Just a friendly reminder to download your FREE copy of Hole In One International’s Tournament Planning Guide!  Golf season is finally here, so it’s time to get a jumpstart on planning this year’s golf tournament if you haven’t already!

Hole In One International’s Tournament Planning Guide covers everything from naming your event to purchasing contest and sponsor signs for your tournament … and will even give you the suggested timeframe on when you should be working on those specific tasks!  Great for tournament directors!

If you have any questions about our Tournament Planning Guide, don’t hesitate to give us a call today at 800-827-2249.  Happy planning!

“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!

Want your golf tournament to stand out from the crowd?  One of the easiest ways to grab headlines and create a buzz is to give your tournament participants the chance win a life-changing prize in a hole in one contest, putting contest or million-dollar shoot-out!

While getting a quote and insuring a prize is a quick as a click, dreaming up eye- and imagination-capturing prizes can really be a challenge.   And that’s why we’ve created the “Dream Prize” list … a  collection of the most unusual “quote requests” we’ve seen during the previous year along with a few ideas that we think hole in one contest sponsors  (and tournament participants) are going to love.    How creative can you and your sponsors get this season?
What kinds of prizes will motivate your tournament participants to donate just a few dollars more? How creative can you and your sponsors get this season? Have a suggestion for dream prize? We’d love to hear from you …

Tweet your best idea to  #holeinoneprizes or share your favorites with us on our Facebook page.

Hole In One International’s  Top Ten Hole In One Dream Prize List For 2012

1 . A Golf Bag Full of Gold
 Give your tournament players the chance to strike it rich by winning a “golf bag full of gold” (approximately 20-25 pounds of gold, a $650,000 value).   Not sure gold is in the budget?  Silver could work just as well!

2.  Fantasy Sports Package
Here’s a prize sure to grab the attention of any sports fan!  This prize package includes a session at a fantasy camp, “pre-season” or “Spring Training” tickets, season tickets to all home games, plus free satellite or cable for a year so your winner never misses a game!

3. Corvette & Cash
Muscle up a few more donations when you give shootout participants the chance to score a 2012 Corvette Z06 plus an all-expense paid trip for two to the Corvette manufacturing plant in Bowling Green, Kentucky.  (Approximate prize value $100,000)

4. Rock & Roll Fantasy
Who wouldnt love to say, “I’m with the band” ? Give your hole in one contest winner and their signifigant other the a chance to go “on tour” with their favorite band with a cash prize which covers airfare, accommodations, and concert tickets for 3-5 performances.

5. Wine & Dine Weekend
Award your ace maker (and 9 of his or her closest friends) with a weekend in Napa Valley complete with winery tours, lodging, meals, spa treatments, airfare, and of course, limousine service.

6. Power, Guns & Money Weekend!
 Think of this one as “The Hangover” without the booze!  This all-expense paid weekend for 4 in Vegas includes airfare, luxury accommodations, a 90-minute visit to the “Dig This” Bulldozer/Excavator Experience for 4, a Ferrari Dream Racing Experience for 4, a trip to the Mob Museum, and $4,000-5,000 in spending cash.

7. The Ultimate European Vacation
 London. Paris. Rome. Madrid. Where else will your winner go? The  Ultimate European Vacation prize will give your winner enough cash to visit 4-5 countries of their choice including meals, accomodations and airfare for four!

8. The Backyard BBQ Experience
Yard Crashers meets Food Network in this incredible prize package where the winner will receive a complete backyard makeover, attend a certified KCBS judging class, and score steaks for a year. (BBQ Grill, Lawn Mower and Tools are definitely included!)

9. Tanker Truck of Free Fuel
With gas prices nearing $5 a gallon, here’s a prize that’s sure to pique some interest and will definitely come in handy … free fuel. Whether you opt for the full tanker or just free fuel for a year, this one is sure to get the crowd talking!

10. $50K 50/50 Split
Here’s a wonderful way to reward your shoot-out, hole in-one or putting contest winner while benefiting their favorite charity – or your organization… a 50/50 split prize. In a 50/50 split,   half of the prize is awarded to charity and the other is awarded to the winner.

Have any other prize ideas of your own? Give Hole In One International a call at 800-827-2249 and we’ll give you a free, no-obligation quote!  Feel free to also share your own ideas on our Facebook, Twitter, and/or Google+ pages!

We know you’ve all been waiting for them… and here they are!  The new auxiliary prizes for 2012!  This season, along with our A-rated underwriting and complimentary target hole contest signs and tee markers, we’re pleased to offer any player acing a non-target par three during your tournament an exciting auxiliary prize!  Check them out below.

$500 VISA Gift Card
It’s as good as cash!  Nothing is better than having the freedom to spend your earnings wherever (and whenever) you want!  Our $500 VISA Gift Card is reserved for the longest non-target par 3 on your golf course.

Kindle Fire Tablet
It’s the hottest tablet around!  With a 7-inch full color multi-touch display, this tablet does everything from allow you to download your favorite apps and games (including Netflix, Pandora, Hulu Plus and more!) to display your favorite books, magazines and songs using free Cloud storage for all of your Amazon content!  This prize is reserved for those who ace the 2nd longest non-target par 3 on the golf course.

