Witnessing a Hole-in-One

[mike_beene]

Terry,you aced a second ball to save par? I always thought that is how it would happen to me.Nice save but bittersweet.

[Bob_Huntley]

Had four, witnessed fourteen.

The first one in 1961, last one in 2006.

Nchanga -9th hole-165 yards
Riviera-6th(bunker in the middle)hole-175yards
MPCC Dunes- 4th hole-241 yards
MPCC Shore-(Strantz) 181 yards

A good friend, now gone, had something like fourteen, most of them at Cypress Point, but not one of them at the 16th.

Bob

[Tommy Williamsen]

I have had four aces and two double Eagles.

The best two shot I have seen only counted as a two. My friend who is a 16 striped a drive on the 470 yard par four at our course then smashed a majestic three wood from a downhill stance to an elevated green.  We got there and picked it out of the hole.  I think I was happier than if I had hit it myself.

[John_Cullum]

OKay Tom H

How's this scenario count. I went out to play a practice round before a member/member. On most holes I would play an extra shot or two. A second drive, a few practice chips, whatever. I got to the par 3 13th. I hit my tee shot and was not thrilled with that swing, so I threw down another one and knocked it in.

I have refused to give myself credit on that one too. What say you?

[Tom Huckaby]

OKay Tom H

How's this scenario count. I went out to play a practice round before a member/member. On most holes I would play an extra shot or two. A second drive, a few practice chips, whatever. I got to the par 3 13th. I hit my tee shot and was not thrilled with that swing, so I threw down another one and knocked it in.

I have refused to give myself credit on that one too. What say you?

Did you score a one on a par three golf hole that exists on a golf course, with your first swing on such hole?

If so, it's an ace.

If not, it's not.

So I supposed I'd have to see the course on which you holed the 101 yard wedge to make absolutely sure, but I am assuming it is a golf course with a scorecard, on which people play full rounds.  Thus to me, that's an ace.

What you just described is certainly not.

What shivas and the naysayers miss is this:  the question isn't about quality.  Of course some aces are better than others, and yours and mine are about as cheap as they come.

But if asked the question:  have you ever scored a one on a par three golf hole, can we not each answer "yes"?

That's all that matters.

TH

[Kalen Braley]

Aw hell Huck....

By those standards, I've got at least 15-20 HIO's that I've made at putt putt golf courses. 

Lets see here: 

Is it a golf course?  Check
Does it have 18 holes?  Check
Does it have a scorecard?  Check
Is it a par 3?  Check
Did it go in after one mighty blow?  Check

Woot!! 

[Tom Huckaby]

Aw hell Huck....

By those standards, I've got at least 15-20 HIO's that I've made at putt putt golf courses. 

Lets see here: 

Is it a golf course?  Check
Does it have 18 holes?  Check
Does it have a scorecard?  Check
Is it a par 3?  Check
Did it go in after one mighty blow?  Check

Woot!! 

Good one, but obviously the definition of "golf course" would preclude miniature golf.

And of course those who are wont to do so can shoot holes in this if they so desire... it isn't meant to be fool-proof....

I just can very honestly answer the question I posed with a yes.  It's up to others how they answer in their own situations.  John may choose to answer no, and if so I can respect that.

I just know that mine was a damn great shot, to a hole more difficult than any of the par threes on the larger course at Santa Teresa (at least more difficult when the pin is way back tucked against the hazard like it was for my ace).  Of course it is cheapened by the fact I got 9 tries on par three holes during my round, but then again if we base this on quantity of chances, mine is better than that of any pro given the ratio of times they play the game period compared to how many times I play.

Is it a cheap ace?  Yes.  Is it the same as scoring one during a regulation round on a regulation course?  No.

But have I made an ace?

Damn right I have.

So I didn't think I'd have to cover this AGAIN after the four pages of silliness when it occurred... but there we have it.

TH

[Rich Goodale]

I've had 7, all of which I saw go in the hole and seen 3 others that I can remember.

I must confess that one of my 7 was a Schmuckaby.   Of the other 6:

--one was a Luckaby (ball missed green--then caromed into the hole
--one was a Ohphuckaby! (in a competition--100+ thirsty whistles to wet in the clubhouse)
--one was an Awshucksaby (false modesty--won the first hole vs. perennial club champion--Goodale goes one up!)
--one was a Hruckaby (witnessed by Japanese 4-ball--1st one, Spyglass #12)
--one was a Truckaby (slammed into the pin)
--one was an Audibleyukaby (closed out a guy on the 20th with a shot that rolled past the pin, up a backstoip and then back down into the hole)

I've never had a Duckaby, a Muckaby or a Pluckaby, however.

[Tom Huckaby]

I just want to read the descriptions of those last three.

