Back
It’s golf’s holy grail—the hole-in-one. The rarest of feats every golfer dreams about, and the one shot that everyone, even non-golfers, talks about.
A hole-in-one grants you a special status in golf, making your regular playing partners envious, even if they're better players. It brings a touch of immortality if your name is posted on the club’s wall. Prizes might come your way, especially if you made your ace in a shootout contest. GolfPass Managing Editor Jason Scott Deegan once had one swing to make a hole in one for a $500,000 home lot. Like everyone else in the competition, he missed.
A hole-in-one can crown a lifetime of play and justify your obsession with the game. You'll be forever linked with the game's greats, but most importantly, a hole-in-one is a memory to relive forever—a triumphant moment etched in your personal history.
Will you ever get a hole-in-one? If you have, what are the chances you'll get another? How rare is this rarest of golf shots? The debate continues, but it’s hardly trivial. The allure of holes-in-one have spawned a cottage industry of contests and a niche business of golf hole-in-one insurance.
Let’s delve into the odds of making a hole-in-one and everything about the ace. Is it luck or skill? This feat is steeped in tradition and etiquette. If you score a hole-in-one, what do you need to do? You may reap rewards but you also take on certain responsibilities that can vary by country.
We'll also mine the records book to learn more about golf's ultimate shot. Who has made the most holes-in-one on the professional and amateur stages? Which PGA Tour tournaments have yielded the most holes-in-one? And what are the most thrilling, memorable and noteworthy holes-in-one of all time? It's time to find out.
Hole-in-One Odds and Facts
When considering the likelihood of a hole-in-one, you might have heard that the odds range between 1 in 10,000 and 1 in 100,000. Thanks to hole-in-one contests, better quantification of golf rounds and total holes-in-one, the expansion of golf betting, as well as the proliferation of golf hole-in-one insurance, the facts are in about the odds of making an ace. The National Hole-in-One Registry and numerous insurance companies that have made it their business to nail down the frequency and odds of aces are quite definitive. Across the United States, an ace occurs about once every 3,500 rounds. That translates to any golfer standing a 1 in 12,500 chance of recording a hole-in-one. The odds improve to 1 in 5,000 for low handicap players, and for a pro tour player, it's either a 3,000 to 1 or a 2,500 to 1 proposition, depending on the source.
If you've ever wondered about the probability of making two holes-in-one during the same round, it's 67 million to 1. Brian Harman, the 2023 Open Champion, beat those odds when he accomplished the extremely rare feat in the final round of the 2015 Barclays. It was the third time it had been done in PGA Tour history. In the second round of the 2024 U.S. Senior Open at Newport Country Club, Frank Bensel Jr. did something even rarer. He aced back-to-back holes (the par-3 4th and 5th). Alas, he still finished the front nine in one-over-par and wound up missing the cut.
Though the odds may seem stacked against you when it comes to holes-in-one, take heart -- there's some good news. The National Hole-in-One registry says that 1 to 2 percent of golfers every year make a hole-in-one. You don't have to be a particularly good golfer, either. The average handicap of an ace maker is 14.
If you haven't made a hole-in-one yet, keep in mind it takes a golfer 24 years of playing on average to score an ace. For women players, the average is only 15 years of golf experience.
Your chances also go up as you enter middle age and beyond. Sixty percent of all aces are made by players age 50 and over. The average age of a woman making a hole-in-one is 55. Players age 70 and over account for 9% of all holes-in-one. That figure is not much less than players age 10 to 29 who account for 12% of all aces. And you're never too old. The oldest player to make a hole-in-one was 103.
Once you've made a hole-in-one, don't think of stopping. Among those players who have already made one hole-in-one, 14% will score a second ace, and 9% will raise their total up to three.
Is a hole-in-one skill or luck?
