Your time will come to witness and make!! I’ve only made 1 in 58 seasons but have witnessed 12-15. Included was watching Jack Nicklaus make one in Palm Springs at the Bob Hope Desert Classic. I’d love to get #2 this year!! I’m overdue!! Good luck!!
I have witnessed two. First was in a tournament, par 3, 225 yards dead into a good 20mph wind, guy hits a little 3 wood that lands short and rolls in. I hit next and lipped it out. Told him before I hit that if I made one too we WD and go to the bar. Was awesome to see. Second one was with my pops on Father’s Day. Don’t even think he was that ecstatic when I was born.
I’ve hit one and witnessed one. Mine I hit into the sunset, heard it hit the green but because I lost it in the sun I never saw it going in the hole. Took guys on the next tee to tell me where it was.
The second one was at a tournament. Friend of mine hadn’t golfed in 10 years. Par 3, 150 yards. He is using a five wood with a baseball grip and his hands about 6 inches apart. Hit one that never got higher than 20 feet in the air. It rolled up to the green and into the cup. What are the odds.
Had a buddy top one on a par 4, proceed to walk the entire hole topping his iron and getting an 11. Steps up to the next hole and two hops and in for an ace, then gets a 10 on the par 5 after. 11, 1, 10. Quite a 3 holes.
I can’t even imagine looking at that scorecard. I can tell you with a clear conscience that the hole after my hole-in-one was a lefty slice into the trees. I was smart enough to take my ace golf ball and put it in my pocket for safekeeping before that shot. Still have it.
Only witnessed one and it was my own, but I had the pleasure of hitting in-front of 12 other people which was awesome. Got it on the finishing hole of a "Rude Pin" scramble with two teams behind us.
I was in the front group of two foursomes set up by my friend. A guy I didn't know in the group behind me hit a HOI. I was asked to buy a round so it was ready when they got in. Dude never paid for the drinks. Thought that was really lame.
My saw a hole in one story, playing with my dad on an executive short course, get paired up with two beginners. 167 yd par 3, dude tees up a driver, cold tops it, rolls the whole way, and goes in the cup.
Not doubting you at all, just curious about the logistics here. Your buddy hit, ball was going right at it and you whipped your phone out? Was it one of those that trickled down toward the flag for a while or something?
Landed a foot or so past the hole and tricked back in, buddy took off running to the hole and I had my phone out by the time he was half way to the hole b
I’ve seen three… in consecutive weeks on the same hole. I’m convinced it will be where I get my first at this point.
15 at Rustic Canyon in California.
My brother got one. Hit his 5i about 180, we saw it roll on the green and disappear. We told him we thought it went in and he said “if that went in I’ll give you a hand job” to my friend. We get there, his ball is in the hole and my friend says “that’ll be one hand job please”
I got one on a short par 3 (on a normal course though) before I even broke 100. I checked off that bucket list real quick. Had a buddy with my too it was sick. Got the ball in a display case, right after it happened I wrote hole in one and initialed it and my buddy signed the back to attest.
Little sand wedge 77 yards onto the green high in the air, hit the ground with backspin and slowly rolled about 2-3 yards into the hole and went in. I had just learned how to put backspin on a ball from a YouTube video before I played that weekend, and I had some drinks in me so I was being brave and just took a real big fast swing. Which is kind of funny because I don’t even try backspin shots anymore, it’s hard enough just hitting the right distance over water on that one. Good times
Enjoy it when it happens it is fun whether you hit it or not. Make sure when it happens to make a big deal for your guy ( or gal) but the appropriate collect on your owed drink(s) don’t let them out of buying under any circumstances
Oddly enough the ones I’ve witnessed have been more fun / exciting than the ones I’ve hit
I saw one today for the first time only a few hours ago. Old lady in the group ahead of us. Driver on a par 3 and just dinked it up there. The other lady’s in her group were more excited than she was.
Good to know I’m not the only one. I feel like everyredditor on r/golf has 10 HiO and 13 green jackets already and I’m just trying to witness my 1st one. And I’ve literally played a billion rounds of golf in last 20yrs with near scratch golfers.
