What to Do When You Make Your First Hole In One (and How to Remember it In Style)
My father had his first hole in one at his 40th high school reunion. Caught up in the moment he played on, slapping fives and silently sweating what would eventually become a large tab at the 19th hole. Fortunately, my quick-thinking mother called and instructed him to hold onto the ball (he had yet to take it out of play), remember the club he hit (a 7 iron), and most importantly, take a picture (he was two holes ahead, so he faked it at the 9th, but you’d never know unless I told you…sorry dad!).
While every hole in one is a happy story, some golfers forget to capture the important details they’ll need when it comes time to memorialize the feat with a hole-in-one trophy or display case. It’s easy to get distracted by the excitement, but remembering a few key things will give your ace the proper treatment it deserves, especially if you take your golf memorabilia seriously. If that sounds like you, then you’ve probably got any number of display cases to store logo balls from all the bucket list golf courses you’ve played. Doesn’t your hole in one ball deserve the same treatment?
When the lucky moment strikes for you, you’ll appreciate these six things you should do when you make your first hole in one.
Step 1: Save the ball
Many hole in one trophy cases prominently feature the ball itself, and that makes sense if you think about it. So the first thing you should do is take that ball out of play! We’ve all experienced the ignominious “post-birdie swing,” so can you imagine the shank potential after a hole in one? Wipe it down (or don’t, especially if there’s a story in that scuff mark) and put it in a safe space, like a pocket in your bag that you don’t use often. Some golfers might be tempted to write the details on the ball but that’s not necessary; most hole-in-one displays feature a personalized nameplate that you can customize with information like yardage, course and club used.
Step 2: Mark it!
Go ahead and put that “1” down on the scorecard and give it two nice, dark circles. When the time comes to pick out your hole in one display case, many will give you the option of displaying your scorecard as well. That card will look real nice in the frame, even if there are some high numbers around it. Did your ace come as part of a career round? Even better.
Step 3: Write down specific details
This can be for your own private records, especially if you like to live your life on the embellishing side. But many hole-in-one displays feature a plaque that you can use to display a single version of the truth to all who pass. Write down key details like the yardage of the hole, the distance of your specific shot (you can go back to the tee and shoot it with a range finder if you have one), the tee you were playing, club selection, shot shape, wind direction…if you like to track it, write it down. You can still stretch the truth a bit if you want, we won’t call you on it.
Step 4: Take a picture of you with the ball
So many people forget to do this, and they always regret it. The odds of getting a hole in one are so rare, no playing partner or group behind you will begrudge taking a few minutes to pose for a picture. If you can, try and get your divot in the frame as well. Some hole in one trophy cases have a frame for your picture(s), so you’ll want to take advantage of that. Then as you relive your shot for years to come, seeing your ball mark will bring back great feelings.
Step 5: Make it official
Your hole in one isn’t official until you complete your round (and yes, 9 hole rounds do count per the National-In-One Registry), so depending on where you were on the course when it happened, you may have some golf left to play. Try to control the adrenaline, or your next shot could be a real stinker. You don’t want to put up a big number right next to that “1” on your souvenir scorecard. Stay calm, focus on your pre-shot routine, and get to the clubhouse!
Step 6: Register your hole in one
Everyone likes to be in the record books, which is why it’s important to officially register your ace in the National Hole-in-One Registry so that your great golf achievement can be enshrined for eternity. Registration is free and makes for a great “in your face” moment should any wise guy or gal ever doubt your claim. Registration in this exclusive club also has its perks; you’ll get discounts on Hole-in-One merchandise and have access to the record books to see how your ace stacks up against the USGA’s requirements as well as other hole in ones on that very same hole. We recently analyzed 17 year’s worth of hole-in-one data and found some fascinating findings; if you are lucky enough to join the club, we hope your information will be included whenever the next analysis occurs!
So there you have it. Six things you absolutely have to do when you make your first hole in one. Fortunately for my dad, he crossed these steps off his list and has a great hole-in-one display case (an obvious Father’s Day golf gift from my sister and me) and story he can tell for years to come.
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