The great Ben Hogan, a perfectionist, once said he had a dream in which he made 17 holes-in-one and a two and woke up mad. Hogan also found it ironic that a tee shot on a par 3 that finishes two feet from the pin is called a great shot, while a hole-in-one is considered luck.
The odds noted above indicate that pros and better players have a greater likelihood of making an ace. Among other factors, the more rounds you play, the better your chances. A hole-in-one statistically occurs once every 3,500 rounds. Shorter holes also improve your chances. While there are holes-in-one on par 4s (known as an albatross), par 3s present real hole-in-one opportunities. The overall average length of an ace is 147 yards. For women players, the average is 116 yards.
Certain courses also seem to be magnets for these magical shots. Those with softer putting surfaces, inviting pin positions, and greens that feature contours that funnel a golf ball toward the hole may raise your probability. Nice, calm weather conditions doesn't hurt, either. Ultimately, though, no matter how skilled you are or how all these factors align, you still need a stroke of good luck.
What to do when you make a hole-in-one
An old golf saying goes something like "I was playing alone and made a hole-in-one. What a disaster." Indeed, for the shot to count, you must have a witness who can confirm that the ball went into the cup. You must also be playing by the rules when you make the shot, including teeing off behind the tee markers and just playing one ball. Your ace must also be part of a round of at least nine holes, so if a storm comes before your ninth hole and you can't resume, your shot won't be officially recognized.
If you've made your dream shot and have a witness, these are the steps to take next:
Save the golf ball: It’s the perfect memento. Take the ball out of play. It would be a shame if your hole-in-one ball turned into a lost ball.
Finish your round: Complete your entire round. Your round must be a minimum of nine holes. You must have followed the official rules of golf on the hole you aced.
Record the hole-in-one: Mark the hole-in-one on your scorecard, noting the specific hole and any other relevant details.
Get signatures: You and your playing partners must sign your scorecard to attest that it was a valid ace.
Submit your scorecard: Hand in the signed scorecard to the club's management or the presiding authority for verification. Inquire if the club does anything special when a hole-in-one is made.
Celebrate your achievement: Enjoy your moment of glory by engaging in traditional celebrations such as buying drinks for your fellow golfers. Have fun and relish the experience—this is what every golfer dreams about.
Notify insurers (if applicable): If you are part of a contest or event with hole-in-one insurance, inform the event organizers or the insurance company according to their procedures.
Register your hole-in-one: Consider registering your hole-in-one with a hole-in-one registry or index. These registries often provide official certificates and additional publicity. Many also offer plaques, framed mementos, or other keepsakes to commemorate your achievement.
For a more in-depth and personal look at what to do, read this story.
Hole-in-one Traditions
In the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland and Australia, it's customary for the golfer who scores a hole-in-one to buy a round of drinks for everyone in the clubhouse. Increasingly, at American golf courses, golfers make a less expensive accommodation by treating just their playing partners to the celebratory beverage. Any attempt to shirk the obligation entirely is seen as bad form and an affront to the golf gods, so do so at the peril of your future golf rounds.
In Japan and South Korea, a golfer making a hole-in-one is expected to host a lavish party. The guest list typically includes not only your golfing partners and friends, but also family members, other friends and essentially anyone in your life. Besides providing a meal and drinks, the lucky golfer should also give presents to all of these people.
Expenses can add up quickly for a hole-in-one. Not surprisingly, golfers adopted measures to lessen the burden of this most remarkable but extremely rare feat. Many clubs add a hole-in-one surcharge to membership dues or have members kick in dues to help defray bar tabs and the cost of any prizes that the club may award. In some Asian countries, where the tradition calls for more extensive celebrations, a high percentage of players annually purchase golf hole-in-one insurance. The policies are treated as just another necessary expense of the game.
Golf Hole-in-One Insurance
Because making a hole-in-one can be so burdensome to the ace-maker, insurance companies swooped in long ago to reduce golfers’ fears. Hole-in-one insurance appears to have originated in the United States, with newspaper ads touting it as far back as 1918. Initially, individual golfers bought policies to protect themselves against potentially large bar tabs.
