Have you heard the big news?  Hole In One International insured a golf contest at the renown PGA charitable event, the 2013 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am!  The contest itself is dubbed “The 3M Celebrity Challenge” and occurred Wednesday, February 6, 2013 at 11:00am.

Twelve celebrities (chances are you probably know of at least a few of them… do the names Ray Romano, Bill Murray and/or Kenny G ring a bell?) gathered at the 17th hole at Pebble Beach Golf Links for a chance to participate in a golf shootout contest!  If any of the twelve celebrity golfers ended up scoring a hole in one on the 170-yard hole, they would have scored $100,000 for their designated charity, paid for Hole In One International!

Golf Contest: A $100,000 Shootout for Charity!

The best part about Hole In One International’s hole in one and shootout insurance is that the coverage isn’t limited to one player!  Technically, if all twelve celebrity golfers were to have aced the 170-yard par 3 hole, they each would have landed $100,000 for their designated charity — again, compliments of Hole In One International!

“Insuring a major PGA event such as this one is undoubtedly great news for our company”, states Kristen Hansen, Marketing Assistant with Hole In One International.  “The fact that we’ve been privileged enough to insure a golf contest at both the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, as well as the Phoenix Waste Management Open this year, is definitely a feel-good experience.  Being the golf enthusiasts that we are here at Hole In One International, it’s also exciting for all of us to watch the events live to see if we end up with a winner — or at least to see who comes close!”

Want to insure a golf contest of your own?  Give us a call today at 800-827-2249 for a free, no-obligation quote or email us for more information!

Now here’s some exciting news: For the 5th year in a row, Hole In One International, had the honor of insuring a Million Dollar Shootout during the 2013 Phoenix Suns Charities Shot at Glory event which occurred during the Phoenix Waste Management Open on January 30, 2013!

On the infamous 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale, 30 amateur players had a chance to make a million dollar golf shot from 160 yards… for a chance to win $1,000,000, paid for by Hole In One International!  Dierks Bentley of country music fame ended up landing his shot 19 feet from the cup.  While no one aced the the Million Dollar Shootout, there were still some big victories that day — one of which consisted of giving Bentley’s designated  charity — the Jordan Sterling Foundation– $35,000.  Runner-up Jim Pitman of the Phoenix Suns raised $25,000 for Phoenix Suns Charities and Dave Steiner of Waste Management raised $15,000 for his selected charity.

Run Your Own Million Dollar Shootout…

Interested in insuring a Million Dollar Shootout of your own to help fundraise for your cause?  Hole In One International can help!  Give us a call at 800-827-2249 or email us today for a free, no-obligation quote and more information.  All Million Dollar Shootout policies come with a free sign which announces the sponsor’s name and prize description.  Want to include a logo?  No problem!  Hole In One International can do it all for you.

* To expedite the process of obtaining your quote, be sure to tell your contest consultant the yardage of the hole you’ll be using (135 yard minimum), the number of contestants playing, as well as their golfer status (amateur, club pro or tour pro).

By: Kristen Hansen

According to this article, urban golf (also known as cross golf, street golf or anarcho golf) is where players hit synthetic balls at improvised targets using a variety of clubs.  There are no defined rules – each group defines the target(s) to aim for, the number of shots permitted and the game can be played in a variety of ways.

Urban golf has been considered a “less uptight” form of the sport by its players, which usually consist of 20-somethings… and can be played on synthetic grass, in the streets, in the city or even at a park.  It usually includes a lack of nature and includes a higher frequency of big buildings. Hazards and bunkers take shape in the form of items such as drains and street furniture.

Urban golf was invented in the 1990s in Berlin, Germany .  Since then, the game has spread across Europe, New Zealand and even here in the United States!

Has “urban golf” made an appearance in your area yet?  Let us know!  And for those of you already familiar with the sport, there’s great news: our sister company, Odds On Promotions, can help you insure a promotion around urban golf!  Just give them a call at 888-827-2249 for a free, no-obligation quote… or email them!

To find out more information, also be sure to check out the Wikipedia article on urban golf.

Have you heard the exciting news?

Benje Dickey of Yorktown, Indiana scored himself $10,000, courtesy of hole sponsor Gary Demaree with Raymond James, Muncie Mission Ministries and Hole In One International.
Dickey aced the  200-yard (wow!) 5th hole at The Players Club on June 7, 2012 during the 9th Annual Muncie Mission Golf Tournament.

Check out our press release for further details.