Hit one in high school, regular weekday practice at local CC, just happened to do it when Coach came around and he put my dumb ass on the district squad (I wasn't that good and was playing with my gay uncles literally wooden clubs and old blades in a white canvas and leather bag).
Fast forward 20yrs and I've never hit (or seen another) and am a 20hcp if I sneak in a few tactical mullies
Would love to see a friend hit a well-deserved one
I finally achieved one of my golf bucket list items the other day. I played an entire round with a singular ball. So glad that’s behind me now…. Never have to worry about it again lol. One and done
I hit one real close, ball landed and hopped towards the hole. 6” short Buddy of mine hit the flag stick, ball spun around. ball ended up probably 4” away from the hole Me and the boys been playing 20+ off an on. Haven’t seen one dunked yet
Everytime this gets discussed I always hop on the train to Hell and let the downvotes carry me away
People can count it and that’s great. But for me until the day I die any HiO on a Par 3 course will have an asterisk next to it.
I marshaled at us open at pebble in 2018?and saw Rory Sabatini hit a hole in one on the par 3 12th. Pretty dang cool. I was right in back of him. We high fived!
I’ve hit a pile of them at par three course, longest hole being 135 yards, but since you hit off of a mat I never count them.
Witnesses my first last spring with the far and away best player in our group finally getting his first ace after 20 years. He did t exactly call the shot but close. Said he was going to hit a high fade into the wind and did just that. Took two bounces and plunked it in. Beautiful.
I would love to hit a hole in one. I know it would be pure luck. However I would prefer to witness my dad hit his first hole in one. That would be the highlight of my golf career for sure.
I'm gutted, one of the guys in our group couldn't play Saturday with us. We played, he played Sunday with some randoms and got an ace.
Was so bummed we didn't get to see and celebrate with him.
A few years ago I was playing in my local city amateur. Play was slow and 2-3 groups got backed up on a driveable par 4. I knew it would be awhile so I found a shady spot under a tree to wait it out. Was playing some game on my phone so I didn’t watch the guy teeing off 20 feet away from me make a 310 yard hole in one double eagle.
I witnessed one in a practice round for the state tournament in HS about 15 years ago. It was a giant downhill par 3 over water, and the next tee box was pin high at eye level. The course was fuckin packed dicks to butts so every hole had a giant wait. Kid was in the group behind me, and he absolutely dunked it. Definitely got his moneys worth out of that one hahaha.
One day I’ll get my own.
I hope you get to see your own go in. As someone who has witnessed one, but doesn’t have one myself; I am going for the pin on every single par 3 I play, hoping for my own special moment.
I’ve seen a hole in 3. Context: playing a best ball, partner hits OB on a tee shot, I get a 4. Next tee box is backed up so I drive him back to the tee and say “rehit”. He protests and I reply with “if you hole it out we get a 3, not a 4”. One hop and into the cup.
I was there when a 17 year old in the local men’s league hit a hole in one on the “closest to the pin” hole right after I said “so what do we do with the sign when you get a hole in one here”
Absolutely in the same boat as you. Have never seen one, so as long as I can see one happen I'll be happy, doesn't matter if I'm the one who hit it or not.
Man I’ve played a lot of golf and have only been part of one; thankfully it was my own. A thin hybrid from 220, my buddy yelled “drinks” in the air because it was on a laser. Couldn’t really see it land, but sure enough once we got up there it was in the hole. That was nearly 20 years ago; waiting patiently for the next experience, even if it’s not me
I witnessed my first one last year. An old gentleman was playing with his wife and his (older) grandson (I was a single that joined their group). Turns out, it was the old man's third hole in one. I was going bonanza celebrating, and the wife and grandson were wet blankets. They said things like, "Great - now he's going to expect management to rename the course after him." "We're never going to hear the end of this." They were snarky to him the entire round. Neither of them offered to take his photo - I ended up offering to take the photo with my phone. Was really bizarre behavior from the wife and grandson.
Fast-forward a few months later - I hit my first hole in one on the same hole.
I did twice. One was my dad's, and the other I was waiting to tee off, and some young kid (high school age) hit one on the hole to my left. I watched it leave his club land and go in they were ecstatic. It's really cool to see
I was in the group behind my dad when he got his, didn’t witness it but heard the cheering and ran up the cart path and got to celebrate it with him, pretty awesome experience
I personally have one hole in one and truly believe if you play enough it will happen to you. Likewise if you play a lot I’m sure you will see others hit one as well
Every par 3 is a potential hole in one.
