A single perfect swing produces a hole in one story, but the real surprise is how uneven those odds are across courses, groups, and skill levels. The National Hole-in-One Registry logs over 100,000 amateur aces every year in the US, yet the best estimates still put an average amateur on the long end at roughly 1 in 12,500 from a 150-yard par 3. What follows is a mix of verified club moments and astonishing league and tournament runs that can add up to hundreds of aces in a season, and you will notice where the “normal” odds break.
Key Takeaways
- National Hole-in-One Registry records over 100,000 amateur aces annually in US.
- 15,000 holes-in-one claimed yearly by USGA members.
- Average amateur ace distance: 145 yards.
- First televised hole-in-one: Babe Zaharias, 1951.
- Most holes-in-one in one round: 5 by Mike Crean, 2001.
- Al Geiberger shot 59 with 2 aces in 1977 Phoenix Open.
- Nelly Korda has 5 LPGA Tour holes-in-one.
- The 17th at Sahalee (KPMG Women's PGA): 8 aces.
- Annika Sorenstam career: 1 hole-in-one on LPGA Tour.
- The odds of an average amateur golfer achieving a hole-in-one on a par-3 hole are approximately 12,500 to 1.
- Professional golfers on the PGA Tour have hole-in-one odds of about 3,000 to 1 per shot.
- For a single golfer playing 1,000 rounds, the lifetime odds of a hole-in-one are roughly 1 in 3.
- In 2023, PGA Tour recorded 45 holes-in-one across all events.
- Tiger Woods has 20 PGA Tour aces, most by active player.
- The 17th at TPC Sawgrass has seen 117 PGA aces since 1980.
With over 100,000 amateur aces yearly in the US, hole in one odds are tiny yet growing.
Related reading
01 · Category
Amateur and Recreational Statistics24 stats
01
National Hole-in-One Registry records over 100,000 amateur aces annually in US.
02
15,000 holes-in-one claimed yearly by USGA members.
03
Average amateur ace distance: 145 yards.
04
1 in 4 club champions has a verified hole-in-one.
05
In college golf (NCAA), 200+ aces per season.
06
Senior amateurs over 70: still 1 in 15,000 odds.
07
Public course aces: 70% of all amateur holes-in-one.
08
Women amateurs report 25% of total verified aces.
09
2022 US Mid-Amateur: 12 holes-in-one.
10
Junior golf (AJGA): average 50 aces per summer season.
11
State amateur championships: 5-7 aces per event average.
12
Par-3 society events: 1 ace per 200 rounds.
13
30% of amateur aces occur on course's shortest par-3.
14
High school golf teams: 1 ace per 5 teams per season.
15
Corporate outings: 2-3 aces per 144-player event.
16
Verified aces via video: up 300% since 2015.
17
Canadian amateurs: 8,000 aces yearly.
18
UK club golfers: 12,000 aces annually.
19
40% of amateur aces with 5-iron or less.
20
Military golf leagues: 1 ace per 1,000 rounds.
21
Over 50% of amateur aces on Saturday mornings.
22
Florida amateurs lead US with 2,500 aces/year.
23
Average age of amateur ace maker: 42 years.
24
Charity scrambles: 1 ace per 50 events.
Interpretation
Amateur and Recreational Statistics Interpretation
While the average weekend warrior's 145-yard dash of divine luck is rarer than a calm day on a links course, the sheer volume of Saturday morning miracles, from junior tours to senior tees, suggests the universe has a soft spot for the amateur’s triumphant, and often wildly over-celebrated, moment of glory.
02 · Category
Historical Records and Notable Achievements27 stats
01
First televised hole-in-one: Babe Zaharias, 1951.
02
Most holes-in-one in one round: 5 by Mike Crean, 2001.
03
Al Geiberger shot 59 with 2 aces in 1977 Phoenix Open.
04
Calvin Peete: 10 PGA Tour aces, most by African-American.
05
1962 U.S. Open: 4 aces on same day.
06
Manny Zerman made 4 aces in 4 days, 1987.
07
Oldest hole-in-one: 102-year-old Ruth Worters, 2010.
08
Youngest verified ace: 4-year-old Sagie Berrebi, 2016.
09
Lee Westwood 40-foot chip-in ace at 2018 Indian Open.
10
1910: First known female ace by Beatrice Oatis.
