Talk about a Hole In One!

Today, my good friend Jim McIntyre made his first hole in one. He is a very good golfer, and hits the ball very well. That got me thinking about the odds of a hole in one, because my dad is a very good golfer too, and has played for almost 3 times as long as I have, and he is yet to make a hole in one. Then there are others, like myself, who get lucky all too often (7 times) and feel like I am stealing from those not so fortunate golfers like my dad...

Turns out that the odds of making a hole in one are about 12,000 to 1. Not so good. The odds obviously go up if you are a better golfer, and the odds of a professional making a hole in one are about 3,000 to 1.

That means, if an average golfer plays 2 rounds per week it would take about 29 years for the odds to catch up to that player and give him/her a hole in one. So, I can understand how some players go their whole lives without making one.

But think about this. At Prestonwood CC, I would say there is a hole in one every other month (on average), meaning there is 12 holes in ones per year because we have 2 golf course. Each course plays about 30,000 rounds in a good year meaning the odds of making a hole in one at Prestonwood is 5,000 to 1 on average. The same odds as a low handicap golfer would have. I would say our membership is at an "average" golfer skill level. Interesting. Maybe we have easy par 3's. Or maybe our "hole in one club" gives our members extra incentive....

Anyway, congrats to Jim McIntyre, he "slam dunked" a 5 iron from 175 at Stonebriar CC. Im sure there was a breeze in his face and he flighted it down beautifully.  ;-)