Is a hole in one on a Par 3 course a real hole in one ?

Shiraz 4.99

I've about 50 hole in ones from my Pitch n'Putt days, I used have a chart on my wall at home when I was a teenager noting which holes, a bit sad I know but the mother probably still has it.
I moved on to the big ball (golf) when I was about 16, I got down to single figures pretty quick but never had a hole in one in all the years I played.
I was playing Blackwater Par 3 over the holidays when I had a hole in one on the 2nd hole, a 6 iron uphill shot of about 160 yards.
I went to buy beers for the group afterwards where I was told it didn't count cause it wasn't a full golf course.
But the length was R&A length, the green was full size, there was no element of mickey mouse involved . . . . . . . was he correct ?

Am I still a big ball virgin ?

GrumpyMe

Well don't buy him a drink - just buy for the rest of the group!

rrpc

I think the distinction would be that you have a much higher chance of getting a hole in one on a par 3 course than on a regular golf course. Generally in the 6 to 1 or 9 to 1 level of odds depending on the number of par threes on a regular golf course.

Shiraz 4.99

rrpc wrote: »

I think the distinction would be that you have a much higher chance of getting a hole in one on a par 3 course than on a regular golf course. Generally in the 6 to 1 or 9 to 1 level of odds depending on the number of par threes on a regular golf course.

Yes but if I spent the day on a quiet golf course just playing Par 3's a hole-in-ones validity would never be questioned.
Just cause there's Par 4's & 5's in the vicinity doesn't make it any more of a feat.

Rikand

A hole in one is still a hole in one

FixdePitchmark

I had a hole in one on a par 3 course. But not on a golf course.

I'd love one on a regular course.

Very close but no cigar yet.

rrpc

Shiraz 4.99 wrote: »

Yes but if I spent the day on a quiet golf course just playing Par 3's a hole-in-ones validity would never be questioned.
Just cause there's Par 4's & 5's in the vicinity doesn't make it any more of a feat.

I don't know, I think if it wasn't part of a normal round then it would be still questionable. It's still a matter of odds in my book. If (for the sake of argument) you take the odds to be 1000:1 on getting a hole in one then it would be once in 55 rounds of a par 3 course or 250 rounds of a course with 4 par 3s on it.

Or you could just stand on the tee of a par 3 with a bucket or 10 of balls.

GreeBo

rrpc wrote: »

I think the distinction would be that you have a much higher chance of getting a hole in one on a par 3 course than on a regular golf course. Generally in the 6 to 1 or 9 to 1 level of odds depending on the number of par threes on a regular golf course.

I think the odds of a hole in 1 are so small, the number of par 3's on the course is mathematically irrelevant tbh

Do two lotto tickets make you twice as likely to win? (considering that buying one only slightly increases your odds)

Freemount09

Shiraz, Congrats ! You hit a perfect shot well done !

I had a hole in one before and a playing partner tried to take the gloss off it cause it was a casual round or some other petty reason !

#FTB

bmc58

Shiraz 4.99 wrote: »

I've about 50 hole in ones from my Pitch n'Putt days, I used have a chart on my wall at home when I was a teenager noting which holes, a bit sad I know but the mother probably still has it.
I moved on to the big ball (golf) when I was about 16, I got down to single figures pretty quick but never had a hole in one in all the years I played.
I was playing Blackwater Par 3 over the holidays when I had a hole in one on the 2nd hole, a 6 iron uphill shot of about 160 yards.
I went to buy beers for the group afterwards where I was told it didn't count cause it wasn't a full golf course.
But the length was R&A length, the green was full size, there was no element of mickey mouse involved . . . . . . . was he correct ?

Am I still a big ball virgin ?

160 yds par 3.In in one.Great shot.I would count it.

richardbradley

GreeBo wrote: »

I think the odds of a hole in 1 are so small, the number of par 3's on the course is mathematically irrelevant tbh

Do two lotto tickets make you twice as likely to win? (considering that buying one only slightly increases your odds)

Yep buying two tickets statistically make you twice as likely to win (presuming you dont pick the same 6 numbers!!).

