Golf Stroke Play

The competitor who is entitled to play first from the teeing ground is described as having the honor. There are clear directions as to who should play first once the ball is in play.

When there is a draw for a stroke play competition, you begin in the order in which the names have been drawn. Where there's no draw, the order is decided by lot -normally you just flip a coin.

Many people believe that the player with the lowest handicap should go first but the rules don't say so. Often this happens in friendly matches as a gesture of respect to the best player.

However, there is no penalty for playing out of turn in stroke play unless it can be proved that you are trying to give someone an unfair advantage.

Things are quite straightforward on the other 17 tees. The competitor with the lowest score at the previous hole plays first; the one with the next lowest score follows, and so on. If two or more of you have the same score at a hole, you play in the same order as from the previous tee.

Balls in play          
Once the balls are in play, whichever of you are furthest from the hole plays first? Normally it's easy to agree on this, but if the balls are equal distances from the hole you should decide who lays first by lot.

A rare exception to this rule occurs when balls are marked. You may mark your own ball at any time when you think the ball might help someone else, or have another ball marked whenever you think it might hinder you. You may do this anywhere on the course, not just on the green. When you are asked to lift your ball in stroke play, you may prefer to play first rather than mark your ball - even if your ball is nearer the hole.

Out of turn
If it is proved that competitors have played in the wrong order to give one of them an advantage, they’re likely to be disqualified. If, for example, you decided by the 16th hole in a medal that your score was beyond redemption, you might be tempted to putt before someone else who was further from the hole than you. If he happens to be on the same line as you, he might see how much your ball turned and have an unfair advantage. For this, both of you may be disqualified.

Four ball
A special case arises when you play out of turn in a foursome - for example, you play the ball you are sharing when it is actually your partner's turn. If partners play a stroke in the wrong order in a four ball, the stroke is cancelled and the side is penalized 2 strokes.

The mistake is put right by playing in the correct order from the same spot. If the side plays a stroke from the next teeing ground without correcting the error, it is disqualified.

If you play in the wrong order on the last hole of the round, you must correct the mistake by playing the hole again from the place where the error was made. You must do this before you leave the last green - if you don't, you'll be disqualified.