And I am getting used to having types of aces named after me - my Dad will be so proud.  Yes, this shall be my contribution to the world of golf.

 
emoticon willingly added - Dan Kelly makes no rules for me.

TH

[Kalen Braley]

Rich,

Thats the funniest post I've read in here in a long time....epic stuff.

May we also suggest

Sluckaby - A nasty slice that finds the hole
Wooducaby - Bounces in off a tree
Out-of-Luckaby - A hole in one that no one esle sees.

[John_Cullum]

To me it does not matter if it is witnessed. If I ever jar a good one, I'll know, and that's all that matters.

There is nothing in the rules of golf that requires it to be played in the presence of others.

[Bob Jenkins]

I have had two aces but saw neither go in. One was into a setting sun and the latter was uphill. Saw it bounce behind the hole and it came back. I have not witnessed any others.

The second was during a client tournament. At the other 3 par 3 holes, they had a $10,000 prize for an ace which, as usual, had been insured for a paltry premium. On other par 3 where I managed to get an ace, our client had put up a sign "Hole in One" - " $5,000 " and my clients name.  They could not get insurance because the hole was about 140-145 yards even from the back and insurers insist on the hole being over 150 yards.

So my client owes me $5,000. Problem (well not really a problem ) was they supported a good charity and after the golf have the usual silent and live auctions where their consultants and clients who have been invited pay far more than any of the items are worth. No way I was going to be able to keep the money, especially as the greedy, nasty lawyer.

Ended up donating the $5000 for a tax receipt.

[Kalen Braley]

To me it does not matter if it is witnessed. If I ever jar a good one, I'll know, and that's all that matters.

There is nothing in the rules of golf that requires it to be played in the presence of others.

Fair enough John,

But good luck finding a beleiver.    However on the bright side, its better on the wallet to hit a out-of-luckaby as opposed to a OhPhuckaby!!!

[Ted Kramer]

I've witnessed one and made none.
The one I saw was a thing of beauty.
Bethpage Black, 14th hole.
Pin on the left half of the green.
My buddy (letfy) hit a beuatiful little cut that landed about hole high, bounced once or twice, stopped, rolled slowly back towards the hole and went in. . .

-Ted

[Andy Doyle]

Made 1, witnessed 1.

The one I witnessed needs a Huckaby ruling.  It was at Charlie Yates, which is not technically a par 3 course as it has 4 par 4s.  It's also a story that fits neatly with the douchebag thread.

I was playing one afternoon when the course was nearly deserted.  I sliced my shot on the 2nd hole into the weedy creek area right of the green.  I was digging around for my ball and noticed a guy walking up to the tee.  I was just getting ready to wave him up when he yells out in a not very friendly voice "Hey!  C'mon - let's go."

So I wave him up.  He hits his shot, and before it hits the green he throws his club in his bag, puts his head down, and starts walking rapidly.  I'm standing just off the right edge of the green and watch his ball hit the front of the green and roll 30 feet straight into the cup.  I look back at the guy and he is walking up the fairway with his head down - no clue.

He gets to the green and says (again in a not so friendly fashion) "Where's my ball?"

"You didn't see it?"

"No."

"Why don't you look in the hole?"

"Really? (Now he's getting excited) Did it really go in the hole?"

So I say "I guess you'll never really know" and go back to looking for my ball.

AD

[Bill_McBride]

Wouldn't the ideal be both HIO and albatross in the same shot? Hole your drive on a short par four.

One of our guys at Pensacola CC had one of these earlier this year.  #16, 303 yards from the tips, a deep creek and deeper bayou all the way down the left, tiny green.  Greg knocked his tee shot on the green and into the hole!

That hole is fun.  I can't hit it that far so hit a 3-wood to about 90 yards short and right, perfect angle into the two tier green.

Not a great photo here; you can't see the ridge that runs from the right front corner of the green all the way out into the fairway.  A tee shot that can drive the green must stay left of that ridge and then runs the danger of drawing into the hazard to the left.  Neat hole designed by Jerry Pate and Steve Dana.

[Bill_McBride]

I've had 7, all of which I saw go in the hole and seen 3 others that I can remember.

I must confess that one of my 7 was a Schmuckaby.   Of the other 6:

--one was a Luckaby (ball missed green--then caromed into the hole
--one was a Ohphuckaby! (in a competition--100+ thirsty whistles to wet in the clubhouse)
--one was an Awshucksaby (false modesty--won the first hole vs. perennial club champion--Goodale goes one up!)
--one was a Hruckaby (witnessed by Japanese 4-ball--1st one, Spyglass #12)
--one was a Truckaby (slammed into the pin)
--one was an Audibleyukaby (closed out a guy on the 20th with a shot that rolled past the pin, up a backstoip and then back down into the hole)

I've never had a Duckaby, a Muckaby or a Pluckaby, however.

