Prize indemnity protects the promised award
Hole-in-one insurance is a form of prize indemnity. The organizer pays a premium so an insurer can fund the insured prize if a qualifying participant makes a hole-in-one under the agreed contest rules.
It is not a substitute for event liability, property, cancellation or liquor liability insurance. Those exposures should be reviewed separately for the tournament.
The contest must be defined before terms are issued
Insurers typically need details such as:
- Tournament date, course and designated hole
- Prize description and verifiable retail value
- Yardage and tee positions for participant groups
- Expected number of eligible attempts
- Amateur or professional status of participants
- Format, official rules and any practice-shot restrictions
- Witnessing, video or independent-observer arrangements
Do not announce a prize as insured until the insurer has accepted the final details and the premium and documentation requirements have been satisfied.
Follow every warranty and claim condition
Prize policies can include precise minimum yardages, witness requirements, signage, eligibility rules and claim-notice deadlines. A change made at the course—even one intended to help the event run smoothly—could affect whether the achievement qualifies.
Give the course, tournament committee and designated witnesses the final insurer-approved rules. If a hole-in-one occurs, preserve scorecards, witness statements, video and other required evidence, and notify the broker promptly.
Make the promotion clear to participants
The Competition Bureau explains that promotional contests must disclose specified information and avoid misleading representations. A golf organizer should obtain legal advice on contest rules, eligibility, privacy, taxes and advertising, especially when the promotion is open to the public or tied to a purchase. Insurance does not make a contest legally compliant.
Review the full tournament exposure
In addition to the prize, consider special event insurance, participant and spectator liability, volunteers, food, alcohol, weather and cancellation contracts. If alcohol is served, review liquor liability and licensing responsibilities.
Contact Westoak early with the date, prize value, hole, yardages, participant count and rules. Product availability and final conditions remain subject to the prize insurer.