Hole-in-one question for you guys

[LeftDaddy]

Had my first HIO yesterday (183 yards, 6 iron, group was saying go in as it left my clubface though I did catch it a little thin), and it happened to be during a club event where there was essentially an open bar afterward. About 10 guys were watching when I hit it...everyone went crazy...fist bumps, high fives, etc. So I had multiple people come to me afterward and say basically “Perfect day to get a HIO, open bar baby...you got lucky”. 
 

I get back to the clubhouse and everyone congratulates me, general jovial mode amongst the membership, etc. But 2 guys started in hard on me about drinks are on me. I said “absolutely, open bar baby...go for it “. But they said “No man, time for the top shelf stuff...not the house stuff”. 
 

Anyway, amongst these 2 or 3 guys this became a bit of a hot topic (especially since they were drinking their tails off), so I went to the clubhouse manager and told her “Hey, I’m fine buying these guys a few bottles of whatever...just cap it at something reasonable and everyone will be happy”. She says “No, you are good. Open bar today, perfect day to have a HIO. They have some pricey wine they’ve opened up, but they had already prepaid that, so enjoy yourself.  No damage.”  I said “OK, cool” and stayed on a little bit and left. 
 

Last piece of context...I’m newish to the club, I’m not much of a drinker, I don’t hang around after rounds throwing back drinks ever, the club is one of the more “exclusive” in the area so “top shelf” stuff to these guys ain’t cheap, etc. 

 

So my question to you guys is, did I handle the etiquette right?  I thought about it more last night and I think what I’m going to do is buy a bottle for a couple of the vocal ones to share the next time they are in the clubhouse. I don’t want them to think I’m “cheap” (I’m not though am definitely not a big spender), but I also thought it would have been a big waste to buy $700 worth of alcohol for these guys yesterday when they were already deep in the stuff and the majority of it was already paid for. 
 

I appreciate any opinions on the topic. 

[Under2hours]

They're a bunch (word not allowed)....  Ignore them or send them pints next time and end of story.  If you were playing with your regulars, buy them a round next time out.  Usually the club has a HIO fund or everyone pays for HIO's during the year. 

Edited March 29, 2021 by Under2hours

[Abh159]

You buy the guys you were playing with a round or two and that's really all you're obligated to do in my mind. I've been lucky enough to have a few HOI's and this has always been our protocol.

 

You'll always have those obnoxious guys trying to take advantage of the situation. I've found the best thing to do is to politely but firmly tell them no. They may get their feeling hurt a bit, but I'm not shelling out $500-$1000 for random strangers. If they don't like it that's their problem. 

[MPAndreassi]

I don’t think you did anything wrong and you handled it the best you could. I always thought the buying everyone one in the bar a drink was excessive. It should be limited to the foursome. 
 

As mentioned above, your course probably has “Hole in One insurance.” It’s usually a nominal fee that’s part of your bill. We had a hole in one two weekends ago during an event with 152 players. Didnt cost the member anything out of pocket. 

[me05501]

I think you handled it well. Obviously it's a fine line when you're new to the club and you want to do what's generally expected among the membership. Then again, part of getting situated in a new club is figuring out who the jerks are and it sounds like you made some progress on that front too. 

 

Honestly it seems like this is one tradition that needs to be mothballed. Chances are all those guys drove home at some point. Happens in country clubs all over America every weekend. 

 

Clubs could still do HIO insurance and just credit the pro rata pot back to the monthly bills of everyone who participates. 

 

Edited March 29, 2021 by me05501

[rugbydave]

You played it very well.  Shame on the guys trying to get top shelf drunk on your account.  We play in a group of 20+ and have seen our fair share of HIO's over the last 20 years.  The 3 or 4 in your group should get a nice cocktail and the remaining guys should get a beer (you could even argue they don't deserve a beer).  Anyways, congrats on the ace!

[Greenie]

I never understood this traditional. Shouldn't everyone be buying you a drink?

 

I have never had a hole in one but I have seen four of them in my playing group. No one every bought me a drink but I bought three on the lucky ones a beer and for the other hole in one I bought the guy dinner. 

 

I guess if I ever get one I'll being buying those same guys a beer again..lol

 

I think you handled it well. I don't care for those kind of people speaking up like that trying to put you in a situation you were uncomfortable with. 

 

I would buy the people in your group a drink and let the rest go.

