The 18th green and clubhouse. Note the wicker basket on top of the pin. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

There is much anticipation for the 2013 U.S. Open which is just around the corner. The golfers have arrived in the western suburbs of Philadelphia in the small town of Ardmore, Pennsylvania. There are so many story lines that are developing already as the final days are counted down until the first tee shot on Thursday morning. Most notably is the recent release of the pairings for Thursday and Fridays rounds. The first two days will be dominated by the pairing of a few contenders who you should expect to see in the hunt on Sunday. This pairing is comprised of three household names on the tour; Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, and Adam Scott. This may put the pressure on this pairing in the opening rounds, but will the pressure create a diamond on Sunday?

Another major story line from the U.S. Open this year is Merion Golf Club’s course itself. Merion is hosting its fifth U.S. Open since its first in 1934 and is full of rich history. In 1950, the timeless photo of Ben Hogan was taken on the 18th fairway as he forced a playoff and captured his first PGA Tour victory after his life threatening car accident in 1949. The course is much shorter than other courses on the tour schedule. The course itself is a par 70 and measures in at less than 7,000 yards. This can allow for some names near the top of the leader board who you may not expect to see. Being a smaller course makes many golfers keep the driver in their bag and can allow players who do not drive the ball as well and some older golfers to be in contention. So come Sunday afternoon, do not be surprised if you see the likes of the suburban Philadelphian, Jim Furyk, or maybe you will see Steve Stricker or Fred Couples. It will be interesting to see how this all pans out in the final days.  Everyone here at US Hole In One can not wait to see all the excitement this week is sure to bring! So, who is your money on?

If you are in town this week, stop by and say hi to us at US Hole In One!! We can always be reached at by phone at 888-882-5440 or by email at info@usholeinone.com.

By: Sarah Halcovage

A golf ball. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Everyday at US Hole In One, we have clients that are confused when it comes to differentiating between a hole in one insurance contest and a million dollar shootout contest. For both the hole in one and million dollar shootout contests, the golfers does need to make a hole in one to win the prize that the insurance was purchased for, but the contests occur at different times of the tournament.

A hole in one insurance contest is set up during the course of play for all of the golfers in the tournament because this is the contest that all the golfers participate in. The typical hole in one insurance prize is a cash prize, usually around 25,000, or a car! This contest is set up on one of the par 3 holes on the golf course.  During play, when the golfers get to that hole, their first tee shot counts as their hole in one insurance attempt, so no mulligans! Hole in one contest are an awesome addition to a golf tournament because it gives every golfer in your tournament a chance to shoot for a grand prize.

A shootout contest is run differently. The shootout grand prize is a larger cash prize, such as $100,000 or $1,000,000. Shootouts are typically done before or after the tournament. Most clients like to set up the shootout contest on the hole closest to the club house so everyone in the tournament can witness the contest taking place, so it does not have to be on a par 3 hole. Using a par 4 or 5 hole is not a problem, it just needs to be at least 165 yards from the green and then set up the shot from there. Lastly, the shootout is not for all of the golfers in the tournament. Shootout contests are priced per shot, so it is best to narrow down the field to 1-5 golfers. You can randomly select a few golfers by selling raffle tickets, which also gives a great opportunity to raise some money for the event.

If you need any additional clarification on the differences between hole in one insurance and shootout contests, or just need a quote for your upcoming tournament, please contact an US Hole In One tournament consultant by phone at 888-882-5440 or by email at info@usholeinone.com.

By: Sarah Halcovage

2012 :: Adam Scott, Hole #16, 170 yards, 7-iron

2012 :: Bo Van Pelt, Hole #16., 170 yards, 6-iron

2010 :: Ryan Moore, Hole #16, 176 yards, 7-iron

2010 :: Nathan Green, Hole #16, 176 yards, 6-iron

2008 :: Ian Poulter, Hole #16, 170 yards, 8-iron

2005 :: Trevor Immelman, Hole #16, 177 yards, 7-iron

2004 :: Kirk Triplett, Hole #16, 177 yards, 6-iron & Padraig Harrington, Hole #16, 177 yards, 6-iron

