Hole In One Insurance News & Notes

Hole In One Record Falls to 102 Year Old Golfer

2007-04-10T09:22:00.000-04:00

Congratulations Elsie McLean!

At the ripe old age of 102, that's correct, one hundred and two, Elsie McLean became the oldest known person ever to record a hole in one. Ms. McLean reportedly aced the par 3 fourth hole at Bidwell Park in California from 100 yards away using her trusty driver. In doing so, Elsie broke the previous mark for oldest person to hit a hole in one that had been held since 2001 by Harold Stilson. Mr. Stilson made a hole in one at Deerfield Country Club in Florida when he was 101.

Due to the blind tee shot at the fourth hole at Bidwell Park, Ms. McLean reportedly didn't even know about her achievement at first. It wasn't until one of her playing partners checked the hole that their search for her tee shot ended and they happily realized that the shot was an ace. It was also the first hole in one of her golfing life.

Congratulations, once again, to Ms. Elsie McLean on your fine achievement.

Playing by the Rules: Witness Requirements

2007-04-06T11:53:00.000-04:00

"Where is the best place to have the witness view the winning shot?"

Not everyone has the luxury of having network television broadcasting their golf tournament; with filmed evidence of a hole in one being made. Conseuqently, what is a golf tournament organizer to do when they're running a hole in one contest and need to abide by witness requirements?

At US Hole In One, we're frequently asked about the ideal location to place a hole in one contest witness. The easy answer: any place where the witness can see both the teeing ground and the hole. Many events place the witness either at the tee box (where they are out of harm's way and safe from incoming golf shots) or have them situated near the green (sometimes, even with a hard, construction helmet): both are acceptable. The key to proper witness placement for a hole in one contest is merely that the contest witness has a clear, unobstructed view of each golfer striking their shot from the tee box, and of the golf ball making its way all the way into the hole. As long as the witness can see these things happening for every golfer, they can be anywhere on the golf course.

If your course has a unique hole with a blind tee shot of some kind, we recommend having two witnesses for the hole to make sure that you have at least have one witness who saw the golfer tee off, and one witnessing the ball going into the cup. Remember, if a hole in one occurs without the verifiable presence of witnesses as stated in the terms and conditions of the application, your hole in one insurance provider will have no obligation to pay the prize value, or any portion thereof, to the client. One other caveat, all liability for the safety of the witnesses is usually borne by you, the Client; and not your coverage provider.

O'Meara, Toms, Sabbatini Shine at Par 3 Contest

2007-04-05T10:13:00.000-04:00

Congratulations go out to Mark O'Meara, Rory Sabbatini and David Toms for their excellent play in yesterday's Par 3 Contest at the Masters. Sabbatini and Toms both made a hole in one during their round; Rory's coming at the 7th hole from 115 yards away, while David's was made at the 5th with a 9-iron from 130 yards. Their aces marked the 62nd and 63rd in Par 3 Contest history.

The contest itself was captured by Mark O'Meara, the 1998 green jacket winner. His winning score of 22 was only two strokes off the tournament record. Unfortunately for Mark, while victorious in this fun-filled event, he must take solace in knowing that no Par 3 Contest winner has ever gone on to seize the title at Augusta National come Sunday.

Source: "O'Meara Wins Par 3 Contest" - Art Stricklin

The Odds of a "Masters"-ful Hole In One

2007-04-04T10:07:00.000-04:00

Ready. Set. Go!

At precisely 7:40 tomorrow morning, the Masters, the first major of the PGA Tour season, will get started when Arnold Palmer, this year's Honorary Starter, ceremoniously strikes a ball from the tee of hole number one. 97 of the best players in the world will then follow Mr. Palmer's lead, thus marking the start of the 2007 Masters. Reigning Masters Champion, Phil Mickelson begins his round at 10:56, while world #1, and four-time green jacket winner, Tiger Woods, tees off at 1:52.

For all of you Ace Weekly readers out there wondering about this tournament's hole in one opportunities, Augusta National will not disappoint. Over the years, participants have recorded 18 holes in one during tournament play beginning with Ross Somerville's ace at hole 16 in 1934. "What club did he use?" you may ask. A mashie niblick, believe it or not.

