Hole-in-one
A hole-in-one, also called an ace, completes a hole with one stroke from the tee.1
The score is one; its relationship to par depends on the hole. On a par 3, an ace is also an eagle. On a par 4, it is an albatross, or double eagle. Two strokes on a par 5 are an albatross too, but not a hole-in-one.126
The whole score matters. If a first tee shot goes out of bounds and the next ball is holed after taking stroke-and-distance relief, the score is three: two strokes made and one penalty stroke. Holing that second tee shot does not turn the score into one.34
A documented tournament-winning ace came at TPC Summerlin in 2010. Jonathan Byrd used a 6-iron for a 204-yard shot on the fourth hole of a sudden-death playoff at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. The PGA TOUR’s account records that it was so dark he could not see the ball fall into the hole.5
Martin Laird and Cameron Percy still had to play. Both hit their tee shots into the water, leaving Byrd the winner. The ace is the scoring feat; the opponents’ remaining shots explain how the playoff was decided.5
At a glance
- Also called
- Ace1
- Score
- 1 stroke1
- Documented example
- Jonathan Byrd, TPC Summerlin, 20105
- Playoff shot
- 204 yards with a 6-iron5
Sources
- Keiser University College of Golf, Dr. Eric Wilson, PGA Legacy Master ProfessionalWhat Golfers Have the Most Holes in One? Definition section
- PGA of AmericaGolf Dictionary, Glossary and Golf Terms
- The R&ARules of Golf: Rule 18, Stroke-and-Distance Relief, Ball Lost or Out of Bounds, Provisional Ball
- The R&ARules of Golf: Rule 3, The Competition
- PGA TOUR, Helen RossThe anatomy of an ace
- PGA of AmericaOdds of a Hole-in-One, Albatross and Golf's Other Unlikely Shots: terminology sections