard hole in Denver, Colorado. Edward Morrison made his in 2007 on a 440-yard hole in Henderson, Nevada.
Where does the name Ace come from?
Origin of Name. The term "ace" comes from the name Ace, which is generally a boy's name and derives from Latin. Ace means "a very skilled person" or "a person who excels at something," according to the Merriam-Webster's Dictionary. To hit an ace means the golfer has excelled at mastering that hole.
Can you play with one ball in a practice round?
They can only be playing with one ball, and not in a practice round. They must have a witness or be deemed acceptable by the Golf Register Committee, and must hit from a temporary tee to a hole on a putting green. When reporting the ace, the golfer must also include the location of the course and the length of the hole.
More on tee to cup scenario
Not all tee to cup hits are a hole-in-one though, so let’s clarify on that.
When ace is achievable
Don’t think of an ace as something you can’t score. In fact, there is a situation when it is doable and that is when dealing with a par 3 hole like the one we have at the 14th hole in our golf course in Doral.
Is ace possible on par 4 hole
It is possible to ace a par 4, especially when the cup’s disposition makes it reachable from the tee.
Is ace possible on par 5 hole?
Yes, this is also possible. Again, consider the shape of the hole. Usually when it takes the form of a dogleg or a horseshoe, that’s when the disposition of the cup is closer from the tee.
When golf scoring terms collide
Hole-in-one or ace takes another scoring term depending on which par it was scored. Let’s look at when these scoring terms overlap one another.
How to improve your chances of scoring an ace?
As always, practicing your shots improves your chances of scoring an ace in a golf round, especially on dogleg and/or horseshoe shaped holes.
What Is an Ace in Golf?
An ace in golf happens when the golfer puts the ball in the hole with one swing from the teeing ground. Golf is a difficult game to master and it often takes years of practice to develop a consistent, repeatable swing.
How Rare Are Aces in Golf?
Aces in golf are pretty rare but the probability of any golfer making an ace depends on their skill level. An ace occurs about once every 3,500 rounds of golf played and only 1-2% of golfers record an ace every year.
Has Anyone Ever Aced a Par 5?
There have been five recorded aces on par 5’s in the history of golf. The biggest factors affecting whether the ball went in the hole were elevation above sea level and firmness of the ground, which causes the ball to roll significant distances after landing.
What Are Other Golf Scoring Terms?
Now that you know what an ace in golf is, here are some other scoring terms to learn.
Why Are Aces More Likely to Occur on Par 3s?
The yardage from the teeing ground, or tee box, to the putting green on Par 3 holes typically ranges from 80-220 yards. Each hole has multiple tee boxes where golfers of differing skill levels play from.
What Is the Average Driving Distance for Amateur Golfers?
The average driving distance for an amateur male golfer is approximately 215 yards. The average driving distance for Professional Golfers on the PGA Tour is about 296 yards.
What is an ace in golf?
An ace is another term for a hole-in-one – a score of 1 on any given hole.
What the origins of the word ace as a golf term?
It is believed the word ‘ace’ to describe a hole-in-one originates from its use in other games: The ace in a deck of cards represents ‘1’ and is the highest-ranking card, while the side of a die with one dot is an ace, and a domino with one dot is an ace.
Any other business?
If you get an ace, tradition stipulates that following your round you must buy a drink for everyone in the clubhouse.
Hole-in-One
An ace is hitting a hole-in-one in golf or getting the ball from the tee to the hole in one stroke. The precision and direction of this sort of shot are required. Golf holes range from par 3 to par five, such that the ball is in a spot for three, four or five strokes.
Origin of the Name
The name “ace” comes from the name Ace. It is derived from the Latin word which generally presents a boy’s name.
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How Rare Are Aces?
The Etymology of 'Ace'
- How did "ace" become a golf word? The word's origins lay in its use in games: The ace in a deck of cards represents "1" and is the highest-ranking card; the side of a die with one dot on it is an ace; a domino with one dot is an ace. From there, the word spread out to represent the best or highest-ranked in a given field (ace fighter pilot, ace pitcher, etc.). So it's easy to see how the word came …
'Ace' Can Also Be Used as A Verb
- The definition of ace and that of hole-in-one are identical when the terms are used as nouns: Both terms mean a score of one on a golf hole. But ace does have one advantage over hole-in-one. Unlike "hole-in-one," "ace" can also be used as a verb. For example, "I aced the 12th hole" (one cannot say, however, "I hole-in-oned the 12th hole").
Buying Drinks After An Ace
- Many golfers observe the tradition that one who makes as ace has to buy drinks after the round for his playing companions and anyone else who witnessed the ace. (Some clubs even say the acer owes drinks to everyone at the club!) Doesn't it seem like the one who madeis the ace is the one who should be getting the free drink(s)? Hey, nobody ever claimed golf traditions make sense.