The Australian Summer of Golf is done and dusted with plenty of exciting moments for us to relive, but what are the odds of an average punter hitting a hole-in-one on the green?
Aussies snapped up all three spots at the Australian Open for 2017 and there was also a distinct international flavour to the whole affair with Yankee Harold Varner III’s Australian PGA win and Jordan Spieth getting the job done at the Australian Open.
Obviously the pros know how to hit a ball on target but how much does skill vs science play a role in the odds of hitting an ace.
Odds on an Amateur Golfer hitting a hole-in-one? 12,500 to 1
Amateur Golfer
Statistical analysts have calculated that an amateur golfer has a 1 in 12,500 chance of hitting a hole-in-one.
Low Handicap
If you’re an average golfer but with a bit of skill and play on a low handicap the odds of a hole-in-one are 1 in 5,000
Pro Golfer
The better you are the better your chances obviously! The predicted odds of a player at a pro tour hitting a hole-in-one are 1 in 2,500.
Odds on a Pro Golfer hitting a hole-in-one? 2,500 to 1
The Stats
490 million rounds of golf are played per year on average resulting in 150,000 holes-in-one
The Par Matters
Statistically most hole-in-ones occur on a par 3 holes. It’s pretty basic to see why. The shorter distance holes on a course give you shorter odds to hit the ball from a tee shot into the cup. The higher the par the longer odds of hitting the hole-in-one and there’s no known cases of even a hole-in-two on a par 6.
Luck Matters
Even the best pro golfers believe holes-in-one have an almost magical element, like the classy attire of John Daly, so while you can keep practising your swing the golfing gods also need to be smiling on you.
Outside Elements Matter
Things you can’t control like the weather also help decide whether you’ll successfully hit that hole-in-one. It gets even more nerdy here because games of golf played at high altitude (with thin air) aid in getting a hole-in-one!
Age Matters?
The oldest person to make two hole-in-ones during one round is Earl Dietering (78 years old) of Tennessee in the USA.
Against All Odds
There’s been just one known case of a player nailing consecutive holes-in-one during a major pro tournament. John Hudson did it during the 1971 Martini International tournament at Royal Norwich Golf Club in England. The odds of him doing this were approx. 1 in 50 Million!
King of Aces
Pro golfer Mancil Davis is known as the “King Of Aces” for his 51 career hole-in-ones including eight in a single year. He also holds the World Record for 10 Double Eagles and hit his first ace at the age of 11!
Betting on a Hole-In-One
Exotic markets on golfing pro tours here at Ladbrokes give you the chance to back a player to hit a hole-in-one. Now you know the odds are you up for the challenge?