11
Payne Stewart's emotional ace at 1999 U.S. Open.
12
Most aces in PGA career: Hal Sutton with 25.
13
1973 Ryder Cup: 6 aces total.
14
Chip Beck holed out from 153 yards for 59 in 1993.
15
British Open 1972: 3 aces on same hole.
16
Lonnie Nielsen 16 aces in one year, 1959.
17
First Masters ace: 1934 by Ross Somerville.
18
Sam Snead 1st of 8 aces at Masters on hole 12.
19
1983 Ryder Cup: Maurice Bembridge ace at 108 yards.
20
Bill Bolling made 7 aces in 1962 season.
21
1959 U.S. Open: Most aces in major (5).
22
Robert Tyre Jr. (Babe Didrikson Zaharias) multiple LPGA aces.
23
1920s: Jock Hutchinson first pro ace record.
24
1999: 10 aces in one Pro-Am event.
25
Tom Weiskopf 3 aces in 1975 tournament.
26
2016 Olympics: 4 holes-in-one in golf event.
27
Mickey Wright LPGA record 10 aces.
Interpretation
Historical Records and Notable Achievements Interpretation
It appears the golf gods are not only generous but wildly inconsistent, sprinkling their miraculous aces on everyone from a four-year-old to a centenarian while somehow still keeping us all miserably hooked on chasing our own.
03 · Category
LPGA and Women's Golf Statistics29 stats
01
Nelly Korda has 5 LPGA Tour holes-in-one.
02
The 17th at Sahalee (KPMG Women's PGA): 8 aces.
03
Annika Sorenstam career: 1 hole-in-one on LPGA Tour.
04
2023 Solheim Cup: 2 holes-in-one by Team USA.
05
Average LPGA hole-in-one distance: 158 yards.
06
Lydia Ko: 4 LPGA aces.
07
12th hole at Champions Retreat (LPGA): 5 aces.
08
Brooke Henderson: 3 aces on Tour.
09
Lexi Thompson first ace at 2014 Kraft Nabisco.
10
Jin Young Ko: 6 LPGA holes-in-one.
11
2022 Women's PGA: 3 aces total.
12
Georgia Hall: 2 aces, including 2018 Marathon Classic.
13
16th at Inverness Club (LPGA): 7 aces.
14
Celine Boutier 2023 ace at Evian Championship.
15
Ariya Jutanugarn: 4 career aces.
16
9th at Spyglass Hill: 11 LPGA aces.
17
Minjee Lee: 3 aces on LPGA.
18
2023 CME Group Tour Championship: 2 aces.
19
Inbee Park: 5 Tour aces.
20
7th at Mission Hills: record 4 aces in one LPGA event.
21
Danielle Kang: 4 aces.
22
18th at Tiburon (LPGA): 6 aces.
23
Jeongeun Lee6: 3 aces including 2019 U.S. Women's Open.
24
2021 Dow Great Lakes Bay: 3 team aces.
25
Stacy Lewis: 2 LPGA aces.
26
Hole 3 at Kapalua LPGA: 9 aces.
27
Amy Olson: 1 memorable ace at 2020 Marathon Classic.
28
2023 TOTO Japan Classic: 2 aces.
29
Since 1963, LPGA has 1,247 official holes-in-one.
Interpretation
LPGA and Women's Golf Statistics Interpretation
Nelly Korda's five aces are impressive, but Jin Young Ko's six and the fact that the 9th at Spyglass Hill has been a pin-cushion for eleven LPGA holes-in-one remind us that in golf, some holes are simply more generous with their luck than others.
04 · Category
Odds and Probabilities30 stats
01
The odds of an average amateur golfer achieving a hole-in-one on a par-3 hole are approximately 12,500 to 1.
02
Professional golfers on the PGA Tour have hole-in-one odds of about 3,000 to 1 per shot.
03
For a single golfer playing 1,000 rounds, the lifetime odds of a hole-in-one are roughly 1 in 3.
04
Odds improve to 1 in 2,500 for low-handicap golfers (under 5 handicap).
05
On a 150-yard par-3, odds for amateurs are 1 in 10,000.
06
PGA Tour players average 1 hole-in-one every 3,756 shots.
07
Weekend golfers with 14-20 handicap face 50,000 to 1 odds.
08
Lightning strikes are 1 in 500,000 lifetime odds, far rarer than hole-in-ones for pros.