Furthermore, the Masters has witnessed an astonishing 3 double eagles, including Gene Sarazen's "Shot Heard Round the World" at number 15 in 1935 that vaulted The Squire into a share of the lead that he would not relinquish.

Augusta National's four par 3 holes (4, 6, 12, 16) have all been aced over the years. Jeff Sluman is the only golfer to hole out on number 4, while number 16 has been aced most often with 10 competitors having made an elusive hole in one there. Holes 6 and 12 have been conquered four and three times respectively.

Not surprisingly, oddsmakers in Ireland allow wagering on an hole in one being made at the Masters. One group has set the odds of an ace being made this week at 6-5, with the odds for none being set at 4-6. And if you're really ready to go out on a limb, you can even place a bet for the first hole to be aced this week. Hole 4 is set at 18-1; hole 6 is at 9-1; hole 12 is currently 8-1; and hole 16 is the favorite at 7-2. Best of luck to all of you brave souls out there betting on a hole in one being made on the PGA Tour this week!

Sources: The Official Site of the Masters Tournament
The Belfast Telegraph

Wednesday at the Masters

2007-04-03T14:44:00.000-04:00

Sam Snead, Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson, Ben Crenshaw, Vijay Singh: all of them have won at Augusta National, all of them have defied the odds and outplayed the competition on Augusta's famed 1,060 yard layout...That's right, 1,060 yards! Oh, you thought we were talking about the other course at Augusta. No, no, no. Wednesday at the Masters is all about the Par 3 Contest.

Every year since 1960, patrons have enjoyed the spectacle that takes place over and around DeSoto Springs Pond and Ike's Pond at Augusta National. Tournament participants, non-competing past champions and honorary invitees are invited to participate in the event that takes place at Augusta's own par 3 course. The course, which does in fact measure only 1,060 yards, was constructed in 1958 by architect George Cobb and Augusta National co-founder Clifford Roberts. And while par is only 27, each year a golfer finds a way to post birdie after birdie in their pursuit of the championship.

Past winners Art Wall (1965) and Gay Brewer (1973) hold the course record in the Par 3 Contest at a staggering seven under-par 20. Last year's champion was PGA Tour regular Ben Crane, who posted a masterful 23 en route to victory.

Of special interest to us here at US Hole In One, there have reportedly been a total of 61 aces made during the event's 47-year history, including a record 5 holes in one made in 2002 alone.

To all of those participating in tomorrow's event, we wish you the best of luck. However, it should be noted that never has the winner of the Par 3 Contest gone on to capture the coveted green jacket four days later on Sunday...birdies beware!

Source: The Official Site of the Masters Tournament

What is the Difference Between a Scramble and a Shamble?

2007-04-02T10:33:00.000-04:00

So you're running an upcoming golf outing, and wondering what kind of scoring system to use. You're kind of familiar with the standard scramble format, but you've also heard about something called a shamble. Which do you use? Which will speed play along the course? Thankfully, we have some answers for you.

In a scramble, each and every golfer in the foursome (or threesome) takes a shot from the tee. From this point, the team decides who had the best drive, and all players advance forward to that spot to take their second shots. This process then continues, with the best shot being taken each time, until a member of the team is able to hole out. The team's score for that particular hole is recorded as the number of team "strokes" it took to get the ball in the cup (e.g. third, fourth, fifth, etc.). A shamble is slightly different in that only the best drive (or tee shot) is used for each tem member's second shot. From that point, normal stroke play ensues as each player plays his or her individual own ball, and each golfer is responsible for holing out in the fewest number of shots. Thus, whereas a scramble continuously uses the best shot from the group, in a shamble, only the best drive is used for the foursome.

The decision to use a scramble or a shamble for your golf tournament largely depends on the overall skill level of your field. If your golfers are not particularly talented, a scramble is preferable as group's aren't at the mercy of multiple shanks, skulls, tops, chunks and other poor shots that extend play on each hole for each troubled player. Instead, the continuous best shot format, hopefully, results in a lower team score, fewer shots taken, and less waiting time for groups behind.

On the other hand, shambles provide a more competitive course of play when your field is more consistent on the course. With each golfer being responsible for posting a score, your event benefits from everyone being focused on playing well, while at the same time having fun.

