BIZARRE hole-in-one! Or not?

So, my uncle and I were playing earlier today. He sticks his tee shot (par 3, obviously) to 6-8 feet from the pin.

My drive went a good twenty yards to the left.

Now. I totally shanked my second shot. I hit it low and WAY too hard.

What happens? My ball hits his ball into the cup! I mean, his ball would have gone off the green I hit it so hard, but the pin stopped it cold. It was like a billiards shot.

Anyway, we start laughing and talking about never seeing that before from such a long distance, when I say: "WAIT A MINUTE! You took ONE shot, and now you're ball's in the cup!"

You can't score it anything but a "1" on the scorecard, so is this considered a hole-in-one?

I say yes, he says no. (I don't think he wanted to buy the drinks!)

Any opinions on this?

Thanks

Yep.

You aren't a 7 handicap.

Of course it's not a hole in one. His ball gets replaced. How could a "7" marker not know that?

A "7" marker also knows that shanks don't go towards the hole.

Being a good golfer and knowing golf terminology and the finer details of golf don't necessarily go hand in hand.

Kind of short fused are we, Shorty?

Many "good" golfers out there do not understand USGA rulings - or when they apply. In this scenario, which obviously does not happen every day, I can understand his confusion. This is where you should be educating instead of tearing people down or mocking them for asking a question/sharing something with us. Your handicap doesn't translate how many times you fall asleep with a hoagie and the USGA Rule Book either. I'm sure there are many rulings that many of us golfers do not know. As a matter of fact, there are many professionals that do not know the rule book quite so well either. Hence why there will always be a judge at each hole on any tournament that matters for something.

Back on topic, definitely not an ace. However, see the amazing Ace by Lief Olson below since we're on the topic of ricochet!

Wow...who knew a person's handicap was directly linked to knowledge of USGA rules and terminology?  Must be nice to be elevated on your high horse.

You can be pretty sure when questions such as these are asked it is a reflection of something. And I am 100% certain that in many cases, "handicaps" are an absolute reflection of knowledge about out of bounds, provisionals, unplayable lies and such. I have no issue with people who want to learn, but when they claim to have a "handicap" it just riles me a bit because you know damn well it isn't genuine. Then people ask questions about equipment and ask what handicap it is aimed at. My guess is that the average "12" is actually a 25 and the average 7 is about the same.  It's a golfing world gone mad, where everyone plays off 10 and hits it 280 on average. We probably have people who play off 25, but think they're a 10 giving advice to genuine 2 markers.

People here are lampooned as taking themselves too seriously because they believe that golf should be played by the rules. Yes, simple questions could be answered simply or simply ignored, but so many posters here seem to associate the credibility of a person's knowledge based on an arbitrary number placed under their name here.

We have posts where "3" handicappers talk about entering their first "tourney" asking for advice and "11" handicappers asking how to cure a slice.

Others where someone looks at Google Earth and ask here if they should try and cut a dogleg on the course they've never seen that they're playing next Friday

Yesterday I read a post where someone said that Jerry Rice played of "+1".  He might tell the press that, but how often do you think he putts out? How many of his scores are genuine? The guy had his caddy using a distance measuring device in a Nationwide tournament and played 8 par 5s in something like 14 over.  Yeah right. 7, maybe - and that would be a vanity handicap.

Others think that Ian Poulter's "4" handicap means that any hacker can make it as a pro, without wanting to know why it was 4 and what that even means.  Because they think they're an "8" they're only 4 shots worse than him.

Some people think thye've had an ace becaue they holed one in a practice round and were playing 3 balls off each tee.

The other thing is that  it is actually possible, in this day and age, to type a phrase such as "ball knocked in hole by other ball" in a search engine and get a detailed and correct answer, devoid of malice, sarcasm or angst.  Obviously, my comment is going to offend some and I apologise for that, but the rules of golf are actually pretty simple and answers to almost all situations are easily found.

Rant over. Apology made.

People can be good at golf and not really care about rulings and such. Idk if it applies in this case, but some people just play golf for FUN. Most people I play with score their games correctly but they aren't going to get in a fuss about their ball moving an 1/8 of an inch when they ground their club. And their definitely not gonna post a ruling over that. That said, these people play with are 6-10 handicaps. Some people don't take it that serious. Just saying

Shorty had it right, "but when they claim to have a "handicap" it just riles me a bit because you know damn well it isn't genuine."

Yep. I agree.

Not to sound douchebaggish but the likelihood of a legit handicap being exactly 7 on the dot are astronomical.

This person could certainly play to a 7 and Im not saying he does not but... in general a nice round 7 is never gonna happen, which would lead you to believe this number is more of a guesstimation or average score rather then a legit properly calculated handicap.

Then again this could lend to either side of the argument, If im a really good golfer but only play public courses casually and never play tournys I could play to 7 cap but not know much about rules. Or I could be more like 14 on an easy course but say Im a 7 because that my average score.

Yep, I'm with Shorty on this one and share his frustration. No-one who has played enough golf to get to single digit handicap would consider the above situation a hole in one. The OP asked for "any opinions" and Shorty duly obliged. Good on you Shorty.

Pretty good shot!! Back a few years ago a guy I was playing with hit a shot that was heading toward the greenside bunker on the right and hit the rake and shot dead left across the green and in the hole. His second ace on that hole.

In Shorty's defense, knowing the rules and how to handle situations like that does have in impact on how someone scores a round.

If you like playing off the handicap system why would you get bent out of shape when someone overestimates their abilities? It's the sandbaggers you should be worried about not the other guys.

In my experience this is a true statement. I have seen genuine 20 cappers that know the rules pretty well but I have never encountered a sub 10 that didn't. Shorty's original reply may have been a bit on the sharp side but I can't say he was wrong.

That said it must have been a pretty cool shot to see. You just never know what your going to see when you step on the first tee.

This is a situation that most of us have come across -- ball hit from off the green hits other ball. It is odd that a single digit guy would not have been there and done that. I find that many good golfers know what you can and can not do, but not always know the penalty. For example, I would not bet a finger that I know the penalty if I am on the green and hit another player's ball. One stroke? Two? My ball stays were it is? No penalty for guy who's ball was hit?

Back to odd hole in ones: my dad, my son and I play a par three. The boy hits his shot about 30 feet above the pin. My dad and I screw around for about five minutes getting on the green. Suddenly, my son's ball starts rolling down the hill and stops one inch short of the center of the hole. It really looked like it was going in. He had not marked it or touched it or done anything to effect the ball rolling down the hill. The odd part was the amount of time that had passed. He tapped it in and we confirmed with the pro that the ball had not "come to rest" if it started rolling without aid. Not an ace, but close and cool.

I could see someone questioning it since the ball went in the hole.  Isn't there a rule that says once the ball goes in the hole, the hole is done and no more strokes can be taken?  I think I remember reading that rule applies in cases where you declare a lost ball, but your original was in the hole.  So I don't think it's that unrealistic to question the ruling in this scenario.