Hole in one,... on a par 3 course = *,.....?

[heyscuba]

A long time debate between me and some friends needs your help,...

Basically, does a 'hole in one on a par 3 course deserve an asteric by it,... (*) ,...?

I have 2 aces, both on regular courses,... But,... (there's always a big but,...)

A group of my friends started playing a par 3 course that had lights for night play so these guys would play 27 a night 3 times a week no problem.
I didn't like it much (they played skins so if you missed the green you tried to chip it in, and I'd run the chip way past and then miss the par putt,... it sucked,...) so I didn't play all that much. Well a few of them started popping in "hole in one's". My one friend got 2 of them and my brother and arch enemy got one on a 85 yard hole.
I had got one a few years earlier on a regular course, it was only 145 yards (sandwedge) but on a regular course, I've since added a 168 yard (8 iron) ace again on a regular course, so I felt mine are legit and these guys put their 'holes' in one' right there in my cataegory.
I think they should mention the fact that they got theirs on par 3 courses everytime they spout out about their aces,... in a sense,... those aces should have asterics (*) by them.
I know a good shot is a good shot and an ace is an ace, but when your playing the game in a shortened fashion and evrey hole gives you shot at an ace,... there's got to be an asteric,...
Like I said, I wouldn't mind it during golf and 'hole in one' talk if they said, "I got an ace, but it was on a par 3 course,... and it was my 25th hole that day,... all short par 3's,..." but they never seem to mention it and when I bring it up they get all mad at me,...
What do you all think,...?

scuba
St. Louis

[kc8kir]

A hole in one on a par 3 course doesn't count as a real "ace". Period.

That's my opinion.

As far as the USGA and PGA is concerned, well, par 3's are just practice playgrounds. No-one gives a hoot what you shoot. Stats for pro players are from real courses.

[tjy355]

I had got one a few years earlier on a regular course, it was only 145 yards (sandwedge) but on a regular course, I've since added a 168 yard (8 iron) ace again on a regular course...

I commend you on overcoming your physical limitations that prevent you from hitting the ball very far.

As far as holes-in-one, I have about 40. Most on this course: http://www.golfland.com/mesa/

[dragonflyin]

A long time debate between me and some friends needs your help,...

I don't think there needs to be special consideration if a hole-in-one is made on a par 3 course. If you think about it, 99.9% of all hole-in-ones are made on par 3s. That means that even if you are playing a regular course, you only have chance on the par 3s. Not to mention, a hole-in-one is a one hole achievement, it has little to do with how you do with the rest of the round. So if you achieve it on the 17th at TPC Sawgrass, or a municipal executive course, it's still a hole-in-one.

At the end of the day, hole-in-ones are all strokes of luck. Many great players never get one in a lifetime, while lucky hackers may rack them up like t-shirts at Walmart's clearance aisle. I understand the point you are trying to make with that every hole is a hole-in-one opportunity. However, this may come down to how differently you and your friends view hole-in-ones. They may view it as a spectacular shot, but you view it as a life-time achievement award. The difference between the good and the great. :)

[Smallville]

Unless you can show me a RULE that says those holes-in-one don't count, then they count. I haven't gotten one on ANY course, Par 3, Executive or "Regular Size" so wherever I get (If I ever get) my first it's gonna count.

Unless you can show us a rule that says a Hole-in-One has to be on a certain size course then quit your beefin'. They may not count to you but unless you are a USGA official who knows this rule, it doesn't matter. It counts to them so who are you to take it away from them? But if you can show me that rule then I'll totally agree with you. Until then, they count.

[heyscuba]

Sir,
I never said it wasn't a hole in one, as a matter of fact I said it was indeed a hole in one, but one that deserves some consideration with a mention of the fact that you were playing a par 3 course,... (that's not real golf) thus the asteric comment,...
Or should we also include out Putt Putt hole in ones,...?
In that case I have 427 aces,...


If you had 2 legit 300 games bowling, and your buddy got 3 of them with the bumpers in the gutters,... I think you feel the same way about it all,...


scuba

[Smallville]

If you had 2 legit 300 games bowling, and your buddy got 3 of them with the bumpers in the gutters,... I think you feel the same way about it all,...

I have yet to see any golf course (Par 3 or "real") that has bumpers leading up to the holes.

If that were the case, I'd agree with you that they don't count (you said they need an asterisk, so that means you feel they shouldn't count) it doesn't matter that you said:

I never said it wasn't a hole in one

If you are going to put an asterisk behind it, then you think it shouldn't count (see Barry Bonds Home Run records). You can't say it's a hole in one BUT . . . it is or it isn't.

Or should we also include out Putt Putt hole in ones,...?

OK, let's not get stupid here. Somebody mentioned in jest about where they got their holes-in-one. No need to bring this up as an argument for your cause.

Show me the rule. There's gotta be a rule somewhere. Golf is full of them.

[JCDot33]

So I guess I don't understand the issue here ... Hole-in-ones on a par three course should have an (*) by them because why?

They are shorter?

