Golf-FAQ.com

golf closer to pin but off the green who goes first

by Prof. Saige Dibbert Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago

The short version is that the hole is started by whoever played the last hole best – meaning lowest score has the honor (fancy word for going first on the tee). After the initial shots, the ball farthest from the hole plays first, regardless of whether the ball is on the green or not.

Who putts first if off the green?

Rule 10-1b states that once everyone has teed off, the golfer farther from the hole plays first, regardless of position. There is no penalty in match play for playing out of turn, but your opponent can make you cancel and replay your shot.

Who putts first on a green the person closest or farthest from the hole?

One of the basic etiquette guidelines in golf—the golfer who is farthest from the hole plays first—still holds.

How do you determine who tees off first?

Traditionally, the golfer with the lowest handicap is chosen to tee off first. But for most games, golfers tee off randomly, requiring some sort of draw. An easy way to achieve such a draw is to throw a tee. All players stand in a circle and one tosses a tee into the center.

Does nearest the pin have to be on the green?

A competition specifically for par-three holes. Closest-to-the-pin is won by the golfer whose tee shot comes to rest closest to the hole. To win the competition, the ball must have stopped on the green. Any balls off the green are ignored, even if they are the closest.

Who tees off first on the next hole?

Tee Honors After the first hole, the honor of teeing off first goes to the player who had the best score on the preceding hole. If two players tied on a hole, the player who had the better score between them on the hole that came prior would have the honor.

Who tees off first at each hole in golf?

10-1. In match play, golfers play in this order: On the tee – On the first hole, the player listed first on the scorecard (as determined by the committee) tees off first; otherwise, the order is decided by lot or other fair means (e.g., a coin flip).

What is the golden rule of golf?

Play the ball as it lies. Don't move, bend, or break anything growing or fixed, except in fairly taking your stance or swing. Don't press anything down.

Is there a specific order to teeing off after the first hole is played?

The order of play from the teeing area depends on who has the honour, and after that is based on which ball is farthest from the hole. In match play, the order of play is fundamental; if you play out of turn, your opponent may cancel that stroke and make you play again.

How is tee off order determined?

The lowest combined score from the preceding rounds goes out in the final pairing with the next-best (or tied) player. In the event of ties, the player who finished their round first goes out last (first in, last out, or FILO).

What does nearest to the pin mean?

"Closest to the pin" is a common golf expression that refers to the golfer whose ball is, well, closest to the pin (meaning the hole on the green). A closest to the pin contest is commonly played along with charity tournaments or association tournaments.

How close can pin be to edge of green?

Pin Specifications The hole's outer diameter must not exceed 4 1/4 inches, the depth is a minimum of 4 inches and the liner must sit 1 inch below the putting surface. As a general rule, the pin placement must be at least four to five paces from the edge of the green.

How close to fringe can pin be?

The USGA publication “How to Conduct a Competition” does, however, recommend that hole locations be at least four paces from the edge of the putting green; the PGA Tour informs Rules Guy that it does likewise. Closer than that and the hole has clearly joined the lunatic fringe.

What are the rules for putting on the green?

13.1 Actions Allowed or Required on Putting Greens. Purpose of Rule: This Rule allows the player to do things on the putting green that are normally not allowed off the putting green, such as being allowed to mark, lift, clean and replace a ball and to repair damage and remove sand and loose soil on the putting green.

How is putting order determined?

According to the United States Golf Association, the player in your group who is farthest from the hole – not the closest -- takes the next shot, meaning you may have to wait a while before your big putt.

What is golf etiquette on the green?

0:101:42Putting Green Etiquette Tips All Golfers Should Know - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipTake for example etiquette. Around the putting green before leaving a bunker walking on to theMoreTake for example etiquette. Around the putting green before leaving a bunker walking on to the putting surface. Take a golf club to dislodge any sand from the bottom of your shoe.

What is the golden rule of golf?

