- January 26, 2026
The odds of any golfer making a hole-in-one are 1-in-12,500, according to GolfPass and American Hole ’n One websites. The odds of getting three holes-in-one in 12 days? To quote the movie, “The Princess Bride”: “Inconceivable!”
But Bill Kowske did just that playing with the Men’s Golf Association at Halifax Plantation Golf Club from Jan. 9-20.
“It was extremely unreal,” said the 78-year-old Kowske, who has a handicap index of 17. “I’m an average senior golfer, mid-handicapper. I’m not at the level where you get three holes-in-one in 12 days.”
And more even more amazing? He has made four holes-in-one previously — two in Michigan and two in North Carolina, he said.
“I’m trying to win the Lotto now,” he joked.
He played in different pairings each day with Halifax Plantation's MGA during this streak. They came on the course’s par-3 No. 3 and No. 13 holes. The first one, on Friday, Jan. 9, was his best shot of the three. He used an 8-iron on No. 3, playing 124 yards that day with the pin placement at the back right of the green, he said.
“I destroyed the hole,” Kowske said. “I didn’t see it. When I got there, the hole was all busted up. It tore the top of the cup and went all the way to the bottom of the pin.”
The second one came on Tuesday, Jan. 13 on No. 13. He never saw that one go in and neither did anyone else in his group. When they got to the hole, they said, “Where’s Bill’s ball?” Then someone said, “It’s in the hole.” The distance was about 110 yards and Kowske used a pitching wedge.
The third one was on Tuesday, Jan. 20, back on No. 3. The pin was in the middle of the green. The distance was about 150 to 160 yards, he said. Kowske used a 9-iron. Again, he never saw the ball go in the hole.
You hope it gets to the green, you never expect it to go in the hole. ... To have all three land in the bottom of the cup, it’s a real thrill.
— BILL KOWSKE
None of the rounds were his best, he said.
“There’s a certain emotion when you get one of those and you don’t play well after that. You wonder what happened, because it’s so rare,” Kowske said. “I’d say it’s 95% luck, 5% skill.”
He knew he hit all three directly at the pin, but seeing the ball in the cup was a shocker each time.
“You hope it gets to the green, you never expect it to go in the hole,” said Kowske, who said he has been playing golf since his youth. “My goal when I stand up at a par 3 is to have the opportunity for a birdie putt. But to have all three land in the bottom of the cup, it’s a real thrill. It just is.”