2004 :: Chris DiMarco, Hole #6, 198 yards, 5-iron
1995 :: Raymond Floyd, Hole #16, 182 yards, 5-iron
1992 :: Jeff Sluman, Hole #4, 213 yards, 4-iron
1992 :: Corey Pavin, Hole #16, 140 yards, 8-iron
1988 :: Curtis Strange, Hole #12, 155 yards, 7-iron
1972 :: Charles Coody, Hole #6, 190 yards, 5-iron
1968 :: Clive Clark, Hole #16, 190 yards, 2-iron
1959 :: William Hyndman, Hole #12, 155 yards, 6-iron
1954 :: Leland Gibson, Hole #6, 190 yards, 4-iron
1954 :: Billy Joe Patton, Hole #6, 190 yards, 5-iron
1949 :: John Dawson, Hole #16, 190 yards, 4-iron
1947 :: Claude Harmon, Hole #12, 155 yards, 7-iron
1940 :: Ray Billows, Hole#16, 145 yards, 8-iron
1935 :: Willie Goggin, Hole# 16, 145 yards, spade mashie
1934 :: Ross Somerville, Hole #16, 145 yards, mashie niblick

At the Masters, the odds of one of the PGA Tour pros hitting a hole in one over the entire weekend  is roughly an 1 in 1 chance! (A little better than the hole in one odds of an amateur golfer making an ace on a par 3 hole, right??) That is because at most of these PGA Tour events,  there are typically 144 players, the majority whom are professionals . During a single day of play, there is a roughly 1 in 4.5 chance that there will be a hole in one. Thus, making the chances of a hole in one being made during a standard four-day PGA Tour event roughly 1 in 1! So the BIG question now is, is there going to be a hole in one during the 2013 Masters??  All we need to do now is wait and see!!

If you would like to get more information about hole in one insurance and give the golfers at your event the chance to go home with an awesome prize for their ace, contact an US Hole In One tournament consultant today at 888-882-5440 or info@usholeinone.com. Happy Masters Weekend 2013!!

By: Sarah Halcovage

The terms and conditions in its entirety is important, but there are a few areas of them that are very important and you will want to pay close attention to. The first of these areas is the witness requirements which are broken down by different prize values. Next is how to contact US Hole In One if you need to make a change to your original contract, because maybe you need to change of date due to the weather, or the number of golfers for example. Also in the terms and conditions is how to contact US Hole In One if you have a winner.  The yardage requirements for both the grand prize and bonus prize holes for both men and women golfers can be also found in the terms and conditions, along with details regarding your target hole and bonus prize holes. Then there is US Hole In One’s policy on prize restoration, which is a must know!

The terms and conditions are different for hole in one contests, putting contests, and shootout contests, so you need to review the one that is specific to your particular contest. It is never a bad idea to have a copy of the terms and conditions with you on the course on the day of your golf tournament, that way you can always reassure yourself of all the rules!

If you have any questions regarding the terms and conditions, please contact an US Hole In One tournament consultant by phone at 888-882-5440 or by email at info@usholeinone.com.

By: Sarah Halcovage

English: A female golfer takes a shot at a golf course in Cayman Islands (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The temperature is starting to warm up and golf tournament planning is well underway! US Hole In One is always excited to bring you your tournament needs and that is no different in 2013. If you are in charge of running a golf tournament for your company or organization, you want to make sure that your event runs as smoothly as possible. Just as important as it running smoothly is happy golfers at the end of the day! Giving them an experience to remember and them leaving your event happy makes them come back the next year. So how do you accomplish that? By offering great hole in one insurance prizes at your golf tournament! Awesome hole in one insurance prizes are essential to keeping your golfers happy and excited to come back to your event year after year. US Hole In One can help you with a hole in one insurance prize package!!

So what is included in a hole in one insurance prize package?