As golf’s popularity grew and fascination with holes-in-one led to contests, the focus of golf hole-in-one insurance shifted. Clubs, businesses and charities that sponsored hole-in-one contests started buying insurance to cover the big prize payouts they promised. Nowadays, companies like American Hole'n One and US Hole in One underwrite millions of dollars in prizes and issue hundreds of thousands of policies.
Insurance companies have calculated the odds of making a hole-in-one. Hole-in-one contest organizers can use online calculators to get quotes, factoring in the prize value, length of the hole and number of participants. Now that the insurance companies have taken over the contests, they are also providing signage, electronic leaderboards, bonus prizes and other features to enliven the events. Of course, nothing enlivens a hole-in-one contest like the chance to walk away with one million dollars!
Outside the U.S., the hole-in-one insurance business is thriving, especially in Japan and South Korea. In these countries, where traditions around holes-in-one are more formal and elaborate, individual golfers are the primary policy holders. About 40 percent of Japanese golfers purchase hole-in-one insurance, paying around $60 to $100 per year for coverage up to $3,500 or $5,000. It’s important to note that such policies are only sold to residents of Japan.
In South Korea, where the policies are similar to Japan, you may find vending machines offering hole-in-one insurance prominently positioned on par-3 holes of golf courses. These machines, equipped with cameras to verify aces, provide payouts for successful shots.
If you take a trip and play golf in Asia, be careful what you wish for. Because of the expensive obligations that come with making a hole-in-one, visiting golfers without insurance might actually hope their best tee shots on par 3s don’t find the bottom of the cup.
Which tournaments have seen the most aces; What about the Masters?
Tournaments and courses matter when it comes to holes-in-one. Do you have a hunch about which single tournament produced the most holes-in-one in PGA Tour history? It's the 2009 RBC Canadian Open, held at Glen Abbey Golf Club, a Jack Nicklaus design in Oakville, Ont. Eight aces were recorded that year. During the second round, four players aced the 132-yard 15th hole. With five aces, the next most prolific tournament was the 2004 John Deere Classic at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Ill.
Over the years, several tournaments have seen four holes-in-one in a year. On three different occasion both the FedEx St. Jude Championship at TPC Southwind in Memphis and the American Express, which is played on multiple courses in Palm Springs, reached that total (note: before 2012, the American Express was a five-round event). In 1989, four holes-in-one were also made at the U.S. Open at Oak Hill Country Club's East Course in Rochester, N.Y., and the PGA Championship at Kemper Lakes Golf Club outside of Chicago.
The most holes-in-one at The Masters in any year was three (2016). Which hole at Augusta National has seen the most aces? It's not even close--there have been 24 at the 16th hole. Only three have ever been made at the beautiful 12th in Amen Corner.
What players have made the most holes-in-one?
Who's your guess for the most career holes-in-one on the PGA Tour? If you are thinking big names like Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods, think again. They officially tallied just three each. Though Tiger has made 20 aces overall, none came during his best years when he dominated golf. His last in PGA Tour competition was at the 1998 Sprint Invitational.
A check of the PGA Tour's 2024 Media Guide indicates that since 1983, when aces were first tracked, the leading hole-in-one makers are Hal Sutton and Robert Allenby with 10 apiece. A total of 35 players, including Phil Mickelson and Shane Lowry, have made five or more over the years. The active player with the most career holes-in-one is 41-year-old journeyman Scott Brown with seven.
On the LPGA Tour, the career record is held by the great Kathy Whitworth with 11.
As for that stat that a hole-in-one occurs every 3,500 rounds, disregard it for players on the professional tours. So far in 2024 (as of July 24), there have been 16 holes-in-one on the PGA Tour in 34 tournaments and 13 in 19 LPGA tournaments.
