Hole in One - Do you count them if it was on a Par 3 Course??

[StrongTR]

Counting it for sure, but I feel like it will carry the qualifier "on a par 3 course" down the road.  None the less, congrats to your son!

[Moonlightgrm]

Our local newspaper lists the hole-in-one totals for the week in their Sunday edition. It lists the date of the ace, the name of the person scoring the ace, the names of the witnesses, the name of the golf course, the hole number with yardage, and the club used to ace the hole. The 50+ golf courses in our region includes two executive par-3 courses. Our newspaper includes the names of the golfers who have aced a hole on either of the executive par-3 courses right along with the names of all the golfers with aces on the standard golf courses. Our paper, The Springfield Republican, thinks it’s an ace and so do I.

[AUTIGER07]

To me a HIO only counts on a regulation course, regardless if you're playing 9 or 18 holes. I've had 1 HIO during an 18 hole round but I've had 2 on Exec Par 3 courses and my parents used to live on a par 3 hole that I've dunked 3x either late at night or playing a 4 hole loop. Whenever I've been asked about number of HIO's I've had, my answer has always been 1.

 

Are the others fun as hell to experience when they happen? Absolutely. Should you talk them up and boast about the shot? Hell yeah. I just don't believe they officially count unless it's on a regulation course playing 9 or more holes.

 

Just my $0.02.

[Klubster]

I play in a par 3 league on a course that was cut down from an 18 hole course to a 9 hole par 3 course to make room for housing.  It retained original greens, lakes and bunkers and is quite challenging.  Holes range from 120 to nearly 200 yards.   You can bet I will count one if I get it.  Certainly not like a pitch and putt.

Edited September 7, 2022 by Klubster

[betarhoalphadelta]

Yes, it absolutely counts as a HIO. 

 

Heck, I was at my local exec course with my son a few weekends ago waiting on the 1st tee and a player on the 6th (runs parallel opposite to the 1st) holed out. It's a 66 yard hole. 

 

That dude has a HIO, and I don't. Good for him. 

 

On 9/6/2022 at 11:59 AM, Abh159 said:

Yes, it's a hole in one but you have to put an * next to it.

 

Sort of like Barry Bonds' home run record 😉

 

Disagree. No asterisk needed.

 

Now, I do agree with asterisks in some cases for score. For a long time I said I never broke 90. I actually play a semi-exec course frequently (3670 yards, par 60, 58.2/99) and I had some rounds there of 9 over par, 15 over par, etc. While every one of those rounds was equivalent to "breaking 90" relative to par, I didn't say I "broke 90" until I shot an 85 on a par 72 course (6155 yds, 69.7/124). I was very proud of those other rounds, but I consider those "asterisk" rounds as it relates to golf milestones because of the degree of difficulty. 

 

But I don't apply that rationale to a HIO. As long as it's not putt-putt, it counts. 

[chunkythin]

IMO it counts. Would you count a birdie on the par 3 course? Not sure why a HIO is any different. I guess unless the holes were like 40-60 yards or something, but still, seems like an impressive feat to get that tiny ball into a tiny hole from that far away.

[Greenie]

I'd count a HIO on any par 3 of any distance.

 

One of my favorite par 3's is a 60 yd par 3 over a pond with woods directly behind it.

That hole use to give me fits. Take a little off a LW for me and I end up in the pond. Take a full swing and I am in the woods. 

One day when I played there as a single and the course was empty I hit balls on that hole until I figured out the swing I needed to land the ball on the green. I love that hole now because I know I am usually going to birdie or par that hole. Most of my playing partners hate that hole even though it is only 60 yds. 

[Double Mocha Man]

Count it as a hole-out.  Good job.  But not a hole-in-one.

[Double Mocha Man]

8 hours ago, AUTIGER07 said:

To me a HIO only counts on a regulation course, regardless if you're playing 9 or 18 holes. I've had 1 HIO during an 18 hole round but I've had 2 on Exec Par 3 courses and my parents used to live on a par 3 hole that I've dunked 3x either late at night or playing a 4 hole loop. Whenever I've been asked about number of HIO's I've had, my answer has always been 1.