 

[br61]

My club has HIO pool, whomever gets an attested ace at the course gets $5 from every members that signed up. Currently about 120-130 members are on the list and the person that made HIO gets the account credited, I earned around $550 credit on my account back then when I made my ace couple years ago. I paid for a full keg and members gets a draw until it's empty.

 

As for top of the shelf stuff, I'm not too crazy about that, maybe one drink per person. 

 

Congratulations on your ace.

[LeftDaddy]

Thanks for the responses so far...keep ‘em coming. 
 

I’m pretty sure we don’t have any HIO insurance, and some guys told me about some horror stories that have happened in the past with massive bar bills for the “lucky” golfer, etc. 

 

I didn’t buy any drinks yesterday because, again, the drinks were already paid for. I’ll gladly buy a round next time or whatever. And I paid the caddie $1 per yard plus caddie fee, so that was pretty darned expensive already.

 

None of the guys were being “jerks” per se...more like “alcohol-fueled bravado”, though I could tell it was bothering 2 of the guys that I wasn’t opening up the “top shelf” liquor cabinet and popping the bottles open (nevermind that they were already 3 or 4 bottles deep).  It did kinda ruin it for me a little bit as I started worrying about whether I was mishandling it. But I had one of the club founders also tell me “no, you can’t feed the beast...if you open this up it will be painful “ so again feel like I did the right things in the moment, and will “make up” for the open bar later just to not be labeled as “cheap”.

 

Another quick question...is there a protocol for whom I notify about the HIO?  The club apparently already notified the local newspaper. 

[MPAndreassi]

5 minutes ago, LeftDaddy said:

Another quick question...is there a protocol for whom I notify about the HIO?  The club apparently already notified the local newspaper. 

You could check the website of the company who makes your irons and the ball you play. They usually have some sort of personalized certificate program you can print out or they send you. Our clubs, in the Philadelphia region, report HIOs to the local governing body and they get published in the monthly magazine. 

[ChipNRun]

A sad tale is that private clubs often have clusters of latter-day frat boys who like to bully others. I think you did just fine.

 

I have seen the bullying both as a country club bartender many years ago, and more recently as a competitor at amateur events held at some nicer clubs.

 

And, congrats on the HIO!!!

[sethdavidsdad]

Congrats on HIO! You did the right thing. People in your group and you're close friends are only ones you should buy drinks for in my opinion. I had an Albatross last week only one friend playing with me. He had to go home and didn't want a drink that night. I went to the bar and bought the 10 people there a drink but told the bar tender first round only on me. I don't drink so hung out for a few minutes and fist bumped a few and talked. 

[LeftDaddy]

2 hours ago, sethdavidsdad said:

Congrats on HIO! You did the right thing. People in your group and you're close friends are only ones you should buy drinks for in my opinion. I had an Albatross last week only one friend playing with me. He had to go home and didn't want a drink that night. I went to the bar and bought the 10 people there a drink but told the bar tender first round only on me. I don't drink so hung out for a few minutes and fist bumped a few and talked. 

Congrats on your albatross!  That’s next on my list I guess. My buddy got a HIO on a par 4, and the club put a plate /plaque at the spot where he teed off, etc. I told him I need to do that next lol. 

Edited March 29, 2021 by LeftDaddy

[klebs01]

I think you handled it right. It was fortunate that it was an open bar night. They get a regular drink, not a bottle of the most expensive thing there. Tough to get the context over through text with regards to how serious the guys thought you owed them something better vs just taking a joke a little too far. 
 

I disagree with the guys that have posted about only the guys in your group. Not at a club. They aren’t strangers. It should be for everyone. All the clubs I’ve been at have had HIO insurance, so it’s not a big deal. Everyone who makes it to the club that day gets a drink. Going against club culture on this one is a bad look. 

[Yoshifan151]

You did fine, pretty wack that your club doesn't have HIO insurance though. It's one of the dumbest traditions imo, and it's even more ridiculous in Japan lol, look it up.

[LeoLeo99]

2 hours ago, LeftDaddy said:

Congrats on your albatross!  That’s next on my list I guess. My buddy got a HIO on a par 4, and the club put a plate /plaque at the spot where he teed off, etc. I told him I need to do that next lol. 

It wasn't an albatross. That's a HIO on a par 4 or a 2 on a par 5.  

[LeoLeo99]

5 hours ago, Greenie said:

I never understood this traditional. Shouldn't everyone be buying you a drink?

