Every golf tournament organizer faces the same challenge: how do you make your event stand out? How do you attract more players, bring in bigger sponsors, generate more fundraising dollars, and give golfers a reason to talk about your tournament for months afterward? The answer, for thousands of events across the United States every year, is a hole in one contest — and the coverage that makes it possible without putting your budget at risk.
hole in one insurance is prize indemnity coverage that allows tournament organizers to offer spectacular prizes on a designated par 3 hole — cash, cars, luxury vacations, electronics — without bearing the financial risk if someone actually makes the shot. If a golfer sinks an ace on the covered hole, the insurance provider pays the prize. If nobody makes it, you've still given every player an exciting reason to aim true on that par 3, and the total cost to your event is just the modest premium you paid for coverage.
Nationwide Hole in One is the industry leader among hole in one insurance companies, providing affordable hole in one insurance and contest packages to golf tournaments across North America. With A+ rated coverage, cash prizes up to $1 million, and free color signs included with every package, Nationwide Hole in One makes it simple to add high-value excitement to any event — whether it's a charity fundraiser, a corporate outing, an association tournament, or a private golf day.
How Hole in One Insurance Works — The Basics
The concept is straightforward. You choose a par 3 hole at your course, select a prize value, and tell the provider how many golfers will be playing. The provider calculates a premium based on those three factors — number of players, yardage of the hole (minimum 150 yards), and the value of the grand prize. You pay the premium, receive your coverage certificate and professional signage, and set up the contest on tournament day.
If a golfer makes a hole in one on the designated hole during your event, the insurance provider pays the full value of the prize. If multiple golfers ace the hole, every one of them wins — the coverage includes multiple holes in one at no additional cost. And if nobody makes it, your event still benefited from the excitement, the sponsorship visibility, and the professional presentation that a well-run hole in one contest provides.
The pricing is based on three factors that determine the actuarial risk: the number of amateur golfers in the field, the yardage of the contest hole, and the value of the prize being offered. For context, the odds of an amateur golfer making a hole in one on any given par 3 are approximately 12,500 to 1. For professionals, that drops to about 2,500 to 1. Those odds are what make hole in one insurance such an effective tool — you can offer a prize worth tens of thousands of dollars (or even a million) for a fraction of its value.
What's Included in a Nationwide Hole in One Package
What separates the best hole in one insurance companies from the rest isn't just the coverage itself — it's everything that comes with it. Nationwide Hole in One prize packages are designed to be turnkey, giving tournament organizers everything they need to run a professional contest without sourcing materials, designing signs, or managing logistics.
Every package includes A+ rated insurance coverage backed by top-tier underwriters, ensuring that prize payouts are guaranteed and financially secure. Free full-color contest signage is included — professionally designed, weather-resistant signs that display the prize, the contest rules, and sponsor branding. These signs do double duty: they build excitement on the course and provide high-visibility recognition for the sponsors who support your event. Free shipping delivers the signage directly to the golf course or the client via FedEx. And bonus prize coverage for additional par 3 holes means your golfers have something to play for on more than just one hole, at no extra cost.
The result is a complete, ready-to-deploy contest package that arrives at your door, goes out on the course, and runs itself. All the organizer needs to do is place the signs and enjoy the tournament.
Beyond the Ace — Putting Contests, Cash Shootouts, and Golf Ball Air Cannons
Hole in one contests on par 3 holes are the foundation of what Nationwide Hole in One offers, but they're far from the only way to add excitement to a golf event. The company provides coverage and equipment for several additional contest formats that can be layered onto any tournament to create a multi-contest experience golfers won't forget.
Putting contests are one of the most popular add-ons — and for good reason. A 40 or 50-foot putt for a cash prize creates a dramatic, spectator-friendly moment that's perfect for the end of an outing. Putting contests work especially well for charity events because they can be structured as a raffle or qualifying competition, adding a fundraising element on top of the entertainment value. When purchased alongside a hole in one package, putting contest coverage comes at a significant discount.
