Which would you rather do first if you haven't done any.. Hole in one or shoot even par?

[Shorty]

A first time golfer could score an ace.

He will not break 100.

Therefore, an even par round would be better.

Problem is, non golfers think that an ace is an indicator of skill.

If their work mate has had one and you haven't (altough you have a legitmate +1 handicap) the other guy is better.

[Fourputt]

Shoot par.  Anyone can luck out an make an Ace - I've done it twice.  In 39 years and counting, I've yet to shoot par for 18 holes.

I've shot a one over par 73.  I've stood on the 18th tee at one under (and yanked my tee ball OB).  I've shot 3 under for 9 holes (in fact I made it through 11 at 3 under before finishing the last 7 holes at 7 over).  I've never shot par, and the odds are against ever doing it now with my playing time so limited and not getting any younger.

[RonTheSavage]

Even par, not even a second thought.

[Spyder]

A local course here has a 287 yard Par 4 that they often run a $100K prize for if you ace it and you get a plaque on the hole's yardage sign with your name on it. It's never been done before though. On their four Par 3s the prizes range from free lifetime golf to full set giveaways.

That is definitely one case where I'll take the ace over an even par round!

[Pappy091]

I would have to say even par without a doubt. Only because that would meant had significantly improved my golf game and that would be something that I could enjoy every time I played. A hole in one would be amazing, but I could get lucky on one hole and ace it only to post a 120 when the day is over.

[mdl]

Even par, no question.  Like has been said, the ace is so much luck.  In fact, the only ace I've ever seen was on a pretty easy ~180 yard par 3, random playing partner topped his hybrid, skipped it about 40 yards out, kept skipping all the way to the green, rolled up on and dropped.  Guy shot like a 90-something.

[bplewis24]

Originally Posted by Undr Par

for me it would be getting a ace on the last hole to finish at even par for my round !!!!!!! why can't I have my cake and eat it too?

Because nobody likes courses that finish with a 3 par.

*flame suit: on*

Besides, the "even par" round wouldn't count since you technically got lucky to make an ace on the final hole

[vmsea]

The question isn't what would you rather do repeatedly.. for the rest of time.

it's which one you'd want to have either first.

I would rather have an ace.. it's just a memorable moment in life.. probably something you'll always remember, a story to tell the grand kids..

I doubt a story of how you shot even par is a very interesting story to tell the grandkids.. especially since that would probably mean you are pretty consistent and good, and will likely shoot even par a few times to many many times going forward..

the achievement of shooting scratch is a result of dedication, but to have something happen ONCE.. i'll take the ace..

[Pappy091]

Originally Posted by mdl

Even par, no question.  Like has been said, the ace is so much luck.  In fact, the only ace I've ever seen was on a pretty easy ~180 yard par 3, random playing partner topped his hybrid, skipped it about 40 yards out, kept skipping all the way to the green, rolled up on and dropped.  Guy shot like a 90-something.

I almost dread something like that happening when I am teeing off on a par three. I would just hate to get one one a dumb luck bad shot. It would feel like it had an asterisk next to it every time I told anyone. The only thing worse would be to hit my tee shot OB and then hole it on the next shot.

[Pappy091]

Originally Posted by bplewis24

Because nobody likes courses that finish with a 3 par.

*flame suit: on*

Besides, the "even par" round wouldn't count since you technically got lucky to make an ace on the final hole

Maybe he has visions of driving the green on a par 4 and sinking it.

[bplewis24]

Originally Posted by vmsea

I would rather have an ace.. it's just a memorable moment in life.. probably something you'll always remember, a story to tell the grand kids..

If I got an ace I'd likely post here about it and also post it on Google+.

If I shot even par, nobody would be able to stop me from chatting about it for at least 3 months (unless I somehow managed to repeat it or come close to doing it on a regular basis).  Somebody comes in my office asking for those TPS reports?  "Did I tell you about the time I hit 80% of GIR and had 75% sand saves to shoot even par?  I mean, let me tell you..."

[TJBam]

A first time golfer could score an ace. He will not break 100. Therefore, an even par round would be better. Problem is, non golfers think that an ace is an indicator of skill. If their work mate has had one and you haven't (altough you have a legitmate +1 handicap) the other guy is better.

You sound disgruntled? Not getting love at the office from the girls cause the hacker down the hall has a flag on his wall?

[Golfingdad]

Originally Posted by Shorty

A first time golfer could score an ace.

He will not break 100.

Therefore, an even par round would be better.

Problem is, non golfers think that an ace is an indicator of skill.

If their work mate has had one and you haven't (altough you have a legitmate +1 handicap) the other guy is better.

This is funny because it's so true.  Apologies for mentioning bowling again, but it seems pretty comparable to me ... I have a co-worker who has a 300 game, with a plaque on the wall here and everything.  Everybody here thinks he's the best bowler around even though his average is around 180, AND he even managed to roll a 139 on that same night.  By contrast, my average has been over 200 for 4 straight seasons, but, hey "Have you ever bowled a 300?  No?  Well then, you suck."  End of story. ;)

Originally Posted by bplewis24

If I shot even par, nobody would be able to stop me from chatting about it for at least 3 months (unless I somehow managed to repeat it or come close to doing it on a regular basis).  Somebody comes in my office asking for those TPS reports?  "Did I tell you about the time I hit 80% of GIR and had 75% sand saves to shoot even par?  I mean, let me tell you..."

LOL, no you wouldn't.  You'll be bitter about it because you missed a 4' putt on the last hole to finish UNDER par.  And, you flubbed a chip on an earlier hole, and if you just would have got up and down there and made that putt on 18, you'd have shot a 69!  No matter how good a round goes, it could have always been better.  "If only ... "

[mchepp]

Since I have shot par a few times I would really like another hole in one. I voted shoot par because I was thinking about what I would want displayed in my office. Par would make me a better looking golfer. But since I have done it a dozen or so times I would really like another hole in one. I have one, 15 or more years ago. I had another at a par 3 course but those don't count. As a side story. I was playing a buddies member guest last week. We played with a guy who the week before was playing in his own member guest and he made a hole in one in a practice round. Everyone was joking with him that he should have saved it for the tournament because he wouldn't have to buy drinks. The first day of the tournament they had a car for a hole in one and he made a second hole in one and won the car. The car was a Porsche Boxster. Pretty crazy story.

[Travis12]

Hey gratz on goin down to a 2.7

[David in FL]

Originally Posted by Golfingdad

LOL, no you wouldn't.  You'll be bitter about it because you missed a 4' putt on the last hole to finish UNDER par.  And, you flubbed a chip on an earlier hole, and if you just would have got up and down there and made that putt on 18, you'd have shot a 69!  No matter how good a round goes, it could have always been better.  "If only ... "

Ain't that the truth!

Of course, you NEVER factor in the 40 foot snake and the chip in that you made.......of course, those are gonna go in every time!

[Fourputt]

Originally Posted by Golfingdad

LOL, no you wouldn't.  You'll be bitter about it because you missed a 4' putt on the last hole to finish UNDER par.  And, you flubbed a chip on an earlier hole, and if you just would have got up and down there and made that putt on 18, you'd have shot a 69!  No matter how good a round goes, it could have always been better.  "If only ... "

It is truth.  I don't think that anyone has ever finished a round of golf, no matter how well he played, where he couldn't point to a stroke or two left out on the course.

[Ernest Jones]

Even par. No question. Not even close.