 

Are the others fun as hell to experience when they happen? Absolutely. Should you talk them up and boast about the shot? Hell yeah. I just don't believe they officially count unless it's on a regulation course playing 9 or more holes.

 

Just my $0.02.

 

I've had 2 holes-in-one in the last couple of years, but on a 2nd practice shot.  On long par 3's.  I don't count them but the balls reside on my dresser top. But they are not legit holes-in-one.

[sbjinx]

I mean I tell people I have a hole in one and it’s at a par 3 so yes, I count them. 

[Double Mocha Man]

1 hour ago, sbjinx said:

I mean I tell people I have a hole in one and it’s at a par 3 so yes, I count them. 

Needs to be on a regulation course to be a hole in one. Sorry.

[Roejye]

I believe for it to be official it has to be on a regulation course, 18 hole round, posted for handicap. Now this is me trying to remember what they were talking about on an episode of the Rick Shiels podcast as to what hole in one counts. That being said, in my world, I would count it. It wasn't miniature golf.

 

[chisag]

37 minutes ago, Double Mocha Man said:

Needs to be on a regulation course to be a hole in one. Sorry.

 

 

... You have surprised me here. I did not have you in the judge smails category of wrx members but more in the Danny Noonan camp. 🤪  So what do you call a shot on a par 3 course when you hit it once and it goes in the hole? It is obviously a hole in one but evidently it needs a different name other than a hole in one because even though you hit it in the hole in one, hole in one does not apply so what do you call a hole in one that isn't a hole in one? 

[Double Mocha Man]

43 minutes ago, chisag said:

 

 

... You have surprised me here. I did not have you in the judge smails category of wrx members but more in the Danny Noonan camp. 🤪  So what do you call a shot on a par 3 course when you hit it once and it goes in the hole? It is obviously a hole in one but evidently it needs a different name other than a hole in one because even though you hit it in the hole in one, hole in one does not apply so what do you call a hole in one that isn't a hole in one? 

 

Hey, Smails here.  Yesterday I was putting on the carpet in my study. I holed a 6-ft putt.  It was my first attempt, a hole in one!  I think it comes down to the definition of what a par 3 hole is and where it is located.

[Robert72]

I get a kick out of hole-in-one lists in the paper...things like:  110 yards, with a 5-wood.

[chisag]

14 minutes ago, Double Mocha Man said:

 

Hey, Smails here.  Yesterday I was putting on the carpet in my study. I holed a 6-ft putt.  It was my first attempt, a hole in one!  I think it comes down to the definition of what a par 3 hole is and where it is located.

 

 

... Well I have stated my opinion and think any regulation hole with a tee box and a green on a course you pay money to play be it an 18 hole, executive or par 3 course. Other than having more attempts and increasing your odds, I just don't see any difference between a 155yd par 3 at the courses I play regularly and a 155 yd par 3 hole on an executive or par 3 course. Fwiw, I had a "HIO stroke" when I spun a wedge off the green and in the water on a 107yd par 3, re-teed and hit the next one in the hole for a par. Obviously I am capable of pulling off the shot but the Golf Gods seem to think I am not worthy as I have also slam dunked twice on a par 3 and it came out of the hole both times. I also don't play executive or par 3 courses so I am fighting The Man for my brothers and sisters. ATT-I-CA!

[Double Mocha Man]

The USGA states that a par 3 hole, for men, is between 0 and 250 yards. This afternoon I'm going out in search of a 1 yard long par 3 hole and get me some of them holes-in-one.

[hwturner17]

On 9/6/2022 at 1:20 PM, Garycoral said:

My Son this summer has is 1st Hole in One up at Whistling Straits #12 - Good for him!!   Just this past week he's down at Pinehurst playing the Cradle and score an Ace on #9 there - Is his legit total hole in One count 2 of them, or just 1 ?? 

As someone who recently had a hole in 1 on the exact same hole on the cradle, I say it absolutely counts. It's also about 100 yards, one of the longest holes on the course. Would be a tougher sell if it were a 40-60 yard hole with a funnel pin. That hole is definitely not that. 

