Unusual and Exceptional Scoring Streaks
MOST UNDER PAR IN THE SHORTEST NUMBER OF HOLES
AT 1 HOLE – 4 UNDER PAR:
The lowest feasible score for a single hole is 4 under par – ie a hole-in-one on a par 5, otherwise known as a condor – and this has been achieved just four times.
AT 1 HOLE – 3 UNDER PAR:
The albatross (or double-eagle)- a hole-in-one on a par 4 or holing out with the second shot on a par 5 – is statistically about 20 times rarer than a "normal" hole-in-one on a par 3. The PGA and European Tours each average about four albatrosses per year.
FOR 2 HOLES (- 6 UNDER PAR):
Successive holes-in-one on par 4s (ie 6 under par) are four times rarer than condors. We know of only one example, achieved by Norman Manley in September 1964 at Del Valle CC, Saugus, California, when he aced the 330 yard par 4 7th and the 290 yard par 4 8th in succession. Manley went on to score a course record 61 (10 under par). Although it should not detract from what remains a unique event in golf, both holes are doglegs and play slightly downhill.
FOR 2 HOLES (- 5 UNDER PAR):
There are three known successive holes-in-one at a par 3 and par 4, or vice versa.
The first came in 1964, when Roger Game aced the 244 yard par 3 7th at Walmer & Kingsdown GC, Kent with a 4-wood, followed by the 256 yard par 4 8th with a 5-iron.
The other two both occurred in 1971. John Hudson aced the 195 yard par 3 11th at Royal Norwich GC, Norfolk with a 4-iron, followed by the 311 yard par 4 12th with his driver during the second round of the Martini International tournament. In November 1971, Tom Doty aced the 360 yard dogleg par 4 5th hole at Brookwood CC, Illinois, followed by the 175 yard par 3 6th. These two holes formed part of what we believe to be the most extraordinary short scoring streak of all time – see below.
FOR 2 HOLES (- 4 UNDER PAR):
Although successive holes-in-one on par 3s, representing 4 under par for two holes, are extremely rare (the odds against "simply" making two holes-in-one anywhere in the same round have been estimated at 67 million to 1!), plenty of examples do exist.
FOR 3 AND 4 HOLES:
Playing at Brookwood CC, Illinois in November 1971, 23 year old pro Tom Doty had a streak of albatross – ace – ace – eagle, going 2-1-1-2 against a par of 5-3-4-4. Counted over the first three holes he was 8 under par, and 7 under for the second three holes, and 10 under par for the four holes together. He did it as follows:
Albatross at the 500 yard par 5 4th – driver, 3-wood.
Hole-in-one at the 360 yard par 4 5th, a dogleg left – driver.
Hole-in-one at the 175 yard par 3 6th – 4-wood into the wind.
Eagle at the 375 yard par 4 7th – driver (smothered, such were his nerves by now) only 220 yards into rough and behind trees – 9-iron.
Doty holed the 6,435 yard course in 59, against a par of 72, including three putts from 10 feet at the 18th, missing a one footer.
November 2010
