Hole in One - Do You Buy Drinks?

[darkhunter139]

I probably would for the people in my group if I had the extra cash. I am in college though so I usually have no money left after paying my greens fee haha.

[RichWW2]

I always thought the rule was to buy drinks for everyone in your group or at the very worst everyone who saw the shot.  That's what I'd do at least.  Usually go out with 3 friends, so they would get whatever they wanted.  I'm not buying drinks for a whole bar full of people I don't know. Especially if they would only be getting free drinks because they were lucky enough to be in the bar at the right time, and didn't even witness my shot.

That being said, I'm not part of any club or anything (poor post-college kid), so there aren't any social obligations at the local muni course.

[Mr3Wiggle]

The rule as I know it is, you buy everyone that was on the course a drink (if they want it).  That's at least how we defined it at a course I belonged to in Florida.  Obviously tough to know who was on the course so it was pretty much a free for all and anyone who was near the bar got a free drink.  It got costly, especially for a guy who dropped an ace during a member guest tournament.  Our club offered something called hole in one insurance.  I know this sounds dumb, but pretty much every one bought it.  I think it was about a dollar a month and in the event you aced a hole the bar bill was covered.

[bwdial]

When I got my only ace, it was late in the afternoon on a blistering hot day.  The clubhouse was empty when we got back and the bar had been closed down.  The only other people there other than myself and my cousin were a couple of teenagers, so i got off cheap.

[jetsknicks1]

Originally Posted by RichWW2

I always thought the rule was to buy drinks for everyone in your group or at the very worst everyone who saw the shot.  That's what I'd do at least.  Usually go out with 3 friends, so they would get whatever they wanted.  I'm not buying drinks for a whole bar full of people I don't know. Especially if they would only be getting free drinks because they were lucky enough to be in the bar at the right time, and didn't even witness my shot.

That being said, I'm not part of any club or anything (poor post-college kid), so there aren't any social obligations at the local muni course.

I thought that was the "Rule" as well. If the day over comes when I hit one, I'll buy drinks for the guys in my group but the whole clubhouse isn't going to get a free ride from me.

[BuckeyeNut]

Public and Private golf are two entirely different worlds.   When I belonged to a private club in the 1990s, it was expected/customary to buy a round for the entire house if you made an ace.  Every club member 'who had brains' paid either $1 or $5 at the beginning of the year for "Hole in One" insurance.  The funny thing is I don't remember the fee... If you got an ace, you were insured to buy a round for the house.  There was an actual list of "Insureds" kept by the bar manager...LOL

Public golf?  LOL........faggettaboutit........ at the most, buy a drink for your group.  I got my ace while paired-up as a single with 3 strangers.  Even considering they were strangers, I made the customary drink offer after the round, but they wanted no part of a free drink.  they said thanks.....and headed to their cars.  I guess they weren't the 19th hole kind of guys. I'm not either, so that was cool with me.  When I finish....usually make a beeline for my car.

Now if I was playing with friends....yea, buy them a drink...insist!!  Damn right.......

[BuckeyeNut]

Originally Posted by lil_drake22

In my highschool tournament last year a kid got a hole in one, and his coach (and another coach) pitched in to get all of the kids small fountain pops.

Hahaha....that's awesome!!

[CraiginKSA]

I would buy everyone a drink.  And there may be 50 people at any one time eating a meal at the grill.

The thing is, the most expensive drink at my club is Gatorade - 5 Riyals (about $1.30).  Soft drinks are 3 Riyals ($0.80)

Alcohol is not even allowed into the Kingdom (Saudi Arabia).  So it's pretty cheap to cover the ace.

[NBGolfer]

I bought for the group I was in.  Don't think you should have to buy for everyone, I would like to think they should for you

[bcp]

I am amazed at how many said no and the instances of ducking out to avoid it.

A hole in one is a very rare thing.  The buying drinks for the clubhouse is part of the tradition and a means of celebration.  I've never had one, but if I ever do, I will be happily buying a round for the 19th hole.

I have on several occaisions, been notified that by the bartender that 'Mr X' made a hole in one and is buying a round.  I gladly accepted and sought out the player and offered my congratulations.  It is an honored and respected tradition at my club.  We also have insurance available.

[GJBenn85]

Probably not.  I would buy drinks for the people in my group but doubt I would be generous enough to announce in the clubhouse that I had an ace.  Came to within a foot of one on Saturday...dodged a bullet, LOL.

[Goodfella]

Since I don't drink, No. For anyone in my group, I would offer, but thats it.

I'm not going to waste money on drinks for people that don't even know me.

[carrx]

I think the custom is to buy a drink for every witness.  I've had one, and bought a round for the guys in my group.  I've been in a group and seen one, and the guy bought a round for all of us, plus another group who had seen the shot and showed up after to toast him.

I belong to a men's club that plays monthly tournaments, etc.  We have a "hole in one" insurance fund:  $5.00 gets you in, and if you make an ace during an event, you win the insurance pot (typically anywhere from $500 to $800)...BUT, you are required to pay for the keg at the next month's meeting.  It usually is a great trade off.

[Clambake]

I've always heard the tradition is that you're to buy a round for everyone in the clubhouse when you come in to celebrate afterwards, including your playing partners.    The tradition is that you are sharing your good fortune with others - that's why you're buying for them and not the other way around.      And I'll gladly whip out the credit card on that day that I have such good fortune - it will be an honor.

You all should feel lucky you're not in Japan where the tradition is that you are to share your good fortune by picking up the green fees for your playing companions, paying for dinner and drinks for your partners that day, throw a celebratory drinking party, and also to provide all of your golf buddies and close acquaintances and coworkers with nice gifts to commemorate the occasion.      The gifts aren't some cheap trinket, but are supposed to be something very nice, with value of $100 or so such as bottles of decent liquor, engraved crystal, etc.   It is also tradition to have some commemorative marker like a tree or bush planted on the hole with a plaque.    To fail to do any of these is a disgrace and cause for great shame for the lucky golfer.   An ace there can easily cost you well over $10,000, which is why hole-in-one insurance is so common.

[zipazoid]

When I made my first ace I was 16...so I couldn't buy drinks.

When I made my 2nd ace I was 32 & there were only 4 old guys in the clubhouse. I asked them what they wanted to drink. Bought them a round of cokes.

BUT....when I made my 3rd ace I was 33 & it was at a club I was a member at. When I got to the clubhouse there were about 50 in there. Yikes. So I went to the bartender, gave him $200 & just told him to dole out the drinks til it was used up.

So yes. You buy the drinks.

[jshots]

The course I play is in a small town, and pretty much everybody knows everybody. I literally can't afford to buy everyone drinks, but I would feel bad not being able to do it. Not sure what I would do actually haha.

[David in FL]

Originally Posted by bcp

I am amazed at how many said no and the instances of ducking out to avoid it.

A hole in one is a very rare thing.  The buying drinks for the clubhouse is part of the tradition and a means of celebration.  I've never had one, but if I ever do, I will be happily buying a round for the 19th hole.

I have on several occaisions, been notified that by the bartender that 'Mr X' made a hole in one and is buying a round.  I gladly accepted and sought out the player and offered my congratulations.  It is an honored and respected tradition.

Well said!

I've never had one either, but if it ever happens, my credit card will placed on the bar......

......and someone's gonna have to call my wife to let her know I'll be late.

[Amir Nadeem]

Yeah definitely I would buy.... however I don't think it will be anytime soon.....  :)