Cash shootouts take the stakes even higher. A million-dollar shootout — where a finalist attempts a hole in one for a massive cash prize — is the kind of event that draws a crowd, attracts media attention, and gives your tournament a headline moment. These fully insured shootouts can be structured as a post-round event near the clubhouse, where participants, sponsors, and spectators gather to watch one golfer take the shot of a lifetime. Prize values are customizable to fit any budget, and the coverage works the same way: if the shot goes in, the insurance pays the prize.
And then there's the Golf Ball Air Cannon — a fully staffed, insured on-course experience where players fire their golf ball over 325 yards onto the green in a single shot. The cannon turns a long par 4 or par 5 into a par 3 or 4, leveling the playing field for golfers of all skill levels and creating a moment that everyone photographs, films, and shares on social media. It's a pace-of-play enhancer, a unique sponsorship opportunity, and by far the most talked-about hole on the course. The cannon experience is fully staffed by trained team members, with safety as the top priority, and is available as an add-on to any Nationwide Hole in One tournament package.
Why Charity and Corporate Events Benefit Most
The majority of golf tournaments in the United States are organized for a purpose beyond golf itself — raising money for a charity, building relationships with clients and employees, or supporting a cause. For these events, every element of the tournament needs to serve a dual purpose: entertain the golfers and advance the event's goals.
Hole in one insurance serves both purposes efficiently. A headline prize — $25,000 cash, a new car, a luxury vacation — attracts more players to register and gives sponsors a high-visibility activation to attach their name to. The professional signage that comes with every Nationwide Hole in One package provides sponsor recognition on the course that's far more impactful than a generic tee sign. And additional contest formats like putting contests and shootouts create opportunities to sell additional sponsorships and raise incremental fundraising dollars.
For corporate events, the benefit is brand experience. A well-run hole in one contest with professional signage and a compelling prize gives the hosting company a polished, memorable element that reflects well on its brand. For charity events, the math is simple: a modest investment in contest coverage generates excitement that increases registrations, attracts larger sponsorship commitments, and ultimately puts more money toward the cause.
Getting a Quote and Setting Up Your Contest
Securing coverage through Nationwide Hole in One is designed to be fast and straightforward. The process starts with a quote — provide the number of golfers, the yardage of your par 3 contest hole, and the prize value you'd like to offer, and you'll receive pricing the same day. Once you decide to move forward, the online application is simple, and upon submission, your certificate of coverage and receipt are generated immediately.
Signage production begins as soon as the application is complete, and your full-color contest signs are shipped via FedEx directly to the golf course or to you. On tournament day, place the signs on the course, and the contest runs itself. If a golfer makes a hole in one, notify Nationwide Hole in One within 24 hours, and the prize check is issued promptly to the policyholder.
For organizers who want guidance on prize selection, contest format, or how to structure multiple contests across their event, Nationwide Hole in One's team of experienced tournament consultants is available to help. From selecting the right grand prize to recommending add-on contests that fit your event's format and budget, the goal is to make every tournament bigger, better, and more memorable.
The Blog — Talk Birdie to Me
Nationwide Hole in One also publishes Talk Birdie to Me, a blog dedicated to helping tournament organizers run better events. Articles cover practical topics like how much hole in one insurance costs, what hole in one insurance is and how to purchase it, and how to use golf ball air cannons to create unforgettable on-course experiences. It's a useful resource for first-time organizers and experienced tournament directors alike — and for anyone evaluating hole in one insurance companies and wanting to understand exactly what they're getting before they buy.
Make Your Next Tournament Unforgettable
Running a golf tournament without a hole in one contest is a missed opportunity. For a modest investment in coverage, you give every golfer in your field a chance to win a life-changing prize, you give your sponsors premium visibility on the course, and you give your event the kind of energy and excitement that makes people want to come back next year.
Nationwide Hole in One delivers the lowest pricing, A+ rated coverage, prizes up to $1 million in cash, free color signage, and a range of add-on contests — from putting competitions to cash shootouts to golf ball air cannons — that make any event extraordinary. Visit nationwideholeinone.com to get a quote, explore prize packages, or speak with a tournament consultant about building the perfect contest lineup for your next event. Check the FAQ for answers to common questions about coverage, eligibility, and how the process works from start to finish.