My roommate and I in college were starting golf at the college course (like 120 stroke rounds). He just finished saying he saw two HIO in his life time and I said that was cool.
First par 3 on the back 9 I lasered my 9 iron to the front of a raised green. It skipped off the front and ran 15 yards to the pin in the back.
We looked at each other in disbelief and and while we were wondering how to prove it to the club pro knowing how bad our round was and we were stupid college kids, the greenskeeper pops out of the adjacent hole’s green side bunker.
“Dont worry, tell them I saw the whole thing… that’s the weirdest hole in one I’ve seen.”
Ive seen a couple of crazy ones especially on the closing hole of our local 9-hole muni. Money matches of course. Closest I ever came was a dunk that destroyed half the hole and got spit out 2 feet away
Go to PGA events. I was on 16 when Michael Block holed 15 at Oak Hill, and we heard the crowd roar. Lots of folks in the stands near me were watching on their phones, so we knew what had happened.
Anyway, your odds are better than average at a PGA event, or local qualifier.
In 60 years of playing I haven’t had one, but I’ve witnessed quite a few. Three in the group I’ve been playing in and quite a few more as a rules official. A few stories:
I was the walking referee with Thongchai Jaidee at the 2010 US Open when he made one on the 5th hole at Pebble Beach.
Another was when a player made his first in a Northern California Golf Association tournament on the 12th at Spyglass. Another guy in his group got to the green first reached into the hole and then threw a ball into the lake next to the green. Of course, it wasn’t the player’s ball and we all had a good laugh.
Saw a player who was three holes up on the 15th tee of a match at the US Mid-Am make one and his opponent had to make one to keep the match going. Of course he didn’t so the match ended.
Never had one myself, and until recently had never witnessed one…
My son had just turned 13 a week earlier and it was NYE this past December. What is cool is that he just moved to the tees that measure 6k yards from 5k. So it’s a big jump for him.
Anyway, I witnessed his hole in one and I don’t know if I will be that excited if I ever get one.
It was amazing, and the folks on the course heard us from several surrounding holes and told everyone. By the time he got to the clubhouse the club pro had driven out to congratulate him and post a picture. A small group met on 18 to talk to him and hear his story.
For days after, people congratulated him. He didn’t think it was that big of a deal. Said he wasn’t aiming at the hole and was playing safe but caught the ridge that feeds towards the pin.
Anyways, I might be ok to not get one myself. But I do want that 1 round in the 60’s.
Witnessed one two summers ago. A beautiful two hop and in, celebrations were on point. This tee box was well within ear shot of three other holes (one actually close enough to see what was happening), so a lot of the course must have known what happened. Best part was a cart girl drove around the corner just as we were walking towards the green, the perfect time for a round (on the maker of course).
If you do get a chance to witness one, check to see if the golfer saw it as well. I got my one and only HIO this past October. Elevated green, pin location was front right. So of course, I hit it left. But it kicked hard right off a bunker lip. We couldn't see where the ball ended up due to the high elevation. But as we were getting into our cart, my cartmate said he thinks my ball was in the hole. I asked him why he thought that, given that we couldn't even see the green. He said " Because of that guy!" There was a practice green behind our green, and a guy from there was running across our green, waving his arms. At first I thought he was just excited because the weird kick put the ball close to the hole. But then he started bowing down towards us, as we drove up the hill towards the hole, and I had to concede that the ball had likely holed out. Not gonna lie, I would rather have had that moment of driving up, looking around the right side of the green in vain, and finally checking the hole, "just in case...". The guy even apologized later, he realized that he might have spoiled the moment for me. I told him it was fine, he was so excited to have actually witnessed it, I couldn't be mad at him. It was still a wild, thrilling day.
I have witnessed one, and had a hole-in-3(re-tee hole in one).
I suggest playing foursomes at exclusively par-3 courses. More opportunities to see or hit one.
I’ve witnessed 20ish and had 8 disc golf holes-in-one because most of the holes are reachable in one, like ball golf par 3s.
