Amateur golfers have about a 1 in 12,750 chance of knocking down a hole in one on a typical par 3 hole. It is a very big deal. An ace puts you into a very exclusive club, and you will want to commemorate this event. Buying drinks for everybody back in the clubhouse isn't enough. Reporting the feat to your local newspaper is nice, but you will want something more permanent to recognize the achievement.
This is where The Hole in One Society can help.
Working in conjunction with state golf associations and the International Association of Golf Administrators, the Society registers aces on its website and offers a search registry. Golfers can go online and provide the following information: date of ace, course name, course location, club used, witness and a detailed description of the shot.
Benefits:
Through Museum Masterworks, the Society sells engraved, 10-inch pewter award plates and other hole-in-one mementos. For lifelong golfers, that personalized trophy would look pretty sweet in the den.
Expert Insight:
The importance of officially recognizing an ace is best summed up by Mancil Davis, who explained the magic of a hole in one to "USA Today": "A hole in one for most people is like their kid or grandkids. If they've had one, they're going to tell you about it. ... They'll tell you the date, the yardage, the club and how far the ball rolled. The average golfer can't truly fathom and basically doesn't have a chance to win The Masters or the Buick Open. But they know they might have that one swing. They've hit a shot that can never be beaten. It's a unique sport in that way."
Significance:
Aces are more common among the pros. Jack Nicklaus has 20 in his career and Arnold Palmer has 19. Tiger Woods was 6 when he got his first one. Michelle Wie got her first at 12.
History:
The United States Historical Society, which has worked with a variety of museums, universities and institutions, sponsors the Hole in One Society.
Types:
Others registries also keep hole-in-one records. HoleInOne.com offers a registry and a selection of commemorative trophies. The U.S. Golf Register is endorsed by the USGA. The United States Hole in One Society offers merchandise. The PGA of America offers the most authoritative registry, requiring confirmation from a PGA professional at the facility.
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