Play the ball as it lies. Don't move, bend, or break anything growing or fixed, except in fairly taking your stance or swing. Don't press anything down.

Is There a Penalty for Playing Out of Order In an On/Off Green Situation?

Keep in mind that a golfer who is on the green but farther from the cup than one who is off the green isn't necessarily required to play first. For example, a golfer may want extra time to read a lengthy putt while another who is closer but has an easy chip is ready to go. In a situation like that, the golfers might agree for the shorter shot to come first.

What does "ready golf" mean?

"Ready golf" simply means play when ready. Don't worry about which golfer in the group is ...

How far away from the green do you play first?

If your partner is short of the green, 30 feet from the cup, but you're on the green, 40 feet from the cup, you play first.

What happens if you play out of order in golf?

In match play, however, if you play out of order your it is a violation of the rules. And you opponent can require you to replay the stroke, which they will certainly do if you happened to hit a great shot.

Can you play before someone on the green?

The answer: not necessarily . A golfer who is on the green might play before a golfer who is off the green if the one on the green is farther from the hole. One of the basic etiquette guidelines in golf—the golfer who is farthest from the hole plays first—still holds.

Is there a penalty for playing out of order?

In a situation like that, the golfers might agree for the shorter shot to come first. And note that in stroke play, there is no penalty for playing out of order (it's simply an issue of etiquette).

Do you play first if you are off the green?

And that's incorrect. It doesn't matter whether you're on the green or off. If you're farthest from the cup, then you play first.

What happens if you put a 50 foot putt on a green?

There are often bunkers around greens too so they come into play. Strictly as per the rules of golf, if one player has a 50 foot putt but another has a 20ft chip to land on the green, the putter goes first. There is however a convention for this scenario. Under current rules, if a player is putting, the flag needs to be removed, or if requested, ...

What happens if you drop the flag in the hole?

If the ball drops in the hole with the flag still in it, the golfer playing the shot (putt) is penalised. But a golfer who’s chipping onto the green usually wants the flag to be left in, even if they are close to the pin.

What is the order of the golfer on the first tee?

From the first tee, it’s card order or lots are drawn. On the fairway, it’s the golfer furthest away from the hole. On the green, it’s the golfer furthest away from the hole.

Why are golf clubs falling?

In fact a number of rules take effect at the same time, with the main emphasis being on rule changes that help up the speed of play. Slow play, and just the sheer amount of time that it takes to play a round of golf has been cited as one of the reasons that golf club memberships are falling worldwide.

How far apart are the fairways in golf?

The fairway is 50 yards wide and the golfers are 90 yard s apart and somewhat level. In this case, whoever is ready first should play, and indicate that they are going to do so; unless it’s been agreed verbally or with say a wave of the arm.

How many holes are in a round of golf?

If we were inventing the game of golf today, when despite the march of technology, we seem to have less leisure time, not more; a round of golf would be 10 holes, not 18.

What does the player on the green want?

So the player on the green wants the flag out and the player off the green wants the flag in and that just wastes time.

What does "closest to the pin" mean?

Key Takeaways. "Closest to the pin" is a common golf expression that refers to the golfer whose ball is, well, closest to the pin (meaning the hole on the green). A closest to the pin contest is commonly played along with charity tournaments or association tournaments.

How does a KP hole work?

It usually works one of two ways: Either tournament organizers sell these extra chances before the tournament round starts; Or there will be a table set up on the designated KP hole to allow golfers who want another shot at the KP prize the chance to buy one (or two or three - three is usually the limit) on the spot.

What is a KP golf tournament?

KP is more common as a contest that runs during a tournament. Tournament organizers typically will select one par-3 hole, name a prize, and the golfer who, during the tournament, gets her tee shot closest to the pin on the designated hole wins the prize.

What happens when the first group plays the par 3 hole?

When the first group plays the contest's designated par-3 hole, the golfer in that group whose shot is nearest the hole writes his name on the proxy marker sheet and sticks it in the ground at the spot his ball came to rest.