Looks like all at Aberdour - you da man! 

[Jeremy Rivando]

I've had one, I was thrilled that it was a pure 4 iron from 198.  My buddy and I weren't positive it went in so the thrill was missing by the time I got up to the cup to find it in the hole.  A great moment nonetheless.

I've witnessed 3 or 4 others.

1997 Phoenix Open, Tiger on the 16th, you all remember that right?  I am sure it was the loudest roar ever on a golf course, unbelievable, may have to start a thread on that.

2007 Canadian Open, Jim Furyk on the 4th, another great moment, on his way to a victory.

I was also caddying for a member at Cherry Hill when he made an ace on the 5th.  I picked his club and I remember the disappointment after the round when I only received $50, a bit above standard fare at the time.

[Peter Wagner]

I have never had a hole in one on a golf course.  I've been all around it but never in. 

But the best shot I've ever seen in golf, including every professional shot ever hit, was this:

I was in a full field tourney / bachelor party that was pretty wild.  Strippers on the tee boxes, porn stars signing autographs at the turn, that kind of tourney / bachelor party.  Apologies to the USGA as many rules were broken and very few penalties assessed that day.

Without boring you with the details of that day allow me to take you to the 8th tee, a narrow par-3, 148 yards, large tough bunker front left and a million trees to the right.  The tee was backed up with our group being the third in line as we come upon this happy little scene.  The tee was backed up not because of pace of play but because it was sponsored by a Vegas strip club and they had many of their employees on hand to explain the inner workings of their fine company.

Also on the tee was a BMW to be given to the first hole in one.

So, there's 5 or 6 naked girls, a BMW convertible, and about 15 guys on the tee and one official witness on the green.  A lot going on.  A couple of guys hit shots that were unremarkable and then this 25 year old guest steps in and takes a practice swing and addresses the ball.  "Wait!" yells Tiffany, one of the strippers while she runs up behind him and wraps her arms around his waist.  "Okay, now try it" she says.  After a few very slow practice swings to make sure he's not going to hit her our Mr. Guest is ready and just as he's about to make his take away Tiffany grabs his crotch "for luck".  Mr. Guest takes his 8 iron back super slowly, as in under water slow, and makes what looks like a half speed downswing.

Prefect ball flight, everybody is screaming, Tiffany and Mr. Guest end up in a heap on the turf, and the ball goes in on the fly.  Slam dunk.

The course is  now hopelessly backed up as we take pictures of Mr. Guest with the strippers and his new car.  The witness on the green was not happy as she worked for the car dealer that had failed to buy insurance.  Oops.

The rest of the day got steadily worse because Mr. Guest bought many rounds of drinks for his new best friend Tiffany and all her naked friends and that lead to a member being suspended and a whole bunch of guys losing their kitchen passes for a very long time.  But that's a story for another time my friends.

A hole in one with a naked stripper hanging on this guy's back holding his crotch.  Easily the most amazing shot I've ever seen.
- Peter

[Bill Brightly]

Not as good as the one above...but our softball league was having a golf outing at a pubilc course, High Mountain. I was in a group with all single digit handicaps. We played a short par 3, and since it was so slow, I suggested that we stand behind the green to watch the 4 hackers behind us...They started waving us away, but we just stood there with our arms folded across our chests. After a few more waves were ignored, the first guy gives us the finger, tees up his ball, and hits in in the hole on a fly!!!!


At that point, we all walked away...

[Carl Nichols]

I have never had a hole in one on a golf course.  I've been all around it but never in. 

But the best shot I've ever seen in golf, including every professional shot ever hit, was this:

I was in a full field tourney / bachelor party that was pretty wild.  Strippers on the tee boxes, porn stars signing autographs at the turn, that kind of tourney / bachelor party.  Apologies to the USGA as many rules were broken and very few penalties assessed that day.

Without boring you with the details of that day allow me to take you to the 8th tee, a narrow par-3, 148 yards, large tough bunker front left and a million trees to the right.  The tee was backed up with our group being the third in line as we come upon this happy little scene.  The tee was backed up not because of pace of play but because it was sponsored by a Vegas strip club and they had many of their employees on hand to explain the inner workings of their fine company.

Also on the tee was a BMW to be given to the first hole in one.

