Every golfer dreams about it. That perfect shot that somehow finds its way into the cup on the first try. It doesn’t happen often, but when it does, it’s the kind of moment that gets talked about for years. At Great Gorge Golf Club, with 27 holes spread across three different courses, there are plenty of chances to make it happen.
Hole-in-one odds
The numbers aren’t exactly encouraging. For most weekend golfers, you’re looking at about 12,000-to-1 odds. If you’re pretty good and keep your handicap low, those odds improve to around 5,000-to-1. Even the pros only have about 3,000-to-1 chances.
Want to hear something really crazy? Getting two holes-in-one in the same round has 67-million-to-1 odds. And a condor (hole-in-one on a par-5)? That’s happened maybe five times in golf history. Ever.
Most aces happen on par-3s, which makes sense since they’re shorter – usually around 145 yards. But even then, you need the right wind, the right bounce, and honestly, a fair amount of luck.
What the stats tell us
Here’s what we know about holes-in-one:
- Average age when it happens: 55
- Most popular club: 7-iron
- How often it happens: roughly once every 3,500 rounds
- Preferred ball: Titleist (about half of all aces)
- Men vs women: 86% to 14%
Some incredible hole-in-one stories
Golf has produced some wild ace stories over the years. Tiger’s chip-in on 16 at Augusta in 2005 wasn’t technically a hole-in-one, but watching that ball hang on the lip for what felt like forever before dropping in still gives people chills. The Nike swoosh was perfectly visible as it rolled into the cup.
Gene Sarazen made one at age 71 during the 1973 Open Championship, proving you’re never too old for magic. The 2009 Canadian Open saw eight different players make holes-in-one during the same tournament, which is amazing.
Then there are the amateur stories that sound made up but aren’t. Mark Briggs from Australia hit the same par-3 hole for an ace five different times over 25 years. A mother and son from Florida, Anne and Tony Fromer, both aced holes during the same round. Nick Sica from Pennsylvania managed four aces in 30 days, which seems almost unfair to the rest of us.
Robert Allenby and Hal Sutton each made 10 holes-in-one during their PGA Tour careers. But the all-time leader is Norman Manley from California, who somehow recorded 59 aces as an amateur. His first one came in 1963, and he just kept going.
Every one of these stories is real, and collectively, they paint a picture of golf as a sport where magic can strike at any age, on any hole, and sometimes in ways that defy probability.
Great Gorge: where good things happen
Great Gorge’s three courses – Rail, Lake, and Quarry – each have par-3s that give you legitimate shots at an ace. The setting definitely adds to the experience. When you’re playing courses designed by legendary architect George Fazio and surrounded by all that natural beauty, even an ordinary round feels different. And when that perfect shot finally happens, having that backdrop makes it even more memorable.
Players here have their own stories, and they’re usually happy to share them. That’s part of what makes golf great – one perfect shot can turn into a story that gets better with each telling.
After you make one
If you’re lucky enough to get a hole-in-one, there are some traditions worth following:
- Take pictures immediately (your playing partners will want proof)
- Mark that ball – you’re keeping it
- Buy the drinks if that’s the custom at your course
- Register it with the National Hole-in-One Registry
- Consider getting a plaque or something to remember it by
Why it matters
A hole-in-one isn’t just about the shot. It’s about being in the right place at the right time with the right swing. It’s about having witnesses. It’s about the story you’ll tell for the rest of your golf life.
At Great Gorge, you’ve got 27 different holes to work with and some beautiful par-3s that have seen their share of magic. Ready to see if you can add your name to the list? Book a tee time and find out.
We’ll see you on the course.
Reserve your round today.