[Kim Maengnyeong's Golf English Conversation] "Is Ace a Latin Boy's Name?"

A hole-in-one is mainly used in the Commonwealth, while an ace is primarily used in the United States.

‘Ace’.

It is a synonym for hole-in-one. It means getting the ball into the hole from the teeing area in just one stroke. The probability of an ace on a par-3 hole is 1 in 12,500 for amateur golfers and 1 in 2,500 for professionals. On a par-4 hole, the chance is only 1 in 6 million.

Hitting a hole-in-one with just one shot is a combination of skill and luck. For amateur golfers, it is difficult to make an ace unless fate favors them. A hole-in-one is a rare feat the average amateur golfer will likely never achieve in their entire career.

It is interesting that in baseball, an ace refers to the best pitcher on the team, and in tennis, it means a powerful serve that the opponent cannot touch. Ace also carries the image of the number ‘1’. Generally, the most outstanding person in a group is called an ace (You are the ace player in our team). Ace symbolizes a golfer with excellent skills ("Ace" may also refer to a very good golfer).

The origin of ace comes from the Latin boy’s name ‘Ace’. It means ‘a very skilled person’ or ‘a person who excels at something’. This is why it became a term replacing hole-in-one.

A: What does an ace mean in golf?

B: The ace is another term for a hole-in-one.

A: How many times have you shot an ace so far?

B: Only once. It was on the 17th hole, a 120 yard par-3 hole at Pebble Beach three years ago.

A: That’s wonderful.

Written and photographed by Kim Maengnyeong, Golf Columnist