It's Attack of the Aces at The Players Championship

2006-03-28T13:46:00.000-05:00

Last week's Players Championship turned out to be a thriller. Those of you who watched television coverage of the event no doubt witnessed Stephen Ames brilliant victory at the TPC Sawgrass course as well as highlights of the event's four holes in one! The assault on the flagstick at number thirteen started on Friday when Justin Leonard and Jesper Parnevik both aced the par 3 hole at Sawgrass from approximately 160 yards away. Commentators referenced the friendly flag placement as a key contributor to the excellent shots made on the hole that day. Shots seemed to funnel straight towards the cup all day long it seemed. Saturday proved to be an equally exciting day for the spectators at 13 as European standout Henrik Stenson made yet another ace at the hole.

Not to be outdone, tour veteran and past Masters champion Fred Couples stroked a brilliant shot from 159 yards away at the 13th on Sunday for the fourth ace of the week at the par 3 hole. In doing so, Fred also became the first player in tournament history to have made a hole in one twice at The Players. His other miraculous shot came in 1997 when he managed to tame the terrifying island green at 17.

Sunday's finish also marks the end of an era for The Players Championship. As a part of the PGA Tour's reshuffled schedule beginning next season, The Players event will move from its typical spot in late March to a date in early May. The event will no doubt be just as exciting in its new position, however, as weather in May is more amenable to Tour play than late March. Congratulations goes out once again to Stephen Ames on his fantastic victory at the 2006 Players Championship!

Improving Hole In One Insurance Packages One Tournament at a Time

2006-03-24T09:46:00.000-05:00

In our continuing effort to improve the hole in one insurance prize packages that we offer, US Hole In One is proud to announce the start of a new program. Beginning today, any tournament director or contest sponsor who requests information from us for hole in one contest insurance will receive, at no charge, golf club certificates for every golfer in their event. Each certificate is redeemable for a brand-new golf club from Upswing Golf, the premier golf equipment designer in the country.
Following the success of our new & improved bonus hole in one prize lineup in 2005 (Sharp LCD Flat-Screen Television, Set of Big Bertha Irons from Callaway Golf & Two Roundtrip Airline Tickets), US Hole In One is continuing its commitment to providing golf event organizers with a premium service experience by extending this special, limited-time offer. While offers similar to this have appeared throughout the golf industry in the past, US Hole In One is revolutionizing the concept by offering these certificates to every golf tournament organizer or sponsor, irregardless of whether or not they purchase hole in one insurance from us. We remain confident that this token of appreciation will clearly illustrate our commitment to excellence and will further distinguish us from our competitors.

Many will undoubtedly ask us what the catch is in all of this. Thankfully, there is no catch. Each certificate is in fact redeemable for a brand-new golf club from Upswing Golf. The only nominal fees a golfer is responsible for are shipping & handling and custom-fitting. In addition, golfers have their choice of receiving either a driver, 7-wood, wedge or putter.

We came across Upswing Golf following the recent PGA equipment show in Orlando, Florida. Founded by industry veterans Richard Merk and Bret Larsen, Upswing's mission is to provide high-performance equipment that fuses classic design techniques with state-of-the-art technology. The result, we've found, is a lineup of clubs that perform exceptionally well for all golfers, without the extraordinary price tags typically seen from today's club manufacturers. Undoubtedly, their combined 40 years of experience in the industry at juggernauts like Callaway and TaylorMade has greatly contributed to Upswing's excellent clubhead design talents.

If you would like to learn more about this complimentary golf club certificate program or any other portion of US Hole In One's industry-leading, hole in one prize packages, please feel free to contact us by telephone toll-free at 888-882-5440 or by online request.

The 17th at Sawgrass: Golf's Most Recognized Island Green

2006-03-21T11:57:00.000-05:00

This week, the PGA Tour makes its annual stop at the TPC at Sawgrass for The Players Championship. Widely considered to be the "fifth" major on the professional cirucuit, The Players features the world's best golfers on one of the world's most famous courses. Besides the fanfare associated with the event's ultra-talented field and the prestige of winning the "players" event, a certain hole at Sawgrass inevitably tries to steal the spotlight each and every year: the 17th.