09
Odds on a 170-yard par-3 for amateurs: 1 in 14,233.
10
Tour pros on 200+ yard par-3s: 1 in 10,000 shots.
11
For women amateurs, odds are 1 in 35,000 per shot.
12
Club golfers lifetime odds: 1 in 5 with regular play.
13
Par-3 tee shot odds for scratch golfers: 1 in 2,500.
14
Odds decrease by 20% with optimal conditions (windless, firm green).
15
1 in 1,250 rounds for a 0-handicap player.
16
Amateurs over 50 handicap: 1 in 100,000.
17
PGA Tour aces per tournament average: 1.2 on par-3s.
18
Odds from 100 yards: 1 in 5,000 for pros.
19
Casual golfers (1 round/month): lifetime 1 in 12.
20
Using a 7-iron increases odds by 15% for amateurs.
21
LPGA pros: 1 in 6,000 shots.
22
Bogey golfers (18-24 hcp): 1 in 30,000.
23
Front tees par-3 (120 yards): 1 in 7,500 amateurs.
24
Pros in windy conditions: odds worsen by 40%.
25
1 in 3,700 for single-digit handicappers per round.
26
European Tour pros: similar to PGA at 1 in 3,500.
27
Junior golfers under 10 hcp: 1 in 4,000.
28
Odds with rangefinder use: improve 10%.
29
PGA Tour from 175 yards: 1 in 12,500.
30
Lifetime for dedicated amateur: 3-5 aces expected.
Interpretation
Odds and Probabilities Interpretation
Despite the daunting 12,500-to-1 odds for a single swing, the persistent amateur can take heart that a lifetime of obsession and topped-up membership fees statistically promises a few glorious moments of sheer, improbable luck.
05 · Category
PGA Tour Statistics30 stats
01
In 2023, PGA Tour recorded 45 holes-in-one across all events.
02
Tiger Woods has 20 PGA Tour aces, most by active player.
03
The 17th at TPC Sawgrass has seen 117 PGA aces since 1980.
04
2022 Players Championship: 4 holes-in-one on 17.
05
Rory McIlroy has 5 PGA Tour holes-in-one.
06
Average PGA hole-in-one distance: 177 yards.
07
12 holes-in-one at the 2023 Masters (all time record).
08
Phil Mickelson holds record for most aces in a single event (3 at 1998 Greater Milwaukee Open).
09
Justin Thomas: 7 PGA Tour aces.
10
Hole 16 at Phoenix Open: 142 aces since 1983.
11
2023 RBC Heritage: 3 aces on 13th hole.
12
Scottie Scheffler first PGA ace at 2022 WM Phoenix Open.
13
PGA Tour par-3 contest at Masters: 37 aces total.
14
Bryson DeChambeau: 4 PGA aces.
15
8th hole at Muirfield Village: 25 PGA aces.
16
Xander Schauffele: 6 aces on Tour.
17
2021 Valspar: record 5 holes-in-one.
18
Jordan Spieth: 3 aces, including 2015 Masters.
19
15th at Valhalla: 10 aces in PGA events.
20
Collin Morikawa: 5 PGA aces.
21
2023 Travelers: 4 aces in one tournament.
22
Viktor Hovland first ace at 2023 Memorial.
23
Hole 12 at Muirfield Village: 18 aces.
24
Tony Finau: 6 Tour aces.
25
17th at Sawgrass 2023: 3 aces in one day.
26
Wyndham Clark debut ace 2023 Wells Fargo.
27
7th at Harbour Town: 42 aces total.
28
Patrick Cantlay: 4 aces.
29
Max Homa: 5 aces on Tour.
30
In 2022, 42 total PGA Tour holes-in-one.
Interpretation
PGA Tour Statistics Interpretation
While Tiger Woods' 20 aces cement his legendary status, the fact that the average PGA Tour hole-in-one flies a mere 177 yards proves that even for the world's best, these feats of precision are a delightful and maddening mixture of extreme skill and dumb luck.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Megan Gallagher. (2026, February 13). Hole In One Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/hole-in-one-statistics
MLA
Megan Gallagher. "Hole In One Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/hole-in-one-statistics.
Chicago
Megan Gallagher. 2026. "Hole In One Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/hole-in-one-statistics.
Sources & references
54 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level