Why do golf tournaments have a close to the pin?

The biggest reason is that many golf tournaments — primarily of the charity, corporate, club and association kind — have a "closest-to-the-pin contest" or "closest-to-the-pin competition" as part of the tournament. A bonus competition, you might say, within the event. A group of golf buddies can also wager money on a closest-to-the-pin side bet ...

What is a side bet in golf?

As a side bet, the golfers keep track throughout the round of which of them has stopped a ball on the green closest to the pin.

What happens if someone in Group 2 beats a distance?

If someone in Group 2 beats that distance, they write down their name and move the proxy marker to the new location. And so on.

Versatile Short Game

A good short game requires a player to be flexible in shot and club selection. There is no one answer for every shot and sometimes you need decide to putt or pitch or flop or bump & run. The key is to know which short will get you closer to the pin based on your skill level, confidence level, and green layout.

Putt or Pitch Example

Let’s look at a real world shot I was face with at Harbor Pines Golf Club first hole. I ended up like we said above five feet off the form the green with fifteen feet of green to go to the pin.

Chip Shot Possibilities

I am confident with a my chip shot but there is nothing like watching your ball go past the hole. My goal is to get within a club length of the hole to set up a manageable par putt. I would use my gap wedge since there was still space to go. Below is what I saw as my possible results.

Putt Possibilites

Determining how hard to hit putt through fringe is tricky because we do not practice it often or at all. There is no rule of thumb of hit it double as hard to over the distance. The way I read the green here is the possible range of outcomes if I putt.

What Was my Choice: Putt or Pitch

I putted the ball and walked away with a par. It was about choosing the lowest risk shot. This though process helps to eliminate needless strokes on the scorecard. My choice may change if I ever learn a good flop shot or the green showed a different break. Putting worked this one time and that is all that matters.

What does Rule 10-1B mean?

If you said your opponent, you're correct. Rule 10-1b states that once everyone has teed off, the golfer farther from the hole plays first, regardless of position. There is no penalty in match play for playing out of turn, but your opponent can make you cancel and replay your shot. In stroke play, if a player plays out of turn to speed up play, ...

How many players can play in a scramble?

All four players can then play until the ball is holed. For more on scramble teams, including a han-dicapping procedure, visit popeofslope.com/scramble.

What happened to Rollins' second shot in the final round?

During the final round, Rollins' second shot from the rough on No. 7 became embedded in a pitch mark in the fairway. If the pitch mark was caused by his ball, Rollins would be allowed to lift, clean and drop the ball, without penalty, as close as possible to the spot where it lay but no closer to the hole.

When do you hit a provisional ball off the tee?

So what if you need to hit a provisional ball off the tee? According to Rule 10-3, you must wait until all your opponents or fellow-competitors have teed off before hitting your provisional tee shot.

Who was the official PGA Tour official who asked if the ball was in its pitch mark?

PGA Tour rules official Steve Rintoul asked several people nearby, including a CBS camera crew, if the ball was in its pitch mark. Rintoul determined it was in another ball's pitch mark, so no relief was granted. Rollins chipped out of the plugged lie onto the green and saved par, only to finish second behind Nick Watney.

Can a low handicapper carry a scramble team?

A It does if it's competing against a team of average players. A low-handicapper who hits it far can carry a scramble team because he or she will likely supply the majority of shots used, and they'll be shots most middle-handicappers can't hit.

What is the penalty for a ball marker?

Otherwise, the player incurs a penalty of one stroke under Rule 18-2a or 20-1.

What happens if a ball is accidentally moved?

If a ball or ball-marker is accidentally moved in the process of placing or replacing the ball, the ball or ball- marker must be replaced. There is no penalty, provided the movement of the ball or ball-marker is directly attributable to the specific act of placing or replacing the ball or removing the ball-marker.

What is the rule for ball assist?

