Hole In One Contests
Sponsoring a hole in one contest at a golf tournament is an easy and affordable way to promote your business. Here’s a quick look at how hole in one contests work and how you can use one to boost your business.
What Is a Hole-in-One Contest?
If you are new to golf event planning, you may not be familiar with hole in one contests. A hole-in-one contest is a golf promotion where players attempt to make a hole-in-one on a designated hole—typically a par 3—for a chance to win a high-value prize such as cash, a car, or a luxury vacation. Hole in one contests are commonly used at charity golf tournaments, corporate outings, and fundraising events because they add excitement, attract participants, and create sponsorship and increased fundraising opportunities.
How Does a Hole-in-One Contest Work?
A hole-in-one contest is slightly different from a traditional golf “hole-in-one” (also known as an ace), which refers to a golfer sinking a ball from the tee box into the hole in a single stroke during regular play. Hole in one contests take place during golf tournaments on par 3 holes and often feature attention-grabbing prizes that are insured by a hole in one insurance company. During the tournament, each player gets one shot to make a hole in one and win the prize. If a player makes a hole-in-one and wins the prize, the hole in one insurance company writes a check for the prize that was won.
Sometimes hole in one contests feature really big prizes. Watch this video where Jeff Barton wins $1,000,000 for making a hole in one.
Why Organizations Sponsor Hole in One Contests?
Businesses are approached by golf tournament organizers to sponsor hole-in-one contests because selling golf contest sponsorships is an effective fundraising tactic.
Companies sponsor these kinds of golf events because they offer a practical way to demonstrate support for the event’s cause and/or the local community, and are an affordable way to showcase a brand or product in front of a captive audience.
Sponsoring a contest at a golf tournament also offers an excellent networking opportunity and the option for direct engagement with tournament participants on the hole where the contest is being held.
Adding a Big Prize to a Hole In One Contest
Incorporating a big prize into a hole in one contest increases sponsor visibility and creates a connection to one of the most exciting elements of the tournament. Better still is the free publicity the contest sponsor and golf tournament typically receive when there is a winner.
One of the best parts of sponsoring a contest is choosing what prize you’d like to give away. For example, automotive dealers usually give players the chance to win brand-new cars, while real estate companies and banks frequently offer down payments as prizes.
How can companies afford to offer these kinds of amazing prizes? They purchase hole in one contest insurance. Hole in one contest coverage is a form of prize indemnity insurance that eliminates the financial risk associated with offering a big prize.
The Cost of Hole In One Contest Coverage
Hole in one coverage is purchased by a sponsor, or a tournament organizer, from a hole in one insurance company. The cost of hole in one coverage is based on the size of the prize that is being given away, the number of participants, and the yardage of the hole that is being insured. Most hole in one insurance companies, including Hole In One International, regularly cover hole in one prizes with a value of up to $1,000,000.
What to Look for When Choosing a Hole In One Insurance Company
The most important factor a contest sponsor or tournament director should consider when choosing a hole in one insurance company is the company’s financial backing (aka underwriter). Why? Because when a player makes an ace during the tournament on the target hole, you’ll want to know that the prize indemnity company you’ve chosen will be there to write the check for the prize.
Along with AM Best rated underwriting, you’ll also want to ask if the company pays for multiple winners, allows for last-minute changes (player counts), has a transparent and easy-to-understand claims process, and offers competitive rates. Other important considerations include whether the company offers high-quality free prizes for non-target par-3 holes, complimentary tee prizes, customizable free signage, and has highly-rated customer service.
Depending on the company you select to insure your contest, you will not only receive a free sponsor sign showcasing your business, you’ll also get free ancillary prizes.
Hole In One International awards players acing non-target par-three holes a year of free Omaha Steaks, a $500 Gift Card, or a Bushnell Range Finder.
Why Choose Hole In One International
Along with offering instant online quotes and the option of purchasing converage online, Hole In One International offers the following benefits:
Amazing Tournament Extras
Every hole in one contest policy includes: a free customizable Sponsor Sign, 3 free prizes for non-target par 3s, and a free Tee Prize for every Golfer
A Proven History of Big Winners Being Paid
Since 1991 Hole In One International has paid out over $54 MM in cash and prizes.
Coverage for Multiple Winners
Every hole-in-one made on the insured hole receives the prize, ensuring the excitement doesn’t end if someone makes a hole in one in the first few minutes of your event.
Professionals are Welcome
For an additional fee, Hole In One International insures both Club and Tournament Professionals.
If you are thinking about sponsoring a hole in one contest, you can either get a free, no-obligation quote or obtain hole in one contest insurance in just a few moments either over the phone or online in just minutes by contacting a company like Hole In One International.
Hole in One Contest FAQs
The odds of making a hole-in-one are extremely low for the average golfer—typically around 1 in 10,000 to 1 in 12,500, depending on skill level and hole distance. This rarity is what makes hole-in-one contests so exciting and valuable for events.
In most hole-in-one contests, each player gets ONLY ONE shot per designated hole.
Yes, but doing so means the sponsor or event organizer is fully responsible for paying the prize if a hole-in-one is made. Most organizers use hole-in-one insurance to eliminate this financial risk.
Hole-in-one contests are almost always held on par-3 holes. These holes provide an obtainable distance for a player to make a hole-in-one in a single shot.