All-time hole-in-one leaders
Beyond professional tour players, in the wider golf world, a Californian named Norman Manley appears on some lists for purportedly making 59 aces. Both he and his records have been hard to track down. The spotlight has turned to two other men for the most holes-in-one. One had a career as a PGA club professional and the other is a 15-handicapper hacker-type amateur from New Jersey.
Mancil Davis -- "King of Aces"
In 1966, 12-year-old Mancil Davis appeared on the CBS Network show I’ve Got a Secret for making eight holes-in-one. He would go on to become a PGA club professional in Houston and record 51 aces in total—widely considered the all-time record. The National Hole in One Association, which was a pioneering company in selling golf hole-in-one insurance and organizing Million Dollar Hole-in-One Shootout contests, enlisted Davis as a pitchman in the 1980s and beyond. It also gave him his nickname—“King of Aces.”
Dan DeCando
Dan DeCando, a cigar-toting owner of a payroll services company in New Jersey, will tell you he's “the greatest hole-in-one golfer of all time.” An amateur golfer who is a double-digit handicap player, DeCando, now 82 years old, stakes his claim to the title with well over 80 aces. Although he started playing golf in 1963, all of them came after 2000. He says he has pictures and proof for every one. In 2017, by which time DeCando had amassed 79 aces, Golf Channel produced a short film about him called "Ace/Hole." Astoundingly, 60 of the holes-in-one came in just 500 rounds during 2015 and 2016 when he was in his early 70s. What are the odds of that? A New York University statistics professor calculated that the probability of making that many aces was equivalent to a poker player getting dealt 20 straight royal flush hands.
In the years since Ace/Hole appeared, DeCando has added to his total. He has begun using the National Hole-in-One Registry to list his latest aces. The registry shows 11 more aces by DeCando between March 2020 and September 2023. GolfPass members can watch the film here.
Conclusion
The magic and mystique of a hole-in-one, the most exciting shot in golf, continue to grow. Insurance companies have calculated the odds—1 in 12,500 for ordinary players—but each year, 1 to 2 percent of golfers make one. Surprisingly, many players have recorded multiple holes-in-one. An ace is glorious and a cause for celebration, but those who achieve this rare feat are expected to follow time-honored etiquette and traditions that vary by country. These obligations can be so burdensome that hole-in-one insurance is advisable. No matter the cost, a hole-in-one is golf's holy grail. Some of the most notable and thrilling aces may inspire you to get one of your own. If all else fails, don't despair. You can always experience the joy of your dream shot by playing miniature golf.
Hole-in-one FAQs
What was the first notable hole-in-one in golf history?
-- In the 1869 Open Championship at Prestwick Golf Club, Young Tom Morris (Tom Morris Jr.) aced the 166-yard 8th, a hole named 'Station' that no longer exists at the club. It was the first hole-in-one ever reported and the first in Open history.
How many holes in one are there every year in the U.S.?
-- More than 128,000.
What states have the highest percentages of holes-in-one in the U.S.?
-- According to the National Hole-in-One Registry, California and Texas each see 9 percent of the holes-in-one in the U.S. Although Florida boasts the most courses and most rounds played of any state, only 3 percent of U.S. holes-in-one occur there.
Have there ever been any hole-in-one on par 5s?
-- Yes, but it has only happened four times. The feat is known as a "condor," the scoring term for 4-under-par on a single hole.
How old was Tiger Woods when he made his first hole-in-one?
-- He was 6. It happened in May, 1982 at Heartwell Golf Course, a par-3 course in Long Beach, California.
Stay in the Swing with GolfPass!
Get exclusive tips from the pros, in-depth course reviews, the latest gear updates, and more delivered straight to your inbox.
Comments (1)
I would suggest that most holes-in-one are great shots that had a little luck, too. I've been playing over 50 years, my average score is in the low 80s and have never had an ace. I've had a couple shots lip out and I've holed out from over 100 yards from the fairway twice, but never a hole-in-one.