[quote]Rule 22. Ball Assisting or Interfering with Play#N#[b]Definitions b]#N#All defined terms are in [i]italics [/i] and are listed alphabetically in the Definitions section.#N#[url=""] [/url]#N#[b] [url=""]22-1. Ball Assisting Play [/url] [/b]#N#[url=""]Except when a ball is in motion, if a player considers that a ball might assist any other player, he may: [/url]#N#[indent] [url=""] [b] a. [/b] Lift the ball if it is his ball, or#N#[b]b. [/b] Have any other ball lifted. [/url]#N#[/indent] [url=""]A ball lifted under this Rule must be replaced (see Rule [/url] [url="http://www.usga.org/workarea/linkit.aspx?linkidentifier=id&itemid=14292#20-3"]20-3 [/url]). The ball must not be cleaned, unless it lies on the [url="http://www.usga.org/workarea/linkit.aspx?linkidentifier=id&itemid=14253#PuttingGreen"] [i]putting green [/i] [/url] (see Rule [url="http://www.usga.org/workarea/linkit.aspx?linkidentifier=id&itemid=14294#21"]21 [/url]).#N#In stroke play, a player required to lift his ball may play first rather than lift the ball.#N#In stroke play, if the [url="http://www.usga.org/workarea/linkit.aspx?linkidentifier=id&itemid=14253#Committee"] [i]Committee [/i] [/url] determines that [url="http://www.usga.org/workarea/linkit.aspx?linkidentifier=id&itemid=14253#Competitor"] [i]competitors [/i] [/url] have agreed not to lift a ball that might assist any [url="http://www.usga.org/workarea/linkit.aspx?linkidentifier=id&itemid=14253#Competitor"] [i]competitor [/i] [/url], they are disqualified.#N#[/quote]#N#http://www.usga.org/Rule-Books/Rules-of-Golf/Rule-22/#N#Sounds like he was OK to move the ball, but, it's not OK to clean it.

Why did the player put his ball on the green away from his mark?

Player believed that since he did not place the ball on his mark his ball was not in play. Nothing came of it, they just wanted to know what the status of the ball was.

What would have happened if the player had put his ball down off the green, on the fringe, to see it?

What would have happened if the player had put his ball down off the green, on the fringe, to see it? Would they then also deem it in play ? Unlikely. It seems to me that the correct ruling has everything to do with the player's intent when placing the ball down. If your intent is just to rest the ball in a place you can see it, that shouldn't make it in play. If it's your intent to put it in play and you do so in the wrong place, that's a problem if you don't correct it before you hit it. I bet that the issue in the referenced tournament had to do with a question as to whether the player thought he had replaced the ball or not -- a subjective issue which is difficult to resolve if you simply don't believe the player's report as to his intention. Maybe a good policy is to announce what you're doing if you choose to put the ball back down intenitionally on a spot other than where it was marked.

What happens if you drop a ball in the wrong place?

A ball incorrectly substituted, dropped or placed in a wrong place or otherwise not in accordance with the Rules but not played may be lifted, without penalty, and the player must then proceed correctly.

How many points can a ball be corrected under?

You are correct that a ball incorrectly placed, dropped, (or set off to the side etc.) ball can be corrected under 20-6.

What is relief in golf?

Rule: Under Rule 13.1F, you are required to take relief if your ball ends up on the wrong green. The rule also states that you must take relief if your intended stance is interfered with by the wrong green. “When there is interference by a wrong green, you must not play the ball as it lies,” the rule says. “Instead, you must take free relief by ...

Who is Zephyr Melton?

Zephyr Melton is an assistant editor for GOLF.com where he spends his days blogging, producing and editing. Prior to joining the team at GOLF.com, he attended the University of Texas followed by stops with Team USA, the Green Bay Packers and the PGA Tour.

Is there relief under the USGA rule if interference exists only because you choose a club, type of?

USGA. However, the rule goes on to clarify that “there is no relief under this rule if interference exists only because you choose a club, type of stance or swing or direction of play that is clearly unreasonable under the circumstances.”.

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