Well, I have a par three on one of the courses here that plays 110 from the tips (I think the Red/Ladies tees are like 85 yrds) the green has water on three sides and it's the highest handicaped hole of the 3 par threes on the course. Dose that mean a hole-in-one there should have an (*) by it because it's short?

Because I have more chances at them?

Using that logic someone who has been only playing golf for a year and gets a hole-in-one should have an (*) by it in comparision to someone who has been playing for 20 years because he/she has had more chances at them ...

Because I can play more holes in a day?

I have two tee times on Sunday one early with my Step-Father and Step-Brother for 18 and then later in the afternoon for 18 with my Brothers-in-law and Father-in-law (I am going to be just about dead on Monday morning, but I won't care) so if I drain one on the 35th hole it won't count because I have already played more than 18 in one day?

I get the point you are trying to make, but a good shot is a good shot no matter where it happens ... and there is only one place for an (*): 756*
But that is a conversation for another forum on this board!

[JCDot33]

If you had 2 legit 300 games bowling, and your buddy got 3 of them with the bumpers in the gutters,... I think you feel the same way about it all,...

Wouldn't ever happen ... PBA rules do not allow reporting of 300 games in "practice or open play" sessions, only during sanctioned league or tournament events which do not allow bumpers in the gutters ...

[RemyM]

The USGA® recommends that a hole-in-one be considered valid:

1. If made during a round of at least nine holes, except that a hole-in-one made during a match should be acceptable even if the match ends before the stipulated round is completed.
2. If the player is playing one ball; a hole-in-one made in a practice round in which the player is playing two or more balls should not be acceptable.
3. If attested by someone acceptable to the Committee.
4. If made at a hole with a temporary tee and/or putting green in use, even if the Committee did not specifically define the teeing ground with tee-markers; the length of the hole at the time should be stated on any certificate.

http://www.usga.org/questions/faqs/hole_in_one.html

[joshtpa]

This is like saying that if the course you play at has par 3's that are less than 125, it shouldnt count. Its absurd. Of course they count. My aces have come on holes that are longer than 160, so should I look down at you for making yours at one that is only 145? Of course not. Thanks for throwing in that you hit your sandwedge 145 by the way...

[Smallville]

There is no hole-in-one rule in the rules of golf, however, the USGA Handicap manual states that scores made on courses that are less then 1,500 yards for 9 holes or 3,000 yards for 18 holes are not acceptable scores for handicap purposes. So I can kind of agree with the OP that if the score is unacceptable then it's questionable.

So my 3,400 yard executive course counts? It only has 12 Par 3's on it. Cool.

And if the so-called par 3 course had 16 holes that averaged 125 yards and 2 Par 5's that were 500 yards each then it would count, even though the course (no longer a Par 3) has 16 short Par 3's? We aren't talking handicap here, we are talking holes in one. Now I could see if the course was nothing but 20- or 30-yard holes, then yeah, I could maybe agree with you (wouldn't that be a chip-and-putt course?).

[Smallville]

The USGA® recommends that a hole-in-one be considered valid:

Well I guess that's the answer. Nothing about yardage or type of course. It counts. No asterisk. Thanks for the edit, Remy.

[Fraser]

I can sort of see the OPs point in a 'je ne sais quoi' way. Personally one would feel a bit odd about getting a hole in one on a par 3 course. When I'm playing on a regular course I do feel as though my three par 3 holes are my sole chances to ace on the round, I wouldn't like to have that feeling on every tee.

Many great players never get one in a lifetime, while lucky hackers may rack them up like t-shirts at Walmart's clearance aisle.

Don't say that! I can see myself on death's door playing from dusk until dawn just trying to get a hole in one before I die!*

*Not saying I'm a great player by dragonflyin's statement

[heyscuba]

You must be king of your playground.
Run along,... it's nap time.

[heyscuba]

an asteric doesn't mean it doesn't count,... it means there are circumstances to the incident,...
they wouldn't put Bonds records in there if they didn't count,.. asteric or not,...
if they didn't count I'd just say that,...

[pjsnyc]

This thread is kinda funny. I understand the OPs and everyone else's points. My stance on the issue - just read the phrase. HOLE...IN...ONE - It means just that.

[heyscuba]

Dude, Relax,... no not because they are shorter, or you play a lot of holes in a day,...
simple,... because it's on a par three course where all the holes are par three's,...
Real Golf is not like that,... That is a practice course,... It's like slamming the ball on an 8 ft. rim,... not real basketball,... The induividual shot is good,... no doubt about it,... and it's a hole ine one,... but one done on a non regulation course,... gets an assteric or an explanation,...
Do you count your home runs at the batting cage,...?


Dude, I don't brag much about the 7 rbi's I had in the first inning one night in softball because it was co-ed and they had a girl in right field who was there for the party not the sport,.. I laced 2 of them down the line and a trotted home with a three run homer (and I was batting third) and then a grandslam all in inning # 9,...
When ever I tell the story I make sure to mention that fact,... "there was a girl who didn't know how to play the game in right,..." I exploited her,... give me an asteric,...
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