The 17th at Sawgrass is a par 3 hole measuring no more than 145 yards for the pros. Its green is roughly 4000 square feet in size, which isn't overly small by tour standards. And statistically, it usually isn't one of the most difficult holes on the course as most players are capable of reaching the green with a 9-iron or pitching wedge. However, before declaring the hole a pushover, you have to see it for yourself (click for flyover). You see, the 17th hole at Sawgrass is an island green. Thus, at least a 130 of those yards are a carry over water; plus if you happen to fly the green, you find the drink as well. All four sides of the green are surrounded by H20, and when the wind blows the hole becomes terribly intimidating. Last year, almost 30 tee shots found themselves wet, which is an awful lot considering the hole's length and the talent of the golfers playing it. In the 25 year history of the event, only six players have been able to make a hole in one on the 17th at Sawgrass. Brad Fabel accomplished the difficult feat first in 1986 while the next ace didn't come for another five years when Brian Claar made one in 1991. This year, look for the chaos to continue as the hole brings tour professionals to their knees once again.

Yardage Requirements for Hole In One Contests

2006-02-27T10:53:00.000-05:00

A question we're frequently asked at US Hole In One concerns the minimum distances required for a par 3 hole to be eligible for a golf contest. Essentially there are three types of hole in one contests (grand prize, bonus prize & shootout), and each has its own requirements. In addition, there are different minimums for men and women.

For the grand prize hole (meaning the hole with the large prize determined by you), the minimum distance possible is 150 yards for the men and 135 yards for the ladies. If your preferred hole is a little less than those figures, never fear: most golf courses have approximately 10 yards of "wiggle room" on all of their par 3s. They can move the tees back a bit and move the pin back as well, in most cases. So, never rule out a par 3 just because the scorecard indicates a distance less than 150 yards. For bonus prize holes (meaning the holes with the set of Callaway Big Bertha Irons, Sharp LCD Flat-Screen Television, or the Roundtrip Plane Tickets for Two), the minimum yardage is 130 yards for the guys and 115 yards for the women.

An important rule to also remember when dealing with yardages is difference between the mens and ladies tees. While the minimums are discussed above, there can never be a difference of more than 15 yards between the two sets of tees. For example, if you have a hole where the mens tees are at 160 yards and the ladies tees are at 137, while both tee boxes are acceptable with regards to minimum distances, these distances would not qualify because the yardage difference between the two is more than 15 yards (it is in fact 23 yards). Thus, in this example, either the men would have to move up to 152 or the ladies would need to move back to 145.

Finally, for shootout contests the minimums are slightly further back. As shootout hole in one contests have much more valuable prizes, the minimum distances for men is 165 yards and the minimum for ladies is 150 yards. It is also important to remember that shootouts do not need to take place at a par 3 hole. It is perfectly acceptable to run a shootout from the middle of the fairway on a par 4 or par 5 hole. Just make sure that when doing so, you still abide by the aforementioned distance requirements.

Crane's Ace Isn't Enough

2006-02-24T15:24:00.000-05:00

Apparently the PGA Tour's advertising slogan is right on, because those guys are good! Not to be outdone by Tiger's perfect 9 and 8 victory on Wednsday, Ben Crane reportedly put together a valiant, last effort against Retief Goosen on Thursday with a hole in one on the par 3, 16th hole at La Costa. Two holes down at the time, Crane hit a laser from 183 yards right to the green that ended up in the cup for an ace. Unfortunately for Ben, he bogeyed 17 to lose the match to Goosen 2 and 1; but not before he made the fourth hole in one of the year on the PGA Tour.

Coverage of the World Match Play Championship continues through the weekend with television coverage on ESPN and ABC. The rest of the tour is playing in Tucson this week at the Chrysler Classic of Tucson. Coverage of that event can be seen throughout the week on USA. Full television times can be found here.

Tiger's Perfect Match Play Round

2006-02-23T09:55:00.000-05:00

At Ace Weekly, we report on the pursuit of perfection in golf. After all, when you hit a hole in one, there is not better shot in the game. You cannot have a better score on any hole than a "one". That being said, we felt the need to report on another example of perfection in the game which turned out to be Tiger Woods' thrashing of opponent Stephen Ames in Wednesday's first round of the PGA Tour's Accenture Match Play Championship.

