Date Published: 18/11/2025
Golf is a sport filled with memorable moments, but few are as exciting or celebrated as an ace. Whether you’ve heard the term on the course or seen it mentioned during tournaments, many new golfers ask the same question: what is an ace in golf?
In this guide, we explore what it means, how rare it is, and why it’s one of the greatest achievements in the game, especially for golfers playing on UK golf courses.
An ace in golf is simply another term for a hole-in-one. It occurs when a golfer hits the ball from the tee and it goes straight into the hole in a single stroke.
This almost always happens on a par 3, as longer holes are rarely reachable in one shot, particularly on UK courses where layout, wind, and weather make long carries more challenging.
So, what is an ace in golf?
It’s a moment of precision, control, and often a touch of luck – something every golfer dreams of experiencing at least once.
Aces are unusual, but not impossible. The average golfer has odds of around 12,500 to 1 of making a hole-in-one, though the figure varies depending on skill level.
Factors that influence your chances on courses include:
Even with perfect conditions, an ace remains a rare moment and a highlight in any golfer’s career.
While an ace is a rare and exciting achievement, it’s still far more common than a condor, the almost impossible feat of scoring four under par on a single hole.
Traditionally, golfers who score an ace at their club buy a round of drinks in the clubhouse – a custom widely upheld in the UK. While this varies from course to course, it’s often seen as a fun and celebratory tradition rather than an obligation.
Many golfers also choose to:
Professional events often recognise aces with applause, prizes, or special mentions, but for everyday golfers, the moment itself is usually celebration enough.
Under the World Handicap System, an ace counts like any other stroke meaning it can be included in your score for handicap purposes.
But the beauty of an ace is that it:
Recording achievements like this becomes even more valuable when using a digital system where your performance history is stored securely.
For golfers who aren’t members of a traditional club, iGolf offers an ideal way to track rounds and maintain an official WHS Handicap Index.
Aces, personal bests, and standout performances can all be recorded through the platform, giving golfers a complete digital history of their progress.
With an annual subscription of £46, iGolf provides:
Whether you’re on the path to your first ace or simply improving with each round, iGolf helps you track every step.