Facts and Feats

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 completed
• If the player is playing one ball; a hole in one made in a practice round in which the player is playing two or more balls should not be acceptable
• If attested by an acceptable witness
• If made at a hole with a temporary tee and/or putting green in use, even if the Committee did not specifically define the teeing ground with tee-markers; the length of the hole at the time should be stated on any certificate
• If made in a “scramble” competition, for example, a Captain’s Choice

• Tour player making an ace: 3,000 to 1
• Low-handicapper making an ace: 5,000 to 1
• Average player making an ace: 12,000 to 1
• Two players from the same foursome acing the same hole: 17 million to 1
• One player making two holes-in-one in the same round: 67 million to 1

• There are approximately over 500 million rounds of golf played each year in the United States
• 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
• 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%)
• 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

• 16% of holes in one are made by women
• Average age is 55
• Average years of playing is 15
• Average hole length is 116 yards
• Most popular club is a 7 iron
• Most popular ball & club is Callaway