Cleveland® Golf Equipment
How does a brand new set of Cleveland® CG16 Black Pearl Irons sound?  Make a hole-in-one on the shortest non-target par 3 on the golf course and they’re yours… compliments of Hole In One International!

And, to entice you to choose Hole In One International, we’ve teamed up with FreeTeePrize.com to give everyone in your event a FREE Golf Club of their choice!

If you have any further questions about our new auxiliary prizes or free tee prize, please don’t hesitate to give us a call at 800-827-2249 or email us!

The event may have been cancelled early on due to weather; however, Mother Nature herself could not stop professional golfers Mark Wilson, Craig Stadler and Thomas Bjørn from achieving the statistically near-impossible: all three golfers made a hole in one today, April 4, 2012 during the 2012 Masters Par 3 Tournament.

Don’t believe us?  See it for yourself.

Looking to insure a hole-in-one contest at your next Par 3 Tournament?  We’ve got you covered!  For as little as $150 per hole, you can insure a great grand prize… and Hole In One International will pick up the tab if one, two or even three of your golfers make a hole in one on any insured hole(s)!  Contact us today for a free, no-obligation quote at 800-827-2249… or email us if you have any questions!

Holding a golf outing this season?  Need help with planning for it?  Good news! With Hole In One International’s FREE 6-page Tournament Planning Guide, you’ll be all set up in no time!

Feel free to grab yourself a copy here on our website by simply selecting the PDF titled “How To Run A Successful Golf Tournament.”

Questions?  Feel free to give us a call at 800-827-2249 any time from 6am – 5pm Pacific, Monday through Friday… or send us an email.  Good luck!

It’s that time again already… can you believe it?  That’s right – The 2012 Masters began this week!  Augusta National, which has been the home of The Masters for 78 years now, is full of interesting facts that you’ve likely never known about!  Continue reading to find out more about this beautiful, renown golf course.

1. There are several types of sandwiches sold at The Masters, but did you know that the pimento cheese sandwich is the most famous?  It’s a Masters tradition!
2. The infamous “Big Oak Tree” is on the golf course side of the Clubhouse and was planted during the 1850′s.
3. Available for amateurs wishing to be housed there during the Masters Tournament, the Crow’s Nest provides living space for up to five individuals.
4. Augusta National will play at approximately 7.435 yards during The Masters this year.
5. The Clubhouse at Augusta National was originally constructed in 1854 as a private residence — wow!  Could you imagine living there?
6. Looking to take some snapshots?  Unfortunately, any type of camera is prohibited unless it’s during the practice rounds of The Masters.
7. Augusta National has approximately 300 members at any given time and membership is by invitation-only.
8. There are several cabins scattered throughout Augusta National, one of which is named Eisenhower Cabin.  This is due to the fact that it was built for the President and First Lady so that they’d have a place to stay during their trips to Augusta National.
9. Augusta National accepted its first African-American member in the year 1990.
10. Unlike most other golf courses in the U.S., Augusta National has never been rated!  During the 1990 Masters Tournament, it was given an unofficial rating of 76.2 by USGA raters.

Now that you know the facts, be sure to share them all with your fellow golfers and show off your newfound knowledge!
Better yet, share your own trivia on our Google Plus or our Facebook page.

Are you looking forward to The 2012 Masters Tournament?   Here at Hole In One International the arrival of The Masters represents the official start of our favorite season of the year … “Tournament Season”!

Over the next few weeks we invite you join us on Facebook, Twitter and Google Plus as we share tips and suggestions for increasing golf tournament attendance and sponsorship, fun and fascinating golf trivia, and a variety of promotional ideas that will make your next golf event even more exciting, not to mention more effective!

Have a great suggestion for boosting attendance?  Looking to show off how much you raised at your event? Want to share a photo of a big winner? We’d love to hear from you!

And, if you’re ready to kick-off your corporate, charity and golf course tournament in first-class fashion, give us a call today at 800-827-2249 for a free quote!

P.S. Did you know?  This year The Masters will be available to view in 3-D.  WOW.

When the name Kirk Triplett comes to mind, you likely think about the fact that he’s a 3-time PGA Tour winner.  Or maybe your mind wanders to his signature “bucket hat” that he’s known for wearing.  The fact that he has approximately $14,089,515 in career earnings is definitely noteworthy as well.  But did you know that he’s also part owner of Hole In One International?

That’s right: Triplett has been on-board with Hole In One International as part owner since 2004.  And thanks to pgatour.com, who published this article last Thursday, March 8, 2012, you can find out how that came to be.

Triplett turns 50 on March 29 and will make his Champions Tour debut at the Encompass Insurance Pro-Am of Tampa Bay at TPC Tampa Bay in Lutz, Fla.

People are now learning more than ever that there’s a lot more to Triplett than meets the eye.  What else didn’t you know about PGA golfer Kirk Triplett?  Click the link above to find out… then be sure to let us know what you’ve learned!