• You get hole in one contest prize coverage for your choice of a grand prize that you would like to offer.  (This is what determines the base cost your package.)
• Also included is coverage for bonus prizes for additional par 3 holes. You have an option for the standard bonus prize package which are FREE of charge to you, or the premium bonus prize package which is just a small additional fee.
  • Standard Prize Package
  • Sharp LCD Flat-Screen Television
  • Set of Diablo Irons (3-PW) from Callaway Golf
  • Domestic Roundtrip Plane Tickets for Two (2)
  • Premium Prize Package
  • Apple Entertainment Package
  • Callaway Woods (1,3 & 5) and Irons (3-PW)
  • $750 Visa Gift Card

• You will also get a full color contest signs for the grand prize & each of the bonus prizes.
• For each golfer that participates in your event, you will also receive a golf club certificate. This is given courtesy of Warrior Golf.
• Also for every golfer, a coupon for $15 off at GolfDiscount.com.

In addition to all of this, when you obtain a hole in one prize package prize package, you also get free shipping on your contest signs, if US Hole In One receives your application at least ten days prior to your actual event. Plus you get free rider coverage for multiple grand and bonus prize winners for your hole in one contest.

Remember, if you have any questions in regards to hole in one insurance, please contact an US Hole In One tournament consultant at 888-882-5440 or info@usholeinone.com.

By: Sarah Halcovage

Golf Anyone? (Photo credit: Amber B McN)

Spring is here! We hope everyone survived the winter and is having the best of luck planning  their 2013 tournaments. Before you know it, your golf tournament will be here! But before you give us a call here at  US Hole In One to secure your hole in one insurance, putting insurance and shootout insurance, we have some exciting news! Just like a new year brings change for everyone, it is no different for us here at US Hole In One. US Hole In One is always working extra hard to provide different ways to make your event even better than it was the year before. We take pride in being the leading provider of hole in one insurance and understand that we need to stay at the top of our game. In order to be the best, in addition to providing our customers excellent service, we have to come up with new ways to make your golf event even more exciting in 2013. So, now that 2013 is well underway, what changes are happening at US Hole In One?

Premium Bonus Prizes

Are you ready for a little shake up this year at your tournament with new hole in one bonus prizes? For just an extra $45, you can upgrade your standard bonus prizes to premium bonus prizes! The premium bonus prizes include:

• Apple Package (iPad , iPod Nano & $100 Apple Gift Card)
• Callaway Irons (3-PW) and Woods (1, 3 & 5)
• a $750 Visa Card!

New Add-On Contest

Now we have two options for an add-on contest when purchasing  hole in one insurance! In addition to our add-on putting contest, US Hole In One now offers an add-on dice roll contest.  Give four golfers at your tournament the chance to win $2,500, $5,000, or $10,000 by rolling C-A-$-H!  A dice roll helps to create an exciting atmosphere right up until the end of your tournament! You can easily incorporate the dice roll into the dinner after everyone is done on the course. This is definitely going to be a crowd pleaser!

Golfsmith Program

Back by popular demand we are working with Golfsmith again this year to offer every golfer in your event $10 off a purchase of $30.  When you work with us we will send you a discount card for each golfer and you can simply hand those out or put them in your golfers goodie bags.  This added benefit of working with US Hole In One helps make your tournament stand out from the rest.

We’ve Moved!!

How exciting is that?? Sometimes bigger is better and our expanding operations require more space so that’s why we’ve moved. Get your pen and paper ready! Our new address is…

136 Coulter Avenue
Ardmore, PA 19003

US Hole In One looks forward to hearing from you, our amazing customers, to get your 2013 hole in one insurance secured! Please do not hesitate to contact an US Hole In One tournament consultant today at 888-882-5440 or info@usholeinone.com to get your quote or with any questions. We will be more than happy to give you more details on what is new at US Hole In One in 2013!

PS. There are also AWESOME changes coming soon at or sister company, Interactive Promotions Group! Do not miss out, so head over and check them out!

By: Sarah Halcovage

Image via CrunchBase

Thank you to everyone who entered the US Hole In One iPad 3 Giveaway on Facebook. There were over a thousand entries in 2012 for the chance to be the randomly selected winner of the coveted prize. But now is the time you have all been waiting for, so here we go. Ladies and gentleman, the winner is…… drum rolls please…..

