Ace
An ace is a shot straight from the tee into the hole — the German term for a hole-in-one.
The ace is the single greatest moment of success in golf. It happens almost exclusively on par-3 holes, because only there is the green regularly reachable with the first shot. On a par 3 an ace is at the same time an eagle, that is, two strokes under par. In German it is the "Ass", but the more common international term is hole-in-one. Even for good players the odds are several thousand tee shots, and for amateurs even higher.
In practice it looks like this: par 3 over 140 metres, light headwind, you take the 8 iron. The ball starts at the flag, lands a metre short of the hole, takes one hop and disappears into the hole. Your fellow players confirm the shot, you write a one on the card. Afterwards the thing is to keep the ball — many golfers frame it together with their scorecard. Report the ace at the club office; most clubs document such rounds.
An old tradition goes with the ace: the lucky shooter buys a round in the clubhouse, at the 19th hole. Some clubs insure this risk with special hole-in-one policies so that the celebration does not become expensive. One misunderstanding is the belief that an ace must land on the green and run straight into the hole — every route counts, even over a tree, a bank or the flagstick. All that matters is: the shot must come from the tee and the ball must come to rest in the hole in accordance with the rules.
FAQ
How likely is an ace for an amateur golfer?
Very unlikely: even for good players the odds are one ace every few thousand tee shots on a par 3, and considerably higher for amateurs. So don't count on it — enjoy it if it happens. Regularly playing par-3 courses at least increases your number of chances.
Must an ace land on the green and run straight into the hole?
No, every route counts. Whether the ball finds the hole via a tree, the collar of the green or even the flagstick does not matter — all that matters is that the shot came from the tee and the ball came to rest in the hole in accordance with the rules. Even an ugly tee shot with a lucky bounce is a valid ace.
What is the tradition after an ace about?
There is an old custom: the lucky shooter buys a round in the clubhouse, at the so-called 19th hole. So that the celebration does not become too expensive, some clubs offer special hole-in-one insurance. In any case, report your ace at the club office — most clubs officially document such rounds.