 

I have never had a hole in one but I have seen four of them in my playing group. No one every bought me a drink but I bought three on the lucky ones a beer and for the other hole in one I bought the guy dinner. 

 

I guess if I ever get one I'll being buying those same guys a beer again..lol

 

I think you handled it well. I don't care for those kind of people speaking up like that trying to put you in a situation you were uncomfortable with. 

 

I would buy the people in your group a drink and let the rest go.

 

 

It's to keep the false claims down.  Guy in the group behind us got a HIO last year.  He didn't buy any drinks for my group.  

[LeoLeo99]

1 hour ago, klebs01 said:

I think you handled it right. It was fortunate that it was an open bar night. They get a regular drink, not a bottle of the most expensive thing there. Tough to get the context over through text with regards to how serious the guys thought you owed them something better vs just taking a joke a little too far. 
 

I disagree with the guys that have posted about only the guys in your group. Not at a club. They aren’t strangers. It should be for everyone. All the clubs I’ve been at have had HIO insurance, so it’s not a big deal. Everyone who makes it to the club that day gets a drink. Going against club culture on this one is a bad look. 

 

I agree.  OP handled it perfectly.  

[jordan2240]

I agree the tradition should be a drink for whomever you are playing with, unless you are just feeling generous.  And I doubt those guys could have told the difference between top shelf and gutter.

[LeftDaddy]

6 hours ago, LeoLeo99 said:

It wasn't an albatross. That's a HIO on a par 4 or a 2 on a par 5.  

I know. That’s what he said he got...an albatross. I said my next goal needs to be an albatross I guess, and that a buddy of mine got a HIO on a par 4. 

[LeftDaddy]

7 hours ago, klebs01 said:

I think you handled it right. It was fortunate that it was an open bar night. They get a regular drink, not a bottle of the most expensive thing there. Tough to get the context over through text with regards to how serious the guys thought you owed them something better vs just taking a joke a little too far. 
 

I disagree with the guys that have posted about only the guys in your group. Not at a club. They aren’t strangers. It should be for everyone. All the clubs I’ve been at have had HIO insurance, so it’s not a big deal. Everyone who makes it to the club that day gets a drink. Going against club culture on this one is a bad look. 

Yes I guess this is ultimately what I’m worried about. There were 4 guys making a big deal about it, all 4 of which were already drunk, and 3 of which had just gotten off the course and were practically in fisticuffs over their match. People don’t really like these 3 guys either. I know 2 of them a little bit and can vouch that their reputations aren’t good. There’s one guy, though, that people generally like and he’s the only one that has me concerned, and he was making a big deal about it. The other 3 lost their fervor over it by the time I left. But this 4th guy was still making a point about it. Now, he had been over-served already, so he may not even remember it today. And frankly, the more I think about it the jerkier it seems to be wasted already and yelling for anyone to hear that you think I owe you several bottles of “top shelf” liquor because of my HIO. But I just don’t want to be ostracized now that one of the most vocal club members thinks I cheaped out. It would have been such a waste to pour more alcohol in any of their mouths that day, so I think I can reasonably say that by doing it another day with a nice bottle of something that everyone wins. 

[LeoLeo99]

11 minutes ago, LeftDaddy said:

I know. That’s what he said he got...an albatross. I said my next goal needs to be an albatross I guess, and that a buddy of mine got a HIO on a par 4. 

 

Sorry.  I posted when I had just returned from walking 18 holes in 50F and 20mph winds.  Last hole I had a 5 foot birdie putt that the wind got ahold of.  LOL.  It was a rough day. 

 

I think you handled it perfectly and picked a perfect day to get a HIO.  You checked with the management folks and they confirmed this.  Screw them guys trying to get into your wallet.  

[Divot License]

@LeftDaddy

 

A couple of guys at my club have bought a bottle of something at the bar after a HIO when the course was empty at the time they got their HIO and they wanted to celebrate it in some way. 

 

On the next Saturday they have left it on the bar for members to have a glass from when they finish their round.

 

They guys trying to get you to buy lots of drinks from the top shelf are not worth worrying about as they are just trying to take advantage, buy them a pint next time you see them and call it even. 

 

A couple of years ago, the club captain got a HIO during his own Captains day, he bought a really nice bottle of wine for each table at the dinner and everyone thought that was generous.

 

Congrats on the hole in one. 