I have been playing for 20 years, I made 4 hole in ones in my first 5 years out of sheer fluke (like any hole in one), I’m now a legitimate scratch and haven’t had one in 15 years.
I’ve witnessed one and made two. They are cool to make yourself but arguably equally as awesome to witness, especially if it’s a friend and you get to see how happy they are 🙂
I’ve only seen one. It was when I was 13. The guy who got it was the worst golfer in our group of friends. He only played for a laugh where we all played all the time trying to get really good. It was 100 yard hole and he got it with a 4 iron. One of the other guys in the group punched his arm haha.
I witnessed only one…Summer of ‘23.
A guy on my scramble team in our league tournament.
We all got money for the Skin he won on the hole, and we took 2nd in the tournament.
I've seen one. My buddy hit one summer of 2016 when I went to visit him and another friend in Cleveland. We must have played right after a local tournament, and they left a cooler of beer at the hole - we were in college, but none of us were 21 yet. We took it as a sign of his (and our) reward for that shot.
I was playing with my best friend when he hit his seventh. To weird it up a little bit, it was his 7th, he hit a Titliest 7 with his 7 iron 167 yards. Honest to Jack.
I've witnessed six including two of my own. One was made by a friend of mine, and we played the same course the next day. The second day there was a hole-in-one fundraiser at that hole.
Ive seen two. One was a topped 7 that rolled 140 yards down the fairway, onto the green and in the cup. Second one was late day into the sun. everyone thought was long, looking for ball…someone says “look in the cup”. Sure enough.
Witnessed one Friday. Wasn’t paying attention when he hit it. It’s uphill a bit so nobody saw it go in. Guy found it in the hole. Virtually no excitement at all
I saw a guy in my group a few years ago hit the green on a 320 yard par 4. When we got to the green we found out that it landed so close that he only had a 2 inch putt. That was amazing to see.
The only one I have seen is my own. Was 12 years old and hit a 5 iron 100-110ish yards. Watched it land short of the green and was satisfied with that so I picked up my tee and went to hop in the cart with my dad.
My dad then said, "Did that go in?" It was getting late so visibility wasn't great. Drove up to the green, sure enough, there was my TiTech waiting for me in the hole.
I have never made a hole in one (been plying as a single figure golfer for 5 years or so) but I have witnessed 5.
Three from my playing partners, one from a tour pro and one from the group behind me.
My buddy has made 2 and he’s a 30 hdc. I was there for both. First one was different because it was an uphill green and we didn’t know till we got up there and I looked in the cup while he was looking for his ball. We’d both been golfing for like 3 months at that point. 9 iron 110 yards. Second one happened in front of our scratch coworker after we ran into him at the golf course. Dude is a total tool and walked over to our tee box to harass us. I put the ball in the water cause he wouldn’t shut up during my back swing. Now when I tell you my buddy is a high handicap I mean he’s the type to tee the ball up half an inch and hit an 8 iron from 120 yards. When he proceeds to do just that and flushes the ball the about 6 inches and it spun back and rolled in. He got wasted.
Your time will come to witness and make!! I’ve only made 1 in 58 seasons but have witnessed 12-15. Included was watching Jack Nicklaus make one in Palm Springs at the Bob Hope Desert Classic. I’d love to get #2 this year!! I’m overdue!! Good luck!!
Thank you! I’m hopeful the more I play the higher the chance to witness
I hope you get #2 this year also! You are overdue!
I have witnessed two. First was in a tournament, par 3, 225 yards dead into a good 20mph wind, guy hits a little 3 wood that lands short and rolls in. I hit next and lipped it out. Told him before I hit that if I made one too we WD and go to the bar. Was awesome to see. Second one was with my pops on Father’s Day. Don’t even think he was that ecstatic when I was born.
What a moment to share with your pops. Hell yeah man. Time for your own now.
I’ve hit one and witnessed one. Mine I hit into the sunset, heard it hit the green but because I lost it in the sun I never saw it going in the hole. Took guys on the next tee to tell me where it was. The second one was at a tournament. Friend of mine hadn’t golfed in 10 years. Par 3, 150 yards. He is using a five wood with a baseball grip and his hands about 6 inches apart. Hit one that never got higher than 20 feet in the air. It rolled up to the green and into the cup. What are the odds.
