Games Spotlight: Hole in One
Wednesday, March 4
Name: Hole in One (or "Hole in One or Two" since 1987)
Debut: May 9th, 1977
The game is typically played for a car or other vehicle and revolves around putting on a miniature golf-esque hole which consists of a long, flat, straight pathway ending in a circular area contained by a short rail. The hole (larger than a standard golf hole) is in the center of this area. The pathway has six evenly spaced lines, the last of which is where the pathway meets the circular area. The lines represent the possible distances from which the contestant will have to putt for the car.
Six grocery items are used to determine from which line the contestant will putt. The announcer reveals all six prizes, and the contestant is asked to order the items from least to most expensive, with red flags representing the items being placed in the given order at each line on the straightaway, starting with the one farthest from the hole. The prices are then revealed in the order the flags were placed. As long as each item is higher-priced than the previous item, the contestant moves up to that line. Otherwise, the contestant does not advance and the remaining flags are removed. If the contestant orders the grocery items perfectly, they win a $500 bonus and putt from the line next to the hole.
The contestant then has two attempts to sink a putt from the line they have earned to win the car. A putt counts if it is sunk after bouncing off the rail behind or beside the hole. If the contestant fails to sink the ball in the hole on their first attempt the game's sign, featuring the "One" in the "Hole in One" title, flips to reveal the addendum "or Two", revealing the contestant actually gets two chances to sink the putt. If they miss the second putt, the game ends.
Fun Fact: One of the game's best-known features is the "inspiration putt," a practice started by longtime host Bob Barker, in which the host attempts a putt from the furthest line in an attempt to inspire the contestant. At various times, the putt has also been done by the announcer, models, special guests (including golf pros), or members of the production staff.
Debut: May 9th, 1977
The game is typically played for a car or other vehicle and revolves around putting on a miniature golf-esque hole which consists of a long, flat, straight pathway ending in a circular area contained by a short rail. The hole (larger than a standard golf hole) is in the center of this area. The pathway has six evenly spaced lines, the last of which is where the pathway meets the circular area. The lines represent the possible distances from which the contestant will have to putt for the car.
Six grocery items are used to determine from which line the contestant will putt. The announcer reveals all six prizes, and the contestant is asked to order the items from least to most expensive, with red flags representing the items being placed in the given order at each line on the straightaway, starting with the one farthest from the hole. The prices are then revealed in the order the flags were placed. As long as each item is higher-priced than the previous item, the contestant moves up to that line. Otherwise, the contestant does not advance and the remaining flags are removed. If the contestant orders the grocery items perfectly, they win a $500 bonus and putt from the line next to the hole.
The contestant then has two attempts to sink a putt from the line they have earned to win the car. A putt counts if it is sunk after bouncing off the rail behind or beside the hole. If the contestant fails to sink the ball in the hole on their first attempt the game's sign, featuring the "One" in the "Hole in One" title, flips to reveal the addendum "or Two", revealing the contestant actually gets two chances to sink the putt. If they miss the second putt, the game ends.
Fun Fact: One of the game's best-known features is the "inspiration putt," a practice started by longtime host Bob Barker, in which the host attempts a putt from the furthest line in an attempt to inspire the contestant. At various times, the putt has also been done by the announcer, models, special guests (including golf pros), or members of the production staff.
Labels: games spotlight, hole in one