 

Also, life is short. Let people enjoy their big moments. We aren't competing against each other for the most hole in 1's over a lifetime

[larrybud]

On 9/7/2022 at 12:37 AM, grm24 said:

So if you and your friends were playing the 7th hole at Pebble Beach at 98 yards and one of you made a HIO none of you would consider it official? C'mon. The USGA has played that hole at under 100 yards in previous US Opens at Pebble. Same with a hole at Merion.

 

As far as our bet? No, unless we all agree ahead of time. Our bet is on the honor system, so we aren't always playing together.

[larrybud]

On 9/6/2022 at 4:39 PM, TwistedSister said:

Why?  There is a Par 3 municipal course near my house that has more par threes over 200 yds and between 175 and 200.  If it is your first shot on the hole its a hole in one. 

If you look at the card for this course in question, there are 60 yard holes. Should those "count"? In this instance, the hole was 112 yards.

[Pepperturbo]

IMO a proper Hole-in-One on any 9 or 18 hole Regulation or Executive course, is a Hole-in-One.  Length of hole is NOT considered.  The ball has to go in the cup on its own.  I have one, 165 yard par 3, using 8 iron.

[deadsolid...shank]

To me, no. Just how I feel. If you have to preface the HIO story with a qualifier, it tells me you think it’s not quite the same either. 
 

My thing with executive or par three courses as opposed to regulation courses is you’re getting several more opportunities or chances within that round. 
 

But, if someone wants to count it, that’s perfectly fine by me too.  Doesn’t affect me one bit. I’ve had two on regulation courses and one on a executive, when I’m asked if I have any I answer two. 
 

To each their own. 

[TwistedSister]

7 hours ago, larrybud said:

If you look at the card for this course in question, there are 60 yard holes. Should those "count"? In this instance, the hole was 112 yards.

We have three holes on our course that are 110-125. 

they don't count then?  The course has a rating of 128. 

[larrybud]

4 minutes ago, TwistedSister said:

We have three holes on our course that are 110-125. 

they don't count then?  The course has a rating of 128. 

 

As I mentioned previously, with the bet with my friends, the hole has to be >=100 yards.

 

Since there is no official Hole in 1 Registry, you can count whatever you like.

 

[golfortennis]

That isn't a question.  It's easily a hole in one.

 

The question is my buddy's occurrence.  PLaying on a course where they had double greens, a la St Andrews(but in South America.)    Let's say his flag is the blue one, and the other hole's target is the red flag.  Par 3, he puts it in the red flag's hole.  He claims he is entitled to at least half a hole in one.

[Double Mocha Man]

16 minutes ago, golfortennis said:

That isn't a question.  It's easily a hole in one.

 

The question is my buddy's occurrence.  PLaying on a course where they had double greens, a la St Andrews(but in South America.)    Let's say his flag is the blue one, and the other hole's target is the red flag.  Par 3, he puts it in the red flag's hole.  He claims he is entitled to at least half a hole in one.

 

I'm all for .5 holes-in-one...

[betarhoalphadelta]

13 hours ago, golfortennis said:

That isn't a question.  It's easily a hole in one.

 

The question is my buddy's occurrence.  PLaying on a course where they had double greens, a la St Andrews(but in South America.)    Let's say his flag is the blue one, and the other hole's target is the red flag.  Par 3, he puts it in the red flag's hole.  He claims he is entitled to at least half a hole in one.

 

Nope. Unless he was daft and was aiming at the red flag thinking that was actually the hole he should be hitting towards. I'd give him a half a HIO for that. It's not a true HIO because, well, he can't legitimately put a 1 on his scorecard for that, now can he? 

 

But if he knew he should be playing to the blue flag, and he was, putting it in the red hole counts zero. 

[Double Mocha Man]

Personally I have strict requirements for my own holes-in-one.  My golf buddies know this and they laugh at me. The ball needs to travel pretty much like I planned it. The ball can't bounce off a rock or a tree. The ball can't roll up to the green. If any of that happens I'll still buy the drinks but I'm not counting it as a hole-in-one. And of course, for me, it needs to be on a regulation sized course.

[dugue4]

I think it counts as long as you have to take a full swing.  

[bk52]

I think the best answer is to say "yes" if asked whether you have ever made a hole-in-one. Then explain that it was on a Par 3 or Executive course.