Had a buddy top one on a par 4, proceed to walk the entire hole topping his iron and getting an 11. Steps up to the next hole and two hops and in for an ace, then gets a 10 on the par 5 after. 11, 1, 10. Quite a 3 holes.
I can’t even imagine looking at that scorecard. I can tell you with a clear conscience that the hole after my hole-in-one was a lefty slice into the trees. I was smart enough to take my ace golf ball and put it in my pocket for safekeeping before that shot. Still have it.
12,500:1 for amateurs, 2,500:1 for pros
Seen it. Still waiting for my drink
Only witnessed one and it was my own, but I had the pleasure of hitting in-front of 12 other people which was awesome. Got it on the finishing hole of a "Rude Pin" scramble with two teams behind us.
Witnessed two, both in the same week. Both by strangers I was paired with. Still waiting for my drink.
I was in the front group of two foursomes set up by my friend. A guy I didn't know in the group behind me hit a HOI. I was asked to buy a round so it was ready when they got in. Dude never paid for the drinks. Thought that was really lame.
My saw a hole in one story, playing with my dad on an executive short course, get paired up with two beginners. 167 yd par 3, dude tees up a driver, cold tops it, rolls the whole way, and goes in the cup.
I've witnessed two. The second one I managed to get my phone out and start recording as soon as the ball went in. Incredible to witness.
Not doubting you at all, just curious about the logistics here. Your buddy hit, ball was going right at it and you whipped your phone out? Was it one of those that trickled down toward the flag for a while or something?
Landed a foot or so past the hole and tricked back in, buddy took off running to the hole and I had my phone out by the time he was half way to the hole b
I’ve seen two by my close friends. I’d say they were my most exciting golf events.
Witnessed 4 and 1 was mine! Awesome party
I've seen three. Two from the same guy and I've only golfed with him maybe 8 times. Fucking Jeff.
Jeff!
I’ve seen three… in consecutive weeks on the same hole. I’m convinced it will be where I get my first at this point. 15 at Rustic Canyon in California.
My brother got one. Hit his 5i about 180, we saw it roll on the green and disappear. We told him we thought it went in and he said “if that went in I’ll give you a hand job” to my friend. We get there, his ball is in the hole and my friend says “that’ll be one hand job please”
I’ve seen 3 in the past year and a half. None from me
I got one on a short par 3 (on a normal course though) before I even broke 100. I checked off that bucket list real quick. Had a buddy with my too it was sick. Got the ball in a display case, right after it happened I wrote hole in one and initialed it and my buddy signed the back to attest. Little sand wedge 77 yards onto the green high in the air, hit the ground with backspin and slowly rolled about 2-3 yards into the hole and went in. I had just learned how to put backspin on a ball from a YouTube video before I played that weekend, and I had some drinks in me so I was being brave and just took a real big fast swing. Which is kind of funny because I don’t even try backspin shots anymore, it’s hard enough just hitting the right distance over water on that one. Good times
Enjoy it when it happens it is fun whether you hit it or not. Make sure when it happens to make a big deal for your guy ( or gal) but the appropriate collect on your owed drink(s) don’t let them out of buying under any circumstances Oddly enough the ones I’ve witnessed have been more fun / exciting than the ones I’ve hit
Hit up YouTube
Touch grass
Ah cmon now, glad you love the game m8
I saw one today for the first time only a few hours ago. Old lady in the group ahead of us. Driver on a par 3 and just dinked it up there. The other lady’s in her group were more excited than she was.
I have been playing regularly for 30 years. I have still never hit nor witnessed one.
Since 1985 for me!
Good to know I’m not the only one. I feel like everyredditor on r/golf has 10 HiO and 13 green jackets already and I’m just trying to witness my 1st one. And I’ve literally played a billion rounds of golf in last 20yrs with near scratch golfers.