[MattyO1984]

OP, you handled it perfectly. Congratulations on the ace! I have been lucky enough to have 3. The first I was 14 so complete pass. The second two as an adult. A couple of bottles of Club Whisky purchased and left behind the bar. Everyone that comes in is then offered a dram. On the second occasion, I had been in the clubhouse again a couple of days later and the second bottle was still there unopened. When I got back into the clubhouse, the bar manager had left it in my locker - win win. 

[Oufcfan]

I had one 2 years ago in a comp. I bought a drink for the guy I was playing with. Then spent 10 minutes going through the fine print of my golf insurance. Then when I was 100% sure I’d be reimbursed, I bought £105 worth of whisky and Port, which I left on the bar. 
I would probably have been willing to spend about £40 on a single bottle to leave there if the insurance wouldn’t cover it, certainly not any more than that. 
 

 

[JDCON]

22 hours ago, MPAndreassi said:

You could check the website of the company who makes your irons and the ball you play. They usually have some sort of personalized certificate program you can print out or they send you. Our clubs, in the Philadelphia region, report HIOs to the local governing body and they get published in the monthly magazine. 

I wish my club was on the ball when I got my holes-in-one. I was 17, had two in one round. All I got was a typo in the local paper of a small rural town. A week later, an older gentleman did it and got on ESPN.

[me05501]

11 hours ago, LeftDaddy said:

Yes I guess this is ultimately what I’m worried about. There were 4 guys making a big deal about it, all 4 of which were already drunk, and 3 of which had just gotten off the course and were practically in fisticuffs over their match. People don’t really like these 3 guys either. I know 2 of them a little bit and can vouch that their reputations aren’t good. There’s one guy, though, that people generally like and he’s the only one that has me concerned, and he was making a big deal about it. The other 3 lost their fervor over it by the time I left. But this 4th guy was still making a point about it. Now, he had been over-served already, so he may not even remember it today. And frankly, the more I think about it the jerkier it seems to be wasted already and yelling for anyone to hear that you think I owe you several bottles of “top shelf” liquor because of my HIO. But I just don’t want to be ostracized now that one of the most vocal club members thinks I cheaped out. It would have been such a waste to pour more alcohol in any of their mouths that day, so I think I can reasonably say that by doing it another day with a nice bottle of something that everyone wins. 

 

One sad aspect of club life is that every club has a few characters like that. They'll loudly bully anyone who will be bullied, realizing that not many people are going to rise to their bait in what's supposed to be a polite, collegial environment. 

 

What's most surprising to me is the prevailing attitude of most other members toward these people. More often than not they excuse them and apologize for them instead of putting them right. Best case scenario they just avoid them if possible. 

[MtlJeff]

I think you handled it just fine OP. This is open to interpretation anyway, last i checked hole in one etiquette isn't international law. You aren't required to do anything....Some people who make hole in ones are college kids working minimum wage to pay their tuition, if they make a hole in one, i'm buying them a drink

 

I've never made one but if i do, i'd for sure buy for my group....The rest is up in the air. If the bar isn't super crowded i'll buy one drink for everyone else in there, but anyone ordering a Macallan 25 (other than me) is gonna get it cracked over his head.

[Divot License]

I made my first hole in one last year at Painswick Golf Cub on a very quite Tuesday afternoon, there were only 3 members in the bar who had played ahead of us for the round. 

 

I bought them all a drink and the pro who had been incredibly friendly to us visitors that morning. 

 

After our drink and before we left the pro approached us and gave us a ball marker and pitch mark repairer and a club polo shirt as a gift. Was shocked at the gesture and tried to refuse but he was having none of it. 

 

The polo was an extra small mens and while useless for me fit my wife fine. 

 

I guess he was just getting rid of dead stock and wanted to make our day the little bit more special. 

[LeftDaddy]

I’ll be honest and say that I’m a bit surprised that it has been near unanimous that you guys agree with me that buying drinks for the crew when they already had a mostly open bar would have just been silly, but I’m glad that I wasn’t out of line thinking that way. 
 

I plan to buy a couple of bottles of nicer stuff and have the club leave it in the men’s grill, and then I’m going to ask the club to put the next drink for my playing partners on me. I already paid the caddie a small fortune. So after all of that, I’m going to consider that I’ve done more than enough, and anyone that feels differently is just the type of person that is going to be like that no matter what. 
 

Thanks to everyone who responded. I appreciate it!

Edited March 30, 2021 by LeftDaddy