It’s the ultimate shot for any golfer. A hole in one, an Ace, a single strike on a Par 3 that leaves the putter in the bag for another hole is a shot that most golfers can only dream of. For most golfers a hole-in-one is an expensive experience, as tradition requires them to fork out for a round of drinks for anyone in the bar at the end of the round.
However for some doubly lucky players not only do they make the shot of a lifetime, they win a huge prize to boot! Not for them a £250 bar bill, but a set of keys for a new sports car or a big winners cheque. In search of the luckiest of them all we have collated the ultimate collection of hole in one winners, each of whom bagged a massive $1m hole in one prize.
Jason Bohn, now playing on the USPGA Tour picked up a $1m winners check when he holed-in-one at a charity golf day whilst still studying at university. Maybe it was a sign of things to come… Luckily the organisers had taken out hole-in-one insurance to fund the $1m winners cheque! For Jason it was the start of a career that would earn him a fair few dollars, but as first pay cheques go, this was a pretty good one. Check out the video.
NHL Hockey star Joe Sakic made his ultimate shot whilst playing in charity golf day at Lake Tahoe. The 162-yard 8-iron, across water proved his skills extend way beyond the Ice Rink. Sakic reportedly shared the $1m cheque with a charity, splitting it $500,000 each. There are a few sports stars who have tried to cross sports, Michael Jordan tried with baseball, Jeff Wilson represented the All Blacks and Cricket and Rugby. Maybe Joe Sakic will have a golf career when he gives up his stick and pads. Watch his shot here.
Utah restaurant manager Jason Hargett, joined the millionaires club with his hole in one playing in the Mark Eaton Celebrity Golf Classic on Red Ledges golf resort near Heber City in Utah. Hargett’s 150 yard 9-iron landed about 10 past the hole, then spun and dropped right in the hole. Hargett wasn’t even planning to attend the golf day due to a wrist injury. As changes of mind go that was a pretty good one! See it to believe it.
The final shot would truly be the ultimate in golf. It’s not there yet but deserves a special mention. The Extreme 19 at Legends Golf Club in South Africa is a 526m long, 426m high Par 3 with the tee built on the side of a mountain! It’s a full driver off the tee, by very reachable. If you’re up to the challenge the club will fly you up to the tee by helicopter and place spotters at on the ground, as it’s unlikely your eyesight will be good enough to see the ball drop!
This is quite some collection of hole-in-one winners and they are likely to become more common over the next few years. The Royal and Ancient have relaxed the rules on Amateurs winning high value prizes so golf day organisers are scrambling to offer the biggest or wackiest prizes to add an extra spin to their event.
Luckily it’s not the organiser who has to write the winners check. Hole-in-one Insurance companies such as UK specialist WorldWide Hole ‘N One provide hole in one insurance for the organiser that takes on the responsibility for paying the winners. It’s an affordable product that has been in the market for several years, but is rapidly gaining a new interest after the Amateur Status rule change. The prizes are common at corporate, charity, society and golf club members days and premiums start from just a few hundred pounds for an event.”
For more information on hole-in-one insurance visit www.hole-in-one.co.uk