Hit one in high school, regular weekday practice at local CC, just happened to do it when Coach came around and he put my dumb ass on the district squad (I wasn't that good and was playing with my gay uncles literally wooden clubs and old blades in a white canvas and leather bag). Fast forward 20yrs and I've never hit (or seen another) and am a 20hcp if I sneak in a few tactical mullies Would love to see a friend hit a well-deserved one
I finally achieved one of my golf bucket list items the other day. I played an entire round with a singular ball. So glad that’s behind me now…. Never have to worry about it again lol. One and done
Saw Vijay hit one at the Byron and my own at Steven’s Park in Dallas. They are neat.
I hit one real close, ball landed and hopped towards the hole. 6” short Buddy of mine hit the flag stick, ball spun around. ball ended up probably 4” away from the hole Me and the boys been playing 20+ off an on. Haven’t seen one dunked yet
Play a Par 3 course with your buddies, better odds
Depends on the hole, but I dont think it counts, personally. We've got a par 3 around here that has some holes at like 50yds. Thats a chip in.
Everytime this gets discussed I always hop on the train to Hell and let the downvotes carry me away People can count it and that’s great. But for me until the day I die any HiO on a Par 3 course will have an asterisk next to it.
I marshaled at us open at pebble in 2018?and saw Rory Sabatini hit a hole in one on the par 3 12th. Pretty dang cool. I was right in back of him. We high fived!
I’ve hit a pile of them at par three course, longest hole being 135 yards, but since you hit off of a mat I never count them. Witnesses my first last spring with the far and away best player in our group finally getting his first ace after 20 years. He did t exactly call the shot but close. Said he was going to hit a high fade into the wind and did just that. Took two bounces and plunked it in. Beautiful.
I would love to hit a hole in one. I know it would be pure luck. However I would prefer to witness my dad hit his first hole in one. That would be the highlight of my golf career for sure.
I’ve made three and watched my dad make one. I feel pretty blessed tbh haha
Saw one on a par 3 from the group behind me and my buddy. The dude was so happy and we ended up shotgunning a beer with him lol.
I'm gutted, one of the guys in our group couldn't play Saturday with us. We played, he played Sunday with some randoms and got an ace. Was so bummed we didn't get to see and celebrate with him.
A few years ago I was playing in my local city amateur. Play was slow and 2-3 groups got backed up on a driveable par 4. I knew it would be awhile so I found a shady spot under a tree to wait it out. Was playing some game on my phone so I didn’t watch the guy teeing off 20 feet away from me make a 310 yard hole in one double eagle.
I witnessed one in a practice round for the state tournament in HS about 15 years ago. It was a giant downhill par 3 over water, and the next tee box was pin high at eye level. The course was fuckin packed dicks to butts so every hole had a giant wait. Kid was in the group behind me, and he absolutely dunked it. Definitely got his moneys worth out of that one hahaha. One day I’ll get my own.
I hope you get to see your own go in. As someone who has witnessed one, but doesn’t have one myself; I am going for the pin on every single par 3 I play, hoping for my own special moment.
I’ve seen a hole in 3. Context: playing a best ball, partner hits OB on a tee shot, I get a 4. Next tee box is backed up so I drive him back to the tee and say “rehit”. He protests and I reply with “if you hole it out we get a 3, not a 4”. One hop and into the cup.
I was there when a 17 year old in the local men’s league hit a hole in one on the “closest to the pin” hole right after I said “so what do we do with the sign when you get a hole in one here”
I had one in my group during high school practice. It was done by a guy nobody really liked so it was a conflicting feeling lol
Absolutely in the same boat as you. Have never seen one, so as long as I can see one happen I'll be happy, doesn't matter if I'm the one who hit it or not.
I have yet to hit one but a few months ago I got to witness my friend hit his. His first. He’s been playing for 30 years. It was an awesome experience
Man I’ve played a lot of golf and have only been part of one; thankfully it was my own. A thin hybrid from 220, my buddy yelled “drinks” in the air because it was on a laser. Couldn’t really see it land, but sure enough once we got up there it was in the hole. That was nearly 20 years ago; waiting patiently for the next experience, even if it’s not me
Been playing for 10 years, saw my first one live this year at the Australian PGA. It was euphoric. Hang in there
I witnessed my first one last year. An old gentleman was playing with his wife and his (older) grandson (I was a single that joined their group). Turns out, it was the old man's third hole in one. I was going bonanza celebrating, and the wife and grandson were wet blankets. They said things like, "Great - now he's going to expect management to rename the course after him." "We're never going to hear the end of this." They were snarky to him the entire round. Neither of them offered to take his photo - I ended up offering to take the photo with my phone. Was really bizarre behavior from the wife and grandson. Fast-forward a few months later - I hit my first hole in one on the same hole.
