Hole in one

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This article is about a golf shot. For other uses, see Hole in one (disambiguation).

A golf ball next to the hole

In golf, a hole in one or hole-in-one (also known as an ace, mostly in American English) is when a player hits the ball directly from the tee into the cup with one shot. This is normally only possible on a 3-par hole, as most 4- and 5-par holes are too long for most golfers to reach in a single shot.

Holes in one are extremely rare, and while it depends largely on the golfer's skill, many instances have been recorded when a ball has caromed off a tree, a bird in flight, or even a passing car, before settling into the hole. Amateur players who make a hole-in-one in a friendly game will usually be mentioned in the local newspaper's sports section, provided there was at least one witness. In addition, it is customary at many clubs for the golfer to celebrate the feat by purchasing a round of drinks for fellow club patrons.

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.^[1] 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 2,500 to 1.^[2]