For those of you unfamiliar with match play, two golfers are pitted against one and other for 18 holes, mano y mano. At the end of each hole, the player with the best score "wins" the hole. At the end of the round, each player tallies up how many holes thay have won, and a winner is declared. In a perfect world, one player is able to win the first nine holes and then either "halve" (a term for tying scores on a hole) or win the 10th. Doing so would finish the match in the shortest possible time.

On Wednesday, that is exactly what Woods did against Ames. Tiger reeled off six birdies to start the round and finished with seven during the day. Ames on the other hand "struggled" with seven pars during the shortened round. When all was said and done, Tiger had beaten Ames by a score of 9 and 8 (this is shorthand for 9 holes up with 8 holes to play), thus finishing a "perfect" match play win.

Some may ask how Tiger mustered the fabulous play considering the wayward accuracy he displayed during the first two tournaments of his season (both of which he won, by the way) and the fact that he was forced to withdraw from last week's Nissan Open due to a case of the flu. Unfortunately for Stephen Ames, he voiced these questions out loud on Monday. When asked whether he had a chance at beating the world's number one player, Ames was quoted as saying, "especially where he's hitting the ball," a direct reference to Tiger's accuracy struggles. Mr. Woods heard these comments and apparently decided to demonstrate his immense talent against Ames on Wednesday. In a post-round interview, Tiger was asked if he heard Stephen's comments before the round. He curtly replied, "yes". When posed the follow-up question asking what went through his mind at the time, Tiger gave one of his fiendish grins and said, "9 and 8".

Immelman's Ace: #3 on PGA Tour

2006-02-21T10:01:00.000-05:00

Friday's play at the PGA Tour's Nissan Open saw the tour's third hole in one of the year. South African Trevor Immelman made an elusive ace during the second round at the par 3 16th hole. Immelman reportedly made the hole in one with an easy 7-iron from 165 yards. The hole in one was only the third of the year on the PGA Tour following Lucas Glover's ace at the Mercedes Championships and Roger Clemens' miraculous shot during the pro-am portion of the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic. It was not clear, however, whether Immelman drove away with the new Nissan 350Z Roadster that was on display at the 16th throughout the weekend.

Nissan Open Preview: The Wrong Hole In One

2006-02-16T09:47:00.000-05:00

The players of the PGA Tour tee it up this week at the heralded Riviera Country Club located just outside of Los Angeles, CA for the 2006 Nissan Open (Broadcast Schedule). While the media will be focusing its attention on whether or not Tiger Woods can finally win this event (it is the only PGA Tour stop that Mr. Woods has played at least 3 times, but never won), we here at Ace Weekly want to focus on another, more interesting golf story: the par 3 sixth hole.

For those of you not familiar with this devilish par 3, it is renowned for its unusual bunker placement. While most golf course architects choose to protect a green with sand traps located all around the putting surface, Riviera's decided the most appropriate place for a bunker was in fact in the middle of the green! (Watch video flyover of the sixth hole)

This unique setup will undoubtedly create some wildly exciting choices for this week's golfers. While common golf etiquette teaches us not to ever chip the ball while on the putting surface, you will surely see some professionals at this week's event consider doing so should their tee shots end up on the wrong side of the bunker. You can just imagine the grimace on the face of Riviera's greenskeeper every time a golfer takes a wedge out of his bag to chip the ball over the sand trap.

Also of note to all you hole in one contest fans out there, if your tee shot ends up in the sixth's in-green bunker, it most certainly does not count as an ace!

What makes a golfer a professional?

2006-02-14T16:09:00.000-05:00

We've gotten many questions asking for a more detailed discussion regarding amateur status in golf. The distinction is important, after all, when setting up a hole in one contest, as customers are responsible for accurately portraying the makeup of their participants. As professional golfers are presumably more skilled, this skill typically translates into a different price for hole in one contest coverage.

According to the USGA, "an 'amateur golfer' is one who plays the game as a non-remunerative and non-profit-making sport and who does not receive remuneration for teaching golf or for other activities because of golf skill or reputation, except as provided in the Rules [of Golf]." Thus, just because a golfer does not compete on the PGA Tour does not mean that he or she cannot be a professional golfer. In fact, a vast majority of professional golfers are just instructors or players who teach the game for a living.

If you would like to read the full rules and regulations regarding amateur status in golf, we recommend that you visit the USGA's website on the subject:

Amateur Status United States Golf Association

In the end, most golfers are amateurs, and those who are not will typically tell you so, but be extra careful when applying for hole in one contest insurance because while the distinction may not seem important at the time, it is very important to the insurance company covering your event.