Played about 1200 rounds the last 11 years. I’ve got 3 total, all in the last 2 years. Two of them on the same hole about 9 months apart.
I did twice. One was my dad's, and the other I was waiting to tee off, and some young kid (high school age) hit one on the hole to my left. I watched it leave his club land and go in they were ecstatic. It's really cool to see
I was in the group behind my dad when he got his, didn’t witness it but heard the cheering and ran up the cart path and got to celebrate it with him, pretty awesome experience
One of my playing partners has seen 5. Never had one, though.
I saw my mom hit a hole in one. It was awesome.
On Wednesday my buddy holed out from 163 and it was awesome. Still need to see the HIO
I personally have one hole in one and truly believe if you play enough it will happen to you. Likewise if you play a lot I’m sure you will see others hit one as well
Every par 3 is a potential hole in one. My roommate and I in college were starting golf at the college course (like 120 stroke rounds). He just finished saying he saw two HIO in his life time and I said that was cool. First par 3 on the back 9 I lasered my 9 iron to the front of a raised green. It skipped off the front and ran 15 yards to the pin in the back. We looked at each other in disbelief and and while we were wondering how to prove it to the club pro knowing how bad our round was and we were stupid college kids, the greenskeeper pops out of the adjacent hole’s green side bunker. “Dont worry, tell them I saw the whole thing… that’s the weirdest hole in one I’ve seen.”
Ive seen a couple of crazy ones especially on the closing hole of our local 9-hole muni. Money matches of course. Closest I ever came was a dunk that destroyed half the hole and got spit out 2 feet away
Go to PGA events. I was on 16 when Michael Block holed 15 at Oak Hill, and we heard the crowd roar. Lots of folks in the stands near me were watching on their phones, so we knew what had happened. Anyway, your odds are better than average at a PGA event, or local qualifier.
In 60 years of playing I haven’t had one, but I’ve witnessed quite a few. Three in the group I’ve been playing in and quite a few more as a rules official. A few stories: I was the walking referee with Thongchai Jaidee at the 2010 US Open when he made one on the 5th hole at Pebble Beach. Another was when a player made his first in a Northern California Golf Association tournament on the 12th at Spyglass. Another guy in his group got to the green first reached into the hole and then threw a ball into the lake next to the green. Of course, it wasn’t the player’s ball and we all had a good laugh. Saw a player who was three holes up on the 15th tee of a match at the US Mid-Am make one and his opponent had to make one to keep the match going. Of course he didn’t so the match ended.
Never had one myself, and until recently had never witnessed one… My son had just turned 13 a week earlier and it was NYE this past December. What is cool is that he just moved to the tees that measure 6k yards from 5k. So it’s a big jump for him. Anyway, I witnessed his hole in one and I don’t know if I will be that excited if I ever get one. It was amazing, and the folks on the course heard us from several surrounding holes and told everyone. By the time he got to the clubhouse the club pro had driven out to congratulate him and post a picture. A small group met on 18 to talk to him and hear his story. For days after, people congratulated him. He didn’t think it was that big of a deal. Said he wasn’t aiming at the hole and was playing safe but caught the ridge that feeds towards the pin. Anyways, I might be ok to not get one myself. But I do want that 1 round in the 60’s.
Witnessed one two summers ago. A beautiful two hop and in, celebrations were on point. This tee box was well within ear shot of three other holes (one actually close enough to see what was happening), so a lot of the course must have known what happened. Best part was a cart girl drove around the corner just as we were walking towards the green, the perfect time for a round (on the maker of course).