The number of par 3s on a course is hugely relevant when calculating the chances of having one. Fundamentally the likelihood only depends on 3 variables - 1) how good the player is, and 2) how often they play a par 3 hole (how many on the course and how many rounds a week they play and 3) How hard those par 3s are - are they index 1 - 210 yds over water or index 18 - 120 yds wedge

Therefore several ways to increase your chances - become a better player, play more often, or play a course with more/easier par 3s.

OP - still a great feat to be really proud of - just that by playing a par 3 course you are effectively upping your chances roughly 6 fold (18 par 3s on the course rather than 3-4). for me this ones subjective - if you normally play a normal course and this was you one time playing the par 3 course then its a far bugger achievement than if you play the par 3 daily!

Seve OB

hole in one on a pitch and putt course.... mehhh..... wouldnt really consider it as a hole in one.

hole in one (110 yards) on a golf course with 7 par 3's, and 4 par 5's and 7 par 4's..... definately a hole in one.

hole in one on a par 3 course, with hole length of 160 yards... hell yea, why wouldn't it be!... what makes it so different to the above.

if i had a hole in one while out practising, ok it is not going to get me into the hole in one club, but I know I've done it!

spacecoyote

I've only had one in my life so far & it was on the 7 hole course at the back of Grange Castle.

Its 7 holes, 5 par 4s, 2 par 3s, its a hole in one in my books

GreeBo

richardbradley wrote: »

Yep buying two tickets statistically make you twice as likely to win (presuming you dont pick the same 6 numbers!!).

The number of par 3s on a course is hugely relevant when calculating the chances of having one. Fundamentally the likelihood only depends on 3 variables - 1) how good the player is, and 2) how often they play a par 3 hole (how many on the course and how many rounds a week they play and 3) How hard those par 3s are - are they index 1 - 210 yds over water or index 18 - 120 yds wedge

Therefore several ways to increase your chances - become a better player, play more often, or play a course with more/easier par 3s.

I guess I left out an important word..."significantly"
I in 12,500 compared to 2 in 12,500 is still pretty unlikely. 18 in 12,500 is still not significant imo.

gman127

GreeBo wrote: »

I guess I left out an important word..."significantly"
I in 12,500 compared to 2 in 12,500 is still pretty unlikely. 18 in 12,500 is still not significant imo.

Dismissing the maths of it pretty quick there really. If you backed a horse at 18/1 and he won at even money would that be significant?

Same difference in ratios.
Still an unlikely feat but still with 18 tries becomes much more likely than just 1.

Anyway, definitely counts! Well done!

GreeBo

gman127 wrote: »

Dismissing the maths of it pretty quick there really. If you backed a horse at 18/1 and he won at even money would that be significant?

Same difference in ratios.
Still an unlikely feat but still with 18 tries becomes much more likely than just 1.

Anyway, definitely counts! Well done!

Would you like 10% of a a fiver or 10% of a million quid? Same ratios!

It becomes 18 times more likely which is still insignificant and not "much" when the likelihood is at best 12,500 to 1.

Par 3 counts, pitch and putt doesnt.

Shiraz 4.99

GreeBo wrote: »

Par 3 counts, pitch and putt doesnt.

This is the logic I'm taking from this thread.
As long as it's a full length Par 3, Postage Stamp length & above.

cairny

I'd be inclined to say it counts but only you can judge properly.

Ask yourself if you have another one this week at your usual course will it mean any more to you than this one?

If the answer is no then you can start making a chart to keep track of your golf hole in ones.

galwaylad14

I'd say you can probably count it given that it was a full shot not a pitch shot like in p&p.

I've never had a hole in one but I must say it doesn't bother me all that much, I'm still young and have probably at least another 50 years playing this game (please God) so I figure it's virtually a mathematical certainty I'll make one eventually.

I'm a low handicapper and not only have I never had a hole in one but I've only ever made 3 eagles which I imagine is a very low total for a (half) decent player.

First Up

I've had three but one was in a casual round and one other on a “winter“ green. I count the two on “full“ greens but the other one has an asterisk beside it. Another lad holed out on the same temporary green the same day and did the whole drink buying routine and was excited. But it was his first.....

Mountjoy Mugger

Your pal's a begrudger. I'll have a bottle of Corona.