So, there's 5 or 6 naked girls, a BMW convertible, and about 15 guys on the tee and one official witness on the green.  A lot going on.  A couple of guys hit shots that were unremarkable and then this 25 year old guest steps in and takes a practice swing and addresses the ball.  "Wait!" yells Tiffany, one of the strippers while she runs up behind him and wraps her arms around his waist.  "Okay, now try it" she says.  After a few very slow practice swings to make sure he's not going to hit her our Mr. Guest is ready and just as he's about to make his take away Tiffany grabs his crotch "for luck".  Mr. Guest takes his 8 iron back super slowly, as in under water slow, and makes what looks like a half speed downswing.

Prefect ball flight, everybody is screaming, Tiffany and Mr. Guest end up in a heap on the turf, and the ball goes in on the fly.  Slam dunk.

The course is  now hopelessly backed up as we take pictures of Mr. Guest with the strippers and his new car.  The witness on the green was not happy as she worked for the car dealer that had failed to buy insurance.  Oops.

The rest of the day got steadily worse because Mr. Guest bought many rounds of drinks for his new best friend Tiffany and all her naked friends and that lead to a member being suspended and a whole bunch of guys losing their kitchen passes for a very long time.  But that's a story for another time my friends.

A hole in one with a naked stripper hanging on this guy's back holding his crotch.  Easily the most amazing shot I've ever seen.
- Peter

Peter:
What happened when it was your turn?

[Peter Wagner]

Peter:
What happened when it was your turn?

Carl,
I got lucky, the girls ended up following that group because of the free booze and that left the tee with just our group.  My shot hit the bank to the right of the 8th green, took a member's bounce and ended up about 10 feet short of the pin and I don't remember the putt at all.  Pretty dull after what we had just seen.

I'm not against having a drink but I never do while on the course as "swing oil" causes my shakey game to fall apart.  Things were pretty out of control in the groups ahead of us.  Body shots for pars and worse for birdies became the norm for those guys though.  Thankfully nobody made an eagle.

- Peter

[Alan Gard]

I've witnessed one Huckaby.  My brother aced the second hole at the Shorty course at Bandon.  Pin was way over a ridge so we had no idea until we saw the twosome on the third tee start shouting.

I've witnessed one Schmuckaby.  Some random player paired with Tim Bert and me.  Definitely a low single digit handicap.  Pushed his first tee shot way right into deep wood.  Re-teed and hit one of the purist shots I've seen...a tight little draw that bounced a couple times and rolled dead center into the hole.  He was definitely dejected as he had never had a hole in one.  I'm actually surprised how many here are familiar with the hole in three as I would have thought them vary rare.

Closest I've come was a lip out on Bandon Trails #5 in June 2005 to a back hole location in a strong cross wind.  The worst par was seeing it disappear for a split second before seeing it reappear.  I also nearly had the HIO/Albatross combo on #7 at Jeff Brauer's Highlands course in Lincoln, NE.  Saw the ball disappear over a ridge headed right at the hole only to have it reappear.

[Tim Bert]

I once pitched in from 40 yards 

The closest I've come to seeing a hole-in-one are the same three that Alan mentions.

I also heard the hole-in-one roars of another group that was playing a hole ahead of me, but I didn't see the actual shot.

Finally, we're pretty sure that one of the players in the group ahead of Bert/Mayhugh/Jenkins/Wall holed out for eagle on #4 at Spyglass.  Not a bad hole to record that achievement.

[Mike Bowline]

I have been lucky to have three aces, with one in competition. I have also seen two others, one as a caddy in the Women's U.S. Open in 1983.

The second ace I witnessed was unique. You have all read about the ace that goes in the hole after hitting a trash can/tree/ball washer/golf cart, etc, etc.

I was playing in a charity event offering a BMW roadster for a hole-in-one on #9, a 170 yard nothing-special par 3. As a consolation if there was no ace, the closest-to-the-pin was a set of new Hogan Apex irons.

I was in on of the final groups to play the hole, and as we looked at the green when we stepped on the tee, the "closest to the pin" flag was about 3 feet away. I hit first and got lucky and hit it to 6 inches, with all the witnesses jumping and screaming as the ball almost went in the hole. Although not driving away in the Beemer, I thought I had won the Hogans for sure.

The guy behind me then steps up and hits a screaming low heel pull that rattled around in some trees left of the green (uphill side of the green). The trees spit the ball out, it rolls toward the hole, and you guessed it, it goes in for an ace and he wins the car. I didn't win the clubs because there was an ace - ouch. Boy was he excited to relinquish his amateur status to get that car.

The punchline: the amazing thing about his ace was that his ball caromed into the hole off of my ball which was sitting 6 inches away. The officials at the green had measured my ball at 6", and after he used it for a backstop, it was 4' away from the hole! That must have been a fairly hard "carom". He used not only the trees and the downhill slope from the trees, but also my ball - all to get his first ace, and no doubt his first BMW roadster, too.

I did not win the clubs but I did get a great story.