There are golf shots.
There are great golf shots.
And then there’s the shot Mario Mendis hit at Ba Na Hills.
On one unforgettable day, Mario stepped up to the tee, took his swing, and did what most golfers spend a lifetime dreaming about:
He made a hole-in-one.
And because apparently a hole-in-one wasn’t enough, he also won a car.
This website exists for one reason:
To make sure nobody ever lets him forget it.
THE HOLE
Just so we’re clear about what he was up against.
Hole 16.
Par 3.
182 yards from the blue tees.
Downhill. Island green. Water on every side. No bailout.
The signature hole of Ba Na Hills.
The tee is up there. Circled, for the doubters.
A course officially named the Most Challenging Golf Course in Vietnam in 2026.
That’s right.
The hardest course.
In all of Vietnam.
THE SHOT
A moment of golfing immortality.
The ball left the club.
For a few seconds, everyone watched.
Then it disappeared.
Not into the rough.
Not into a bunker.
Not over the back.
Into the hole.
Ace.
Hole-in-one.
Car won.
Legend created.
Somewhere on that tee box, Mario Mendis stopped being just another golfer.
He became Mario Mendis: Hole-in-One Winner.
THE DAY MARIO WON THE CAR
Most people drive to a golf tournament in a car.
Mario went to a golf tournament and came home with another one.
That’s efficiency.
At the Ba Na Hills golf tournament, Mario produced the shot that every golfer secretly believes they’re capable of right up until they actually have to hit the ball.
Mario actually did it.
One swing changed the entire day.
The cheers started.
The photos followed.
And the story immediately entered golfing folklore.
THE GREATEST MOMENTS IN HUMAN HISTORY
Where does Mario’s achievement rank?
Throughout history, humanity has occasionally risen above the ordinary.
There have been discoveries.
There have been breakthroughs.
There have been moments when the impossible suddenly became possible.
After considerable research, we have compiled the definitive list.
-
1. Humans land on the Moon — 1969
For the first time, a human being walked on another world.
An extraordinary achievement involving hundreds of thousands of people, years of preparation and some of the most advanced technology ever created.
Very impressive.
Vehicle awarded? ✗ -
2. Mario Mendis makes a hole-in-one and wins a car — Ba Na Hills
One man.
One golf club.
One ball.
No second attempt required.
Historians remain divided over whether this should actually be Number 1.
Vehicle awarded? ✓ Disputed: possibly #1 -
3. The discovery of penicillin — 1928
A scientific breakthrough that transformed modern medicine and has helped save countless lives.
Unfortunately, no vehicle was awarded.
Vehicle awarded? ✗ -
4. The first powered flight — 1903
The Wright brothers demonstrated that controlled powered flight was possible.
Flight duration: approximately 12 seconds.
Mario’s achievement remains notable because the golf ball also travelled through the air before reaching its intended destination.
Vehicle awarded? ✗ -
5. The first ascent of Mount Everest — 1953
Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay reached the highest point on Earth.
A magnificent feat of courage and endurance.
They did not win a car.
Vehicle awarded? ✗ -
6. Roger Bannister breaks the four-minute mile — 1954
For years, many believed running a mile in under four minutes might be impossible.
Roger Bannister proved otherwise.
Mario required considerably less than four minutes to complete the hole.
Vehicle awarded? ✗
HISTORICAL CONCLUSION
It is difficult to compare achievements across different eras.
Technology changes.
Circumstances differ.
Records are broken.
Nevertheless, the available evidence currently places the Mario Mendis Ba Na Hills Hole-in-One comfortably among the major achievements of human civilisation.
Further research is ongoing.
WHERE WERE YOU WHEN MARIO GOT THE HOLE-IN-ONE?
Some moments are so significant that people remember exactly where they were when they happened.
This is one of them.
Where were you when Mario got the hole-in-one?
Were you standing beside the tee?
Walking down another fairway?
Already at the clubhouse?
Checking your scorecard?
Holding a beer?
Did someone call you?
Did you hear the cheering from three holes away?
Or have you simply been forced to hear Mario tell the story ever since?
EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS
“I saw it with my own eyes.”
This is where the people who were there get to tell their version of events.
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NameThe Guy Holding Mario’s BeerWhere were you?Near the tee
I was told, “Hold this for a second.” I did not realise I was participating in history.
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NameSomeone on the Next FairwayWhere were you?Trying to find my own ball
I heard an enormous cheer. Meanwhile, mine was still missing. It was a difficult few minutes emotionally.
-
NameThe Cart DriverWhere were you?Halfway down 16
I have driven a lot of people to a lot of tees. This is the only one I drove back slowly, so he could wave.
-
NameA Member Having LunchWhere were you?The clubhouse terrace
We heard it before we saw anything. Then a man ran past holding a golf ball over his head.
-
NameHis Playing PartnerWhere were you?Standing right there
I was away. I have never been so pleased to be told to wait.
-
NameThe Group BehindWhere were you?On the 15th green
We were putting. We stopped putting. Nobody has ever minded a delay less.
More eyewitness testimony will be added as historians continue to reconstruct the events of the day.
THE OFFICIAL RECORD
- Golfer:
- Mario Mendis
- Achievement:
- Hole-in-One
- Location:
- Ba Na Hills
- Hole:
- 16 · Par 3 · 182 yards
- Course:
- Most Challenging in Vietnam, 2026
- Occasion:
- IMG Trophy 2026
- Date:
- 19 September 2026
- Prizes:
- Hotel Stay + Hainan Tour + A Car
- Attempts required:
- One
- Bragging Rights:
- Permanent
- Likelihood we ever stop hearing about it:
- 0%
THE LEGEND OF MARIO MENDIS
Years from now, people may disagree about the details.
The distance might get longer.
The wind might get stronger.
The crowd might get bigger.
The shot may eventually have been hit blindfolded, into a hurricane, with a seven iron Mario found in the car park.
But one thing will remain true:
Mario Mendis hit a hole-in-one at Ba Na Hills and won a car.
And unlike most golf stories...
there are witnesses.
THE GALLERY
Evidence that it actually happened.