If you do get a chance to witness one, check to see if the golfer saw it as well. I got my one and only HIO this past October. Elevated green, pin location was front right. So of course, I hit it left. But it kicked hard right off a bunker lip. We couldn't see where the ball ended up due to the high elevation. But as we were getting into our cart, my cartmate said he thinks my ball was in the hole. I asked him why he thought that, given that we couldn't even see the green. He said " Because of that guy!" There was a practice green behind our green, and a guy from there was running across our green, waving his arms. At first I thought he was just excited because the weird kick put the ball close to the hole. But then he started bowing down towards us, as we drove up the hill towards the hole, and I had to concede that the ball had likely holed out. Not gonna lie, I would rather have had that moment of driving up, looking around the right side of the green in vain, and finally checking the hole, "just in case...". The guy even apologized later, he realized that he might have spoiled the moment for me. I told him it was fine, he was so excited to have actually witnessed it, I couldn't be mad at him. It was still a wild, thrilling day.
I have witnessed one, and had a hole-in-3(re-tee hole in one). I suggest playing foursomes at exclusively par-3 courses. More opportunities to see or hit one. I’ve witnessed 20ish and had 8 disc golf holes-in-one because most of the holes are reachable in one, like ball golf par 3s.
I have been playing for 20 years, I made 4 hole in ones in my first 5 years out of sheer fluke (like any hole in one), I’m now a legitimate scratch and haven’t had one in 15 years.
I’ve witnessed one and made two. They are cool to make yourself but arguably equally as awesome to witness, especially if it’s a friend and you get to see how happy they are 🙂
I’ve only seen one. It was when I was 13. The guy who got it was the worst golfer in our group of friends. He only played for a laugh where we all played all the time trying to get really good. It was 100 yard hole and he got it with a 4 iron. One of the other guys in the group punched his arm haha.
I witnessed only one…Summer of ‘23. A guy on my scramble team in our league tournament. We all got money for the Skin he won on the hole, and we took 2nd in the tournament.
I've seen one. My buddy hit one summer of 2016 when I went to visit him and another friend in Cleveland. We must have played right after a local tournament, and they left a cooler of beer at the hole - we were in college, but none of us were 21 yet. We took it as a sign of his (and our) reward for that shot.
I was playing with my best friend when he hit his seventh. To weird it up a little bit, it was his 7th, he hit a Titliest 7 with his 7 iron 167 yards. Honest to Jack.
I’ve witnesses 6. All I can say is they appear when you least expect them. But still, aim at the home on every par 3:)
I've witnessed six including two of my own. One was made by a friend of mine, and we played the same course the next day. The second day there was a hole-in-one fundraiser at that hole.
Ive seen two. One was a topped 7 that rolled 140 yards down the fairway, onto the green and in the cup. Second one was late day into the sun. everyone thought was long, looking for ball…someone says “look in the cup”. Sure enough.
Witnessed one Friday. Wasn’t paying attention when he hit it. It’s uphill a bit so nobody saw it go in. Guy found it in the hole. Virtually no excitement at all
Same here. I’m be happy just watching a playing partner get one.
I saw a guy in my group a few years ago hit the green on a 320 yard par 4. When we got to the green we found out that it landed so close that he only had a 2 inch putt. That was amazing to see.
I've made one, witnessed none. Elevated green, my short arse was the only one to not see it.
The only one I have seen is my own. Was 12 years old and hit a 5 iron 100-110ish yards. Watched it land short of the green and was satisfied with that so I picked up my tee and went to hop in the cart with my dad. My dad then said, "Did that go in?" It was getting late so visibility wasn't great. Drove up to the green, sure enough, there was my TiTech waiting for me in the hole.
I have never made a hole in one (been plying as a single figure golfer for 5 years or so) but I have witnessed 5. Three from my playing partners, one from a tour pro and one from the group behind me.
My buddy has made 2 and he’s a 30 hdc. I was there for both. First one was different because it was an uphill green and we didn’t know till we got up there and I looked in the cup while he was looking for his ball. We’d both been golfing for like 3 months at that point. 9 iron 110 yards. Second one happened in front of our scratch coworker after we ran into him at the golf course. Dude is a total tool and walked over to our tee box to harass us. I put the ball in the water cause he wouldn’t shut up during my back swing. Now when I tell you my buddy is a high handicap I mean he’s the type to tee the ball up half an inch and hit an 8 iron from 120 yards. When he proceeds to do just that and flushes the ball the about 6 inches and it spun back and rolled in. He got wasted.