[TritteTouff]

I read an article recently that debated whether a hole-in-one was truly the Holy Grail of golfers. The author pointed out that not only did brand new golfers, but also lousy golfers, politicians, celebrities, just about anybody could get a hole-in-one. Your ball could take several bounces and rebounds and still go in. Blind and elderly golfers get them. The estimate was 150,000 per year. It's a goal all golfers can aspire to and often achieve without any real skill or talent. With that in mind - do you still consider a hole-in-one to be the Holy Grail of golf?

[Wmshyrga]

That to me is why it is the holy grail. Shooting par golf is the goal for many golfers that take up this game, but most will never achieve that. Anybody can hit a hole in one and that is what makes it the ultimate achievement. Because anybody can do it and be the best ever for that given swing, and yet still so few ever do.

[wmcelesta]

I have had 1 hole in one,in all the years i have been playing,and that was a fluke. Thinned iron into the bank at the front of the green,ball popped up onto the green and rolled in.


Just a thought-
Man blames fate for all other accidents, but feels personally responsible
when he makes a hole-in-one.

Bishop sheen.

[BebopVT]

Not sure what else would be considered the holy grail, but I've shot a sub 70 round and never had a hole-in-one. I've holed out for plenty of eagles, just not on a par 3. I sure would like one before I die to go with the 8 perfect bowling games I have and that would be the holy grail for me at this point.

I know a big percentage of players never shoot in the 70's let alone the 60's. Great question though...I think it will vary based on if they have had a hole in one or not.

[GaxyGroordrep]

Absolutely. It's still the ultimate achievement, even though it's more luck than skill in most instances.

[grosqueneen]

I read an article recently that debated whether a hole-in-one was truly the Holy Grail of golfers. The author pointed out that not only did brand new golfers, but also lousy golfers, politicians, celebrities, just about anybody could get a hole-in-one. Your ball could take several bounces and rebounds and still go in. Blind and elderly golfers get them. The estimate was 150,000 per year. It's a goal all golfers can aspire to and often achieve without any real skill or talent. With that in mind - do you still consider a hole-in-one to be the Holy Grail of golf?

There are two ways I look at a hole-in-one.

The first is that since it's what you're aiming at, why is it such a momentus occasion if the ball goes in the hole? I've had a few birdies and eagles by holing an approach shot with a short iron (making them roughly the equivalent of a par 3 tee shot) and it was certainly exciting, but since I was aiming at the flag, it was not really all that surprising. Satisfying maybe, but not momentous.

The other way I see them is as you described; dumb luck. I once witnessed a 13 year old who hit a tee shot with a 3-wood on a flat, 135 yard par 3 hole who topped his drive and the ball skipped down the fairway, onto the green and into the cup. I've also witnessed a "textbook" ace wherein the player one-hopped a very good tee shot into the hole and for my money, I think that one was far more impressive than the 135 yard worm-burner.

Here's something to think about: Why is it that if a Tour Pro scores an ace, he wins a car? Wouldn't it be more fun is if all of the patrons who enter a tournament site would be issued a card that has a pro's name on it and if that pro scores an ace, then the patron wins the car?

I'm sorry, but I just can't get excited over watching a pro win something that he could probably buy twenty of. I mean, the patron probably needs the car a helluva lot more than the pro ever will, so why not give one to them and make that ace really memorable?


-JP

[usaguedriedax]

I've had one, perfect shot that one hopped in the hole. Was there luck involved... sure there was, but I pulled the right club and made a good swing. To me that was/is the greatest achievement I have had in golf, and no one will change my mind about that...

[Lhtfajba]

I think so too. I am still waiting for mine!

[Sydneyfonzi]

Probably right. Still waiting for mine

[viagradiscounttt]

You are right about a HIO for the average hacker being a lucky shot, with some help from skill, and/or talent. Example, I took a a good friend golfing, who had never golfed before. First hole was a par 3, and he aced it. No golf skills, but a very good baseball player. The rest of the round he shot another 124 strokes. There are some touring golf pros who do not have a HIO. Lot's of skill, and talent there, just not lucky enough as yet. I know a guy who plays "Natural Golf", and has 4 aces, and is a 6 hdcpr. I think skill, and talent helps to get the ball flying in the right direction, but after that a certain degree of luck has to take over. Holly Grail? Yes, I would put a HIO right up there in the #2 position, right behind a "59".

I read an article recently that debated whether a hole-in-one was truly the Holy Grail of golfers. The author pointed out that not only did brand new golfers, but also lousy golfers, politicians, celebrities, just about anybody could get a hole-in-one. Your ball could take several bounces and rebounds and still go in. Blind and elderly golfers get them. The estimate was 150,000 per year. It's a goal all golfers can aspire to and often achieve without any real skill or talent. With that in mind - do you still consider a hole-in-one to be the Holy Grail of golf?

[Lhtfajba]

I know a guy who played against Tom Watson in the Kansas City Juniors. He hit a hole-in-one in their match and was jumping up and down, all excited! Then Watson tapped him on the shoulder and told him that the hole was over there! He wound up playing on tour for a couple of years about the same time Watson joined the tour.

[tearidrusydet]

I'm sure it is luck matter of fact I know it's luck I have had one on a par 3. For me it was luck because I was playing the tips and the par 3 was 215 yards from the tips to pin. I will always think of it as the Holy Grail of golf no matter what. I also proudly display a pewter tag on my bag from Titleist for the hole in one that I got using their ball

[viagradiscounttt]

That's funny. I did almost the same thing at the Death Valley California golf course. I eagled what I thought was a back 9 hole from 220. When I got to the hole to pick up my ball, I found I had already had played the same hole which was part of the front 9. The correct green was about 50 yards north. Wound up with a 6, which started out as 2.

I know a guy who played against Tom Watson in the Kansas City Juniors. He hit a hole-in-one in their match and was jumping up and down, all excited! Then Watson tapped him on the shoulder and told him that the hole was over there! He wound up playing on tour for a couple of years about the same time Watson joined the tour.

[Imagimifouxum]

No, for me it would be a lucky shot no matter how good I was. I'd rather have an eagle on a long par 5; on in 2 and 1 putt. That takes some mojo on 3 consecutive shots. But thats me.

(and I like Provisional's 59 too, that would be tops)

[Sanremogirl]

The worst golfer I play with and the best both have hole-in-ones.I don't know about holy grail or that's it's common.It is an occurence that deserves the attention it gets no matter how ugly the shot or how horrible the golfer because for all the stokes counted out there it still only happens by your numbers 150,000 a year.150,000 out of millions of shots if not billions is a big deal.

[Imagimifouxum]

From golf.about.com:

In 1999, Golf Digest reported, "One insurance company puts a PGA Tour pro's chances at 1 in 3,756 and an amateur's at 1 in 12,750." and

What about the insurance companies that sell "hole-in-one insurance" to tournament promoters? They must know the odds, right? One such company, SCA Promotions, says the odds of a golfer holing out from 150 yards is somewhere from 10,000 to 15,000 to 1. I'd reckon the guys that actually have to pay out for HIO would have a pretty good bead on it.

[mas-dkt-sive]

Since I don't have one, I am going to downplay their significance...I think they are pure luck. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

[usaguedriedax]

Since I don't have one, I am going to downplay their significance...I think they are pure luck. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Until you get one that is....

[moopogyOvenny]

I've never had one, and really don't care if I ever get one. I've had a lot of near misses, and would take more near misses in the future over a hole in one.

[Pashtet]

I think it is, I have come pretty damn close to one. I would be more happy with a sub par round though.