Hole In One Still Ranks as Green's Top Payday

2006-01-30T09:59:00.000-05:00

You would think that finishing tied for second in a PGA Tour event would be the biggest payday of one's brief career. After all, prize money on the tour has skyrocketed in recent year's as Tiger Woods and Co. have taken the game of golf to an entirely new level. However, for PGA Tour rookie Nathan Green, yesterday's paycheck for a top five finish still could not eclipse the amount he won for making a hole in one during the Australian Masters golf tournament in 2000. Though he finished second in that event to, Nathan managed to make an ace during the final round. The prize for that hole in one contest was a cool $500,000. Despite battling Tiger and two-time Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal in a sudden death playoff on Sunday, Nathan only took home a hair under $450,000 for his efforts in the Buick Invitational. In two events this season, Green has two top five finishes, yesterday's T2 and a fifth place finish at the Sony Open in Hawaii.

All-Star Golf Team Plays For Charity in UAE

2006-01-24T11:04:00.000-05:00

Tiger Woods, Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Darren Clarke, Thomas Bjorn & Mark O'Meara will all be in the United Arab Emirates next week for the European Tour's Dubai Desert Classic. However, before the competition begins, this all-star cast will be participating in the fourth annual Jebel Ali Golf Resort & Spa Challenge Match. Sponsored by Nakheel, the UAE's leading property developer, the Challenge Match pits two team of golfers against one and other for a round at the resort's amazing nine hole golf course. In an effort toraise funds for local area charities, these world class golfers will also be aiming to raise money with their skills.

First up will be the high-stakes, hole in one competition. If any of the players is able to make a hole in one on the par three second hole, $500,000 dollars will be awarded with $300,000 going to the player and $200,000 going to the charities. On the par three eighth hole, the stakes double with $1,000,000 being divided between the player and the charities.

Secondly, Nakheel will also run the Birdie, Eagle, and Albatross Challenge. For each birdie, eagle and albatross that the players make, Nakheel will donate between 10,000-20,000 Dirhams to the local charities. In addition, Nakheel will contribute 5,000 Dirhams for each shot under par that the golfers achieve.

The event, with its fabulous hole in one contest, looks to be an excellent way to kick-off a week of great golf in Dubai. Television coverage of the European Tour's Dubai Desert Classic will be provided, in the United States, by The Golf Channel. Check your local listings for dates and times.

The Rocket's Ace Leads Celebrity Golf Team to Victory

2006-01-24T10:35:00.000-05:00

Apparently, the Houston Astros' Roger Clemens does more than win baseball games. He plays some great golf too. Roger and fellow Texas Longhorn, Matthew McConaughey were part of the winning celebrity team at the PGA Tour's Bob Hope Chrysler Classic last week. In addition to finishing 65 under par for the week, the winning team also witnessed the greatest of all golf shots by Mr. Clemens on Saturday en route to their victory. According to published reports, Clemens made a hole in one on the par 3, second hole at the Classic Course on Saturday. While his hole in one did not win Roger a hole in one prize, it did help lead his team to victory. Had Clemens made his ace on one of the golf course's other par 3 holes, he may have had an opportunity to win a brand-new vehicle from the tournament's presenting sponsor; however, it was not to be, much to the chagrin of television commentator Paul Azinger who lamented that it is difficult enough to make a hole in one, but now they expect you to do so on a specific hole!

Editor's note: Had Chrysler choosen to cover its hole in one contests with US Hole In One, Roger would have walked away with a hole in one prize. All of US Hole In One's hole in one insurance policies include free bonus prizes for the non-grand prize par three holes at the course. Thus, while Clemens may not have won the brand-new car, he would have at least been awarded something for his remarkable acheivement.

New USGA Rule Makes Hole In One Winners Amateurs Again

2006-01-12T12:52:00.000-05:00

As some of you may have heard, the USGA revised its rules regarding the loss of amateur status for hole in one contest winners this past summer. What you may not be aware of though are the intricacies of this new ruling. While it is indeed true that hole in one prize winners by and large no longer forfeit their amateur status, there are several instances in which making a hole in one and accepting a prize does in fact still make you a "professional" in the eyes of the USGA.

