Out of Bounds in Golf
Out of bounds (often shortened to OB) is any area outside the boundary of the golf course. If your ball finishes there, you take a one-stroke penalty and play again from where you hit the last shot. This is called stroke and distance.
It's one of the most expensive mistakes in golf: you lose the distance of the shot as well as a stroke. Here's how it works under the current Rules of Golf.
How out of bounds is marked
Courses mark their boundaries with:
- White stakes, the most common marker.
- White lines painted on the ground.
- Fences and walls at the edge of the property.
The boundary edge is the line between the course-side points of the stakes or fence posts at ground level. If it's a painted line, the line itself is out of bounds. Local rules on the scorecard can add other boundaries, such as a road that runs through the course.
Don't confuse white with other colours. Red and yellow stakes mark penalty areas (the old "water hazards"), which have different, usually cheaper, relief options. See penalty areas and water hazards.
When is a ball out of bounds?
A ball is out of bounds only when all of it lies outside the boundary edge. If any part of the ball is touching or above the course side of the line, it's in bounds and you play it.
You're allowed to stand out of bounds to hit a ball that is in bounds.
The penalty: stroke and distance
If your ball is out of bounds (or lost), Rule 18.2 says you must:
- Add one penalty stroke.
- Play again from where you made your previous stroke.
- From the tee, you can re-tee anywhere in the teeing area. From elsewhere, you drop within one club-length of the previous spot.
So if your tee shot goes out of bounds, your next shot from the tee is your third. This is why golfers say "hitting three off the tee".
The provisional ball
Walking back to the tee after finding your ball out of bounds wastes a lot of time. If you think your ball might be out of bounds or lost, you can play a provisional ball straight away (Rule 18.3).
- You must tell your playing partners it's a provisional before you hit it.
- If the original ball turns out to be in bounds, you carry on with it and pick the provisional up.
- If the original is out of bounds or lost, the provisional becomes your ball in play, already with the penalty counted.
You have three minutes to search for a ball before it counts as lost.
The alternative local rule
Since 2019 there's an optional local rule (Model Local Rule E-5) that clubs can bring in for casual golf. Instead of going back, you can drop near where the ball went out, or in the nearest fairway, for two penalty strokes. It's meant to speed up play and isn't used in elite competitions. Only use it if the club has adopted it, or if your group agrees it for a friendly round.
| Option | Penalty | Where you play from |
|---|---|---|
| Stroke and distance | 1 stroke | Spot of your previous stroke |
| Local rule E-5 (if adopted) | 2 strokes | Near where the ball went out, or the nearest fairway edge |
| Provisional ball | 1 stroke, only if the original is OB or lost | Already played from the previous spot |
Out of bounds vs a penalty area
Both cost a stroke, but a penalty area gives you more options, such as dropping behind the area or, with red stakes, to the side. Out of bounds gives you only stroke and distance unless the local rule applies. The penalty rules are covered in golf penalty strokes explained.
Try it in Mashy
In Mashy, out of bounds is the woods, gorse and dunes beyond the rough. Hit into them and it works like the real rule: one stroke is added and you play the shot again. Pinewood, with narrow fairways through pine forest, is the course that punishes a wild tee shot most.
Frequently asked questions
What colour stakes mean out of bounds?
White stakes mark out of bounds. Red and yellow stakes mark penalty areas, which have different relief options. If you see a white line painted on the ground instead, that line marks the boundary too, and the line itself counts as out of bounds.
Is out of bounds a one or two stroke penalty?
Under the standard Rules of Golf, out of bounds is a one-stroke penalty plus loss of distance, because you have to replay from your previous spot. Where a club has adopted the optional local rule for casual play, you can drop forward instead, but for two penalty strokes.
If you hit out of bounds off the tee, what shot are you hitting next?
You're hitting your third shot. The first stroke went out of bounds, you add one penalty stroke, and the replayed tee shot is your third. If that one finds the fairway, your next shot is your fourth, which is why one bad tee shot can quickly turn a par into a double bogey.
Can you play a ball that is partly out of bounds?
Yes. A ball is only out of bounds when the whole of it lies outside the boundary edge. If any part of the ball is on or over the course side of the line, it's in bounds and you play it as it lies.
Is a lost ball the same penalty as out of bounds?
Yes. A lost ball, one you can't find within three minutes of starting to search, gets the same stroke and distance penalty as a ball out of bounds. That's why playing a provisional ball when you're unsure is a good habit.