Did you know you should always take an extra pair of pants golfing?
Why this joke works
Prepared for Either Hole
In golf, a hole in one is the rare achievement of finishing a hole with a single stroke. With an extra pair of pants in the setup, the phrase suddenly suggests a torn garment instead. Present the advice as a practical golfing tip, as though you learned it through experience. Pause before “hole in one” and let the familiar sports term briefly sound like a wardrobe emergency.
A closer look
Why the opening sounds like useful advice
“Did you know” gives the setup the voice of an experienced golfer sharing a course tip. Extra clothing also sounds plausible enough that listeners may expect an answer about weather, mud, or rain. The punchline then narrows “one” from a golf hole to one pair of pants. Keep “extra pair” in the setup, because that practical detail creates the false expectation the answer needs.
Fact behind the joke
Golf has another one-stroke word: ace
Golfers also call a hole in one an “ace.” The USGA records some especially rare examples, including Frank Bensel Jr. making aces on consecutive holes during the 2024 U.S. Senior Open. His two shots were only the second pair of aces made in one round in USGA history. That real rarity explains why “hole in one” usually sounds celebratory before this joke turns it into damaged clothing.