The winner of US Hole In One’s iPad 3 Giveaway is Lisa Beasley of Atlanta, GA!!!! Congratulations to Lisa from all of us here at US Hole In One!!! Lisa has been a loyal customer of US Hole In One for several years. She has been responsible for securing hole in one insurance for the The Intersect Group Annual Golf Tournament, and has always been a pleasure to work with. US Hole In One looks forward to working with Lisa and The Intersect Group in years to come! Take a look at Lisa with her new iPad 3!!

Make sure to follow US Hole In One on Facebook for your Chance to Win in the Future!
If you haven’t “Liked” our Facebook page yet, be sure to do so to stay up to date with the latest US Hole In One announcements and updates, as well as participate this year’s awesome giveaway of a 50″ Panasonic LCD TV!

Do you have any questions for US Hole In One? If so, please do not hesitate to contact a US Hole In One tournament consultant at 888-882-5440 or info@usholeinone.com. We look forward to hearing from you!!

By: Sarah Halcovage

(Photo credit: marsmet481)

There are so many questions people are asking as we head into this weekend. Who are you cheering for during the big game? Is it the Baltimore Ravens or the San Francisco 49ers? (Or maybe you are just watching it for the commercials!) Will Ray Lewis get a ring in his final season? Which one of the Harbaugh brothers will come out on top, Jim or John? But at the end of the day, only one team can go home with the Vince Lombardi Trophy. No matter who it is, we are in for a great game Sunday, and I am sure great food! So in honor of Super Bowl XLVII, US Hole In One is bringing you some of the best courses (all of which are open to the public) in San Francisco and Baltimore, the hometowns of the AFC and NFC champions.

Greater Baltimore Area

Mount Pleasant Golf Club
This course is located right in Baltimore itself.  In 1956, Arnold Palmer secured his second win on the professional golf tour here at Mount Pleasant. It was also home of the Eastern Invitational Open from 1950-1963. The course measures 6,726 yards from the blue tees, and is a par 71 course. Mt. Pleasant is a favorite for players looking for the challenge of a classic design. The course requires precision driving, and careful putting.  This course is rich in history and tradition, so even though it does lack a few things, it makes is sure to make up in that!

Pine Ridge Golf Course
The course is located in Towson, MD.  As golfers are hitting the green, they are sure to see the deer and geese that make this tranquil setting their home.  Pine Ridge offers peace and quiet unlike any other golf experience in the greater Baltimore area. This venue has been home to several LPGA and PGA tournaments including the Eastern Open, Lady Carling Open, and the Greater Baltimore Golf Classic. The course measures at 6,820 yards, and is a par 72 course. It features a challenging layout from tee to green. The course is surrounded by the scenic water and pine trees of the Loch Raven watershed setting. This makes this course both beautiful and a challenge because water does come in play on several holes. Pine Ridge also offers a 45-station, lighted driving range which is also very popular with all golfers.

Diamond Ridge Golf Course
Diamond Ridge  is located in Gwynn Oak, MD, about a 15 minute drive from downtown Baltimore. Diamond Ridge along with an 18-hole golf course, features a great practice facility. The practice facility includes a driving range, putting green, and short-game area. The course itself  measures at 6,613 yards from the blue tees, and is a par 71 course.  Although the course is fairly open off the tee box, the challenge of this layout comes from the difficult putting greens. The front nine is open more in nature, links-esque if you will, and the back nine is tighter and outlined by mature trees and offers you. The back nine is also unique among most golf courses, with three par 3′s, three par 4′s and three par 5′s.

San Francisco Bay Area

TPC Harding Park
Located right in San Francisco, TPC Harding Park offers two courses which are both open to the public, Harding Park and Fleming 9. It recently was host to host to the 2005 World Golf Championship and the Presidents Cup 2009. Harding Park is lined with Monterey Cypress Trees and set against Lake Merced, making it not only an experience for each golfer on the course, but also a scenic one, the views of the lake are particularly breathtaking. It measures at 6,845 yards from the blue tees, and is a par 72 course. Fleming 9 was added in 1961 to the interior of Harding Park . It is a challenging par 30 course and it stretches a little over 2,100 yards.  TPC Harding Park also offers an all weather Practice Facility, which includes both chipping and putting areas, is built for guests to practice in any weather conditions.