Are you a non-profit organization looking for more fundraising ideas?  Hole In One International’s sister company, Odds On Promotions, can help!  If you’re looking to make your tournament more rewardin,  check out Odds On’s Golf Ball Drop promotion.  You simply sell sponsorships by placing an  individual’s name onto a numbered golf ball (other ball substitutes can also be used, such as tennis balls or even ping-pong balls).  Then, drop all of the balls above a target via a helicopter, a cherry picker, or  even a hot air balloon!  If one of numbers on the balls closest to your target matches one of the balls on Odds On’s pre-selected list, Odds On will pay for the prize!

Looking for more great fundraising promotion ideas?  Check some of them out here on Odds On’s website.  Or, if you have an idea of your own, feel free to give them a call at 888-827-2249 for a free, no-obligation quote!  You can also email them any time.

And congratulations again to Benje Dickey!  We hope you’re having a grand ‘ol time spending that $10,000!

By: Kristen Hansen

Now here’s a hole in one prize winner definitely worth talking about: Richard Ross of Grand Rapids, Michigan won an 18k white gold diamond necklace valued at $35,000, provided by Thomas S. Fox Diamond Jewelers and paid for by Hole In One International, thanks to his hole-in-one at the Crystal Invitational at Cascade Hills Country Club on July 13, 2012.

While this was Ross’ fifth hole-in-one to date, it was also a first, as Ross had never previously won an insured hole in one prize prior to his ace on the 150-yard 11th hole.

Be sure to read the full story here on our recent press release!

Are you a jeweler looking for more great promotion ideas that can help drive traffic to your store?  Hole In One International’s sister company, Odds On Promotions, can help!  In fact, just a few years ago, Odds On paid out a $20,000 winner who received a 100% rebate on his purchase during a snowfall conditional rebate promotion!

Conditional rebates are ideal for jewelry stores — you can insure for a variety of weather-based events.  For example, award your customers if it rains more than x inches on the specified promotion date.  You can even reverse it and have Odds On pay out if it rains less than x inches that day.

Sports conditional rebates are also very popular: Award your customers with a rebate if your local team wins the big game, hits a grand slam, scores a defensive touchdown… you name it, Odds On can insure it!  Feel free to give them a call today at 888-827-2249 or email them for a free, no-obligation quote.

And of course, congratulations again to Richard Ross!  We hope you’re enjoying your well-earned prize!

“Chili?”, you’re asking.  That’s right – chili.  On April 14, Gahanna, Ohio area golfers will gather at Gahanna Municipal Golf Course for their annual “Chili Bowl”, which will feature family games, activities, raffles and prizes for all attendees.   According to this article, golfers of all ages and skill levels will be invited for a round of golf and to taste a “hole” lot of chili.

That’s because local area restaurants and business sponsors will all be bringing their own chili to the event, which each and every attendee will be able to sample (rain or shine) … all for a nominal fee of $5/person!

According to Greg Ledbetter, recreation coordinator for the golf course, “Our goal is to let people see the fine golf course we have in our community.  We would like to increase membership and the amount of people we have coming out to play.”

Here at Hole In One International, we just think it’s a darn clever way to kick off the season!

Steal this idea and hold your own variation of Gahanna’s “Chili Bowl” to attract a crowd, generate excitement and increase awareness of your restaurant/business!  Have each restaurant/business sponsor a hole on the golf course (hint: Hole In One International’s sponsor signs are perfect for this type of occasion!)

The possibilities are endless.  Are you a restauraunt that serves hot wings?  Hold your own Annual “WingDing!”  Show off your tasty hot dogs at “Duffers and Dogs.”  Seafood restaurants may want people to try their fish recipes at “Fish on the Fairway.”

Get the picture?  We sure do… and it looks delicious!

“When it comes to the game of life, I figure I’ve played the whole course.”  — Lee Trevino

There’s no doubt about it…  there are quite a few pro golfers out there who have ”deserved” to win The Masters over the years, but for one reason or another, haven’t quite met the mark.

One of the professional golfers who first comes to our minds here at Hole In One International is Lee ‘Buck’ Trevino.

Trevino, the self-taught Mexican-American golf icon, made quite a name for himself during his career.  With his Vardon Trophy win, 2 PGAs; 29 PGA Tour wins, 2 Open Championships and 2 US Opens (just to name a few of his major accomplishments), his skill — while unique and not quite ‘par for the course’ — goes unquestioned.

Having had the chance to play at Augusta National, it’s a wonder why he never won The Masters since the beginning of his professional career in 1967.  Not even being struck by lightning at the 1975 Western Open and having a major spinal disk surgery stopped this man from going on to achieve many more victories during his professional career.

It’s because of these reasons (and many more) that we here at Hole In One International feel that Trevino is one of the greatest golfers never to win The Masters.

And chances are that we’re not alone in feeling that way.  What do you think?

Who, in your opinion, should have won a past Masters — or still has a chance at winning one – yet hasn’t?

Share your thoughts with us on Google Plus, Facebook and Twitter!