The key requirement found in the provision is the fact that in order to retain your amateur status, the hole in one must be made "while playing golf". Thus, if you were to make a hole in one during a shootout, at a driving range or in a simulator, accepting a prize for that ace would be grounds for status forfeiture. In addition, all putting contest and closest to the pin winners still lose their amateur status.

It should be noted, however, that the $750 prize limit still appies to all golf contests. If the hole in one prize that you accept is under that value, then there are no circumstances under which you would lose your amateur status.

While such technicalities don't affect many golfers, US Hole In One does frequently encounter hole in one contest winners who, as excellent amateur players, must weigh the costs of accepting the prize. And while these distinctions may seem unimportant, if you forfeit your status as an amateur golfer, you are no longer permitted to participate in amateur-only events such as club championships, member-guest outings, and many other golf tournaments.

Sony Open Hole In One Preview

2006-01-11T20:10:00.000-05:00

This week, the golfers of the PGA Tour travels to the Waialae Country Club for the Sony Open. Wind typically plays a huge role at Waialae and this weeks look to be no different. For those players looking for a hole in one this week, Waialae offers four par 3 holes for the taking: numbers 4, 7, 11 and 17.

Hole number 4, measuring 203 yards, offers players their first opportunity at the elusive ace. Though typically played straight into the wind, this hole features an extremely deep green with large bunkers guarding either side of the putting surface. Last year, Shigeki Maruyama made a hole in one on this hole during the third round of the championship on his way to a 68 and possession of the lead heading into the final round.

The seventh presents an entirely different challenge. While only measuring 167 yards, its green is well protected by a series of deep sandtraps running straight across its front and sides. Waialae's back nine plays host to the par 3 eleventh. At 196 yards, it is a challenging hole made more difficult by the fact that it typically plays with a crosswind that players will have to adjust for when seeking an ace of birdie. Nevertheless, the 11th is one of the more picturesque holes on the course as the blue waters of the Pacific Ocean lies just beyond the green.

Finally, the 189 yard, signature 17th hole runs alongside right the beach and offers the pros their final chance at a hole in one. Considering the green is protected on both sides with bunkers, and the hole is susceptible to a crosswind, the seventeenth is the most challenging of the par three holes on the golf course.

While there are no reported hole in one contests for the tour players to take part in this week, there are nonetheless a handful of opportunities to making history with an ace.

Glover's Hole In One Earns Him a New Car!

2006-01-10T14:52:00.000-05:00

Those of you watched last week's PGA Tour television coverage no doubt witnessed Lucas Glover's stellar hole in one during the third round of the Mercedes Championships. According to published reports, Glover stroked a 5-iron from 203 yards on the eighth hole at Kapalua, landing the ball to the right of the hole. Two bounces later, the ball hit the flagstick and rolled into the cup for an ace. The hole in one won Glover a brand new 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS55 AMG sports coupe. The vehicle's estimated value is roughly $88,000.

Glover's ace was the first of the year on the PGA Tour this season. It was also the only hole in one made during the event. Lucas earned a position into the tour's season-opening "winner's only" tournament by winning last season's FUNAI Classic at Walt Disney World in Orlando. This year's Mercedes Championship was once again held at the Plantation Course at Kapalua in Maui, Hawaii. Difficult winds led to high scores throughout the event, but did not deter Glover from making his hole in one on Saturday.

Unbeknownst to many golf fans, PGA Tour events regularly have hole in one contests for its players. Event sponsors can afford to offer fabulous prizes, like the luxury vehicle Glover won, by purchasing hole in one insurance from providers like US Hole In One, or by self insuring the prize.

Welcome to Ace Weekly!

2006-01-10T14:34:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the inaugural posting of Ace Weekly, a weekly look at the world of golf through the eyes of US Hole In One, the leader in hole in one contest insurance for golf tournaments and outings.

Posting highlights will include stories about lucky hole in one contest winners from around the country, commentary on the PGA, LPGA & Champions Tours, special contest insurance promotions being run by US Hole In One and other noteworthy tidbits from golf tournaments and outings across the nation.

If you have any quesitons regarding hole in one contests, or have any story ideas, feel free to pass them along to us at info@usholeinone.com. Happy reading!