History of the hole-in-one

The Hole-in-one is one of the ultimate goals of all golfers, and according to the stat people, very few ever achieve this goal. Thanks to Greg Robinson, who gathered up a lot of information on the hole-in-one concerning the local Four Winds Golf Course, we are going to give you a few of our own stats, as well as some national figures, we thought you might find interesting.

Way back when the Four Winds Course opened at it’s current location, the Western Nebraska Observer, owned by Bob Pinkerton at the time, started the tradition of having anyone who recorded a hole-in-one, name inscribed on a plaque which to this day hangs on the wall at the Four Winds Pro Shop. Along with the hole-in-one people, anyone who scored a double Eagle has their name put on the plaque as well.

At this time, there are 128 hole-in-one names and only 9 double Eagle entries. A Double Eagle is scored when a golfer scores a 2 on a par five hole. Greg and I agree that a one on a par four hole could also be scored as a double eagle but of course it would also be a hole-in-one! The odds of making a double eagle are 1,000,000 to 1! Making it more difficult than a hole-in-one. Can you believe that our own Lynn Anthony has scored three double eagles scoring one on number 16 and 2 on number 8. Amazing. Mike Greenwood Jr. has also scored a double eagle on number 8 and also a hole-in-one on number 3.

A statistical look at the gravity of a hole-in-one shows us that a hole-in-one is scored in every 3,500 rounds of golf. Over 128,000 holes-in-one are scored each year. It shows that 60 percent of those scoring holes in one are age 50 and up and have an average of 24 years of experience. It shows that 40 percent of holes in one are made with either a 7,8, or 9 iron. Of golfers who make a hole-in-one, 14 percent will do it a second time and 9 percent make 3 or more in a life time. The odds of scoring two in one round is 67 million to 1. The longest hole-in-one ever recorded is 448 yards and was set in 2015 on a course in Hawaii. Until that time the longest hole-in-one was 444 yards set in 1965 at the Miracle Hills Golf Course in Omaha.

The odds and other stats go on and on, but let’s look at some of the local figures. Bob Sharp scored the first hole-in-one at the Four Winds in 1968 on number 3. The Observer put names on the plaque until 1995 when Larsen’s Jewelry, who had been doing the inscriptions for the Observer until that time, continued to sponsor the plaques and also present each golfer with a small trophy. Scott Hillius and George Haines lead the category of most hole-in-ones scored at the Four Winds with 4 each. Gerry Fitzpatrick, Elaine Kolar, Deb Bohac, and Charlie Carlson have all recorded 3 each.

There are five husband and wife duos who have recorded holes-in-one including Ed and Maxine Lockwood, Tom and Karen Southard, Bob and Jean Barrett, Bruce and Wilma Gilliland, and Jack and Carol Schadegg. Bob and Jean Barrett along with son, Jim, have claim to a family hole-in-one title.The most holes in one in any year was eight in 2003 with seven in 2000 and six in 2006. There have been 49 holes-in-one scored on hole number 3, 33 on hole number 8 and 12, 33 on number 6, and 12 on number 17.

Anyone wanting to see the complete list can certainly check out the plaques on the walls at the Four Winds Pro Shop, or contact Greg Robinson at Larsen’s Jewelry Store and he can direct you how to get all of this on-line as he has it all recorded. Be sure and thank the good people at Larsen’s Jewelry Store for this service they provide, and I want to thank Greg for the time and effort he put forth in gathering all of this interesting info. Last but not least, be sure and report that hole-in-one I know you will be scoring soon.