An ace in golf is a hole-in-one: the ball goes straight from the tee into the hole in a single stroke. It’s most often done on a par 3, and it counts as a score of 1 on that hole.

Quick Scoop

  • An ace = hole-in-one.
  • It usually happens on a par 3 because the hole is shorter.
  • It is one of golf’s most celebrated shots because it is rare and requires both skill and a bit of luck.

Simple example

If you tee off on a par 3 and your first shot lands directly in the cup, that’s an ace. In scorecard terms, you write 1 for that hole.

Related note

In some golf writing, “ace” is used as the more formal or stylish term, while “hole-in-one” is the common everyday phrase.