Presidio Golf Course
Presidio Golf Course is located just minutes from downtown San Francisco. It is is renowned for its spectacular forest setting as the course winds through the beautiful Eucalyptus and Monterey Pine trees in The City’s trademark hills. Once restricted to military officers and private club members, it is now open to the public. It is full of tight fairways with strategically placed bunkers, making it an unique challenge because it is a “hilly” golf course. Presidio measures 6,422 yards and is a par 72 course. They also have a large driving range and a 6-hole practice putting green and chipping green. Fun fact: In 1983 a storm shook more than 200 balls out of the trees and on to the course in an hour!

Has anyone ever hit the greens at any of these courses? We would love to hear your feedback! Happy Super Bowl XLVII!! As always, you can contact an US Hole In One tournament consultant at 888-882-5440 or info@usholeinone.com.

By: Sarah Halcovage

Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas luxury cruise ship. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

“What can I give away as my hole in one insurance grand prize?” That is a question that we hear a lot here at US Hole In One. When we are asked that, our response is, “We can insure anything you would like!” US Hole In One Is providing insurance for your hole in one grand prize, so really, anything that you can put a value to, we can insure it. One of the key components of your event is the prize you will give away. In order to generate enough buzz and interest in your event, you must choose the right grand prize to offer golfers for the hole in one contest. Since your options are endless, it keeps your golfers happy and excited to come to your event year after year. So now that your options are endless, we have compiled a list of some the most popular prize options. But, in the end, don’t forget that we can cover any prize you can imagine!

Cash is always the most popular prize. Whether it be $10,000, $25,000, $50,000 or even $100,000, US Hole In One can cover it! Who wouldn’t want to walk away from a golf tournament with a little, well actually a lot of, extra cash in their pocket? Many times the golf event is raising many for a charity or cause, so you can also make an option to give 1/2 to the cash to the winner and 1/2 to the cash to the charity or organization, it is totally up to you!

Many people also choose to offer vacations as their hole in one grand prize. It can be anything from a golf vacation to Hawaii, Pebble Beach or St. Andrew’s, or maybe a cruise on the Caribbean or a trip to Disney World!

If you are looking to offer your participants a more tangible grand prize, a Car, Harley-Davidson, or a Boat are always great options! Many golf outing’s offer all different types and brands of cars, motorcycles and boats and their top prizes.

So now the questions is, which will it be? Once you take in to consideration all the options available to you for your golf outing, contact an US Hole In One tournament consultant at 888-882-5440 or info@usholeinone.com for a quote, or if you need more information! If you are unsure what to choose for your hole in one insurance grand prize, US Hole In One will be happy to offer you the help you need to guide you in the right direction.

By: Sarah Halcovage

Have you ever considered a putting contest for your golf tournament? If you haven’t, the real question you should be asking yourself is why not! A putting contest is a very easy way to raise some extra cash at your golf event and it provides a great incentive for people to sign up. And guess what? It does not have to cost an arm and a leg! There are many different ways to make your golf event more exciting, but a putting contest is an easy add-on.

How Much Does it Cost?

A putting contest allows an individual to take a single putt attempt at 40, 50 or 60 feet away. If they make that putt, THEY WIN! There is no grey area, so it is that simple. US Hole In One will work with you to make sure it fits your budget too. To help make sure it does, US Hole In One offers several pricing options. The price is determined by the following factors:

• The value of the grand prize, which can be as high as $25,000
• The distance of the putt (40, 50 or 60 foot putt)
• The number of finalists (each one only gets one shot at the prize)

It may sound very simple to you, and in fact it is! So, if you would like to organize a putting contest or any of our other promotions at your next golf tournament, please visit our website or contact one of our tournament consultants at 888-882-5440 or info@usholeinone.com for a free price quote.

By: Sarah Halcovage