The Only Par-4 Hole-in-One on the PGA Tour
The hole was No. 17, the year was 2001, and the golfer was Andrew Magee. But the circumstances were anything but normal.
Magee, just an average driver of the ball, didn't think he'd be able to reach the green on the 332-yard par-4. So he didn't wait for the group ahead to clear the green. Instead, he teed up, and - steaming over a double bogey two holes earlier - muscled up. He let her rip, and the ball went farther than he expected.
So far that it ran up onto the green while the group of Steve Pate, Gary Nicklaus and Tom Byrum were still putting. Byrum was in the address position, ready to putt, as Magee's ball bounded onto the green.
The ball kept rolling. Pate and Nicklaus followed its path, their heads turning to the track the ball. And the ball rolled right into Byrum's putter! It clanged off Byrum's putter, caromed about 10 feet, and dropped right into the cup.
Hole-in-one. Still the only par-4 ace on the PGA Tour, and surely one of the more unusual aces of any kind on the tour.
Kinda reminds me of the time I made a par 3 on a mulligan. Did it count under the rules of golf?
Yep, it counted, and it’s in the recordbooks. Crazy shot!
Tne only ace on a par 4 should get a special award if it has not all ready…it did go off a putter….but it is an ace according to the rules…so it counts….that is what we have rules for….
And give that award quickly before we get 3 such aces in a future tournament…it will happen with more and more Pros driving the shorter par 4 holes…
slug hime retrospectively with a two shot penalty for driving into the group in front – what sort of an example is that – as you may guess I’m slightly fed up with getting balls sprayed around my head with thes e”big accidental hitters who never think they can hit 300M” – at least until the next week when they repeat the actons with a new group. Ban them, slug them shots but in some way get the buggas!!!!! Grrrr.
Oh and fogetting the whinge – good luck to that jammy (lucky) pro – how lucky can they be.
I have a friend that has 3 hole in ones but they are all on par 4’s. I am wondering if this is some kind of record??!?
Good Afternoon,
I am sending you details of the extraordinary Par 4 “Hole-in-One” achieved by James Blane on 06 July 2007 at Badgemore Park Golf Club, Henley-on-Thames.
James, from Bledlow Ridge, Buckinghamshire is in Year 9 at John Hampden Grammar School, High Wycombe.
James (born 25 April 1993) commented:
“I have been playing golf for three years but my main sport is tennis, which I play at county level.
I am a Junior Member at Badgemore Park, (near Henley-on-Thames) where I currently play off a handicap of 19.
On 06 July 2007, (school inset day) I was playing a round with my Dad. I had a very good front nine, including a birdie on the par 4, 7th hole. My Stableford score for the front nine was 20 points. I wanted to break 40 points for the full eighteen.
The 15th hole is 303 yards off the yellow tees. It is approx 225 yards to a 90 degree dogleg and then a further 80 yards to the pin. The green is protected by two bunkers and from the tee, the green is totally obscured by a clump of tall trees.
I teed the ball up a little higher than usual and aimed toward the right, to take the “tiger line” over the trees. It was a very sweet shot and I knew that I would be on or near the green.
When I approached the green the four ball in front of us were clearing the green; I could not see my ball. One of the golfers on the green was the current Men’s Champion, who was calling out to me and pointing to the flag. I thought he was annoyed because I had driven to the green (although I had shouted “fore”) but he was in fact trying to tell me that my ball was in the hole!
I went to the flag, put my hand into the hole and retrieved my ball! At the time, I really did not realise what an achievement this was; some of my friends have said that it was a fluke but the fact is that I was aiming for the green and was hoping for another birdie.
Chris, the Junior Pro at our club was on the 16th tee when this happened!
I have always hoped for an “ace” but I did not expect to get my first one on a par 4. I would like to find out whether I am the youngest person to hole out in one for an albatross?”
This extraordinary sporting achievement has been notified to Guinness World Records as James may be the youngest golfer hole out in one, on a Par 4.
The text below is an extract from the submission to Guiness World Records.
Guiness Claim Title: Youngest Golfer to “Hole Out in One for Albatross”
Country: United Kingdom
City/Town/Village: Henley-on-Thames
Date of attempt: 06/07/2007
Record Details: James Blane, born 25 April 1993, holed out in one at Badgemore Park Golf Club on 06 July 2007 (aged 14 years). What sets this apart from other aces, is the fact that it was achieved on the 303 yard, par 4, 15th hole for an “albatross” or “double eagle”. The shot was played from the Men’s Yellow Tee and was witnessed and verified by the four golfers who were on the 15th green at the time (including the current Badgemore Park Men’s Champion). I have researched this achievement and believe that James Blane may be the youngest person to have accomplished this to date; there have been several younger golfers to “hole out in one”, but these were on Par 3 golf holes. I am advised that a “Par 4 Hole in One” has only been achieved three times (including this occasion) during the history of Badgemore Park Golf Club.
Media: N.A.
This event is not in aid of Charity
My friend Chris Howard got a hole in one on both a par 4 and a par 3 in the same day. It was this month. Awase Meadows GC in Okinawa Japan. This is truly a record! People get 2 aces on par 3’s all the time (I have 2 by the way a month apart!) His has to be a Guiness Book of World Records for Both par 4 and 3 in the same round folks…..
Bill (back in 2007), I know Andrew and he is not the kind of player who would ever push the group in front of him. This truly was a total (and freak) accident. Andrew has since retired from the PGA and recovered from cancer. He will be joining the Seniors Tour shortly. He is a solid and consistent player that is not showy and an extremely gracious gentleman.