
What Happens If You Hit Your Golf Ball Out of Bounds?
- OB Defined. According to the USGA, out of bounds is defined as “beyond the boundaries of the course or any part of the course so marked.”
- Stroke and Distance. ...
- Provisional Ball. ...
- Example: From the Tee. ...
- Example: From the Fairway
What is an OB penalty in golf?
Nov 16, 2013 · What is an ob in golf? This stands for out of bounds. It is an area of the Golf course or off the golf course which is not in play. If you hit …
What does it mean when a golf ball is OB?
This page covers the stroke-and-distance procedure for a ball that is lost or out of bounds, the three-minute search time, the concept of playing a provisional ball, and the optional Local Rule that provides an alternative to the stroke-and-distance procedure.
Where is the Ob boundary on a golf course?
Jul 17, 2012 · The White Stakes: If your ball flies out of bounds and lands beyond the white stakes, USGA Rule #27 states that you must return and hit another shot from the original spot where you last struck the ball before it went OB (out of bounds). This is considered one of the most severe penalties in golf since the player looses both a stroke, and distance.
When is the ball in bounds on the Ob boundary?
Feb 20, 2020 · The new stroke-and-distance local rule allows players the option of dropping in the fairway if they so choose. Players must find where their …

What is OB stand for in golf?
OB stands for "out of bounds" and play is prohibited in that area, and OB is marked with white stakes (OB zone inside the course should be marked with white stakes with blue top to distinguish them from stakes that mark OB lines.)
What is the penalty for OB in golf?
The penalty for OB is commonly called “stroke and distance.” This means that a one-stroke penalty is added to the score, and the ball must then be dropped as nearly as possible to the spot from which the original shot was played.
How do you score an OB shot in golf?
0:171:41Rules Of Golf - Rule 18 - Ball Lost or Out of Bounds; Provisional BallYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBy adding one penalty. And playing your original ball or another ball from where the previous strokeMoreBy adding one penalty. And playing your original ball or another ball from where the previous stroke was made eighteen point two covers ball lost or out-of-bounds stroke.
Can you play from OB in golf?
The Rules of Golf insist hitting out of bounds results in a one-stroke penalty, but the distance the Rules take away from you really makes it a two-stroke swing.
Is OB a 2 stroke penalty?
Regardless of whether you choose to take relief, you must take a 2-stroke penalty. For example, if your drive went out of bounds, that is your first shot. Now, add two strokes for your penalty and your next shot after your new placement will be your fourth shot.Jul 30, 2019
Is a lost ball a 2 stroke penalty?
The correct method of play would be to return to the spot from which the original ball was last played, and under penalty of one stroke, continue play from there. Yes, that means that a lost ball is a stroke and distance penalty.
What is the difference between OB and hazard?
Regular hazards are marked by yellow paint and lateral hazards are marked by red paint. If a golfer hits their ball out of bounds, the golfer must return to the location from where the previous shot was hit (at the cost of a stroke).Jul 1, 2015
What does 3 off the tee mean?
A Provisional ball, as described, is ALWAYS classed as '3 off the Tee' - provisionally! You must announce it as a 'provisional ball', otherwise it isn't provisional, so becomes the ball in play (and 3 off the tee).Nov 3, 2015
Is OB stroke and distance?
What to Do When Ball Is Lost or Out of Bounds. If a ball is lost or out of bounds, the player must take stroke-and-distance relief by adding one penalty stroke and playing the original ball or another ball from where the previous stroke was made (see Rule 14.6).
What happens if a golfer runs out of balls?
If you happen to run out of balls, you can borrow one from any other player, including a practice or X-Out ball (which are generally conforming balls). If you play a wrong ball, you lose the hole in match play or get a two-stroke penalty in stroke play.
What are red stakes in golf?
The red stakes on a golf course indicate a lateral water hazard. A lateral water hazard is different from a normal water hazard for it is lateral or it runs alongside the line of play. Simply put, a normal water hazard runs across the line of play while the lateral water hazard runs adjacent to the line of play.Jun 21, 2020
What happens if you find your ball after 3 minutes?
If the original ball is found within three minutes of starting the search, it remains the ball in play. Continued) and the player must abandon the provisional ball. Continued). If the three-minute search time expires before the original ball is found, the provisional ball.
What is an OB in golf?
OB Defined. According to the USGA, out of bounds is defined as “beyond the boundaries of the course or any part of the course so marked.”. This boundary is marked by white stakes (and lines connecting them) that are considered “fixed,” which means players are not allowed to move them. A player can stand out of bounds to hit a ball ...
What happens if a player believes the first ball is OB?
Alternatively, if he believes the first ball is OB, he is allowed to hit a provisional ball. If it was indeed OB, the provisional ball becomes his third shot, and he plays his fourth shot from where it landed. In either case, if he finds that the original ball is in bounds, he plays his second shot from there.
What does it mean when a golf shot goes out of bounds?
It is a sickening feeling: You stand on the tee, hit one of your longest tee shots of the day … and it goes out of bounds. Often simply referred to as being “OB,” out-of-bounds shots carry a stiff penalty that really hurts your score; however, you can incur even more penalty strokes by taking your OB penalty incorrectly.
What happens if a ball turns out to be OB?
If his original ball turns out to be OB, he simply picks it up, adds his penalty shots and plays the provisional. If, however, the original ball is in bounds, it is still in play; he plays his original ball without penalty, and just picks up the provisional ball.
What happens if a player hits his first ball and finds it has gone OB?
Example: From the Tee. If a player hits his original ball (first shot) and finds that it has gone OB, he picks up the ball and takes a one-shot penalty (second shot), walks back to the tee, and hits a new tee ball (third shot). Alternatively, if he believes the first ball is OB, he is allowed to hit a provisional ball.
What is provisional ball?
Provisional Ball. In order to speed up the game, if a player believes that his shot has gone out of bounds, he may tell his playing partners that he is going to play a provisional ball.
Can you stand out of bounds to hit a ball that is still in bounds?
A player can stand out of bounds to hit a ball that is still in bounds, but cannot move the stake if it is in the way. A ball is OB only if the entire ball is OB.
What is a final exception in golf?
A final exception is when a new Local Rule which provides an alternative to stroke and distance relief is in effect . This Local Rule is recommended for casual play and not for competitions involving highly-skilled players. If it is in effect, for two penalty strokes, you can estimate the spot where your ball is lost or went out ...
What happens if you hit your ball out of bounds?
If you hit your ball out of bounds or lose it (you have three minutes to search for your ball before it becomes lost), your only option is to go back to the spot of your previous stroke to play under stroke and distance. The only exceptions to this are if your ball is lost in a penalty area (when you can use any of the penalty area relief options) or lost in an abnormal ground condition or in an obstruction.
What is provisional ball?
If you are then unable to find your original ball, or you find it out of bounds, your provisional ball is your ball in play under stroke and distance, and you don’t have to take the time to walk all the way back to the spot of your previous stroke.
How far can you drop a golf ball in the fairway?
You can drop a ball in the fairway within two club-lengths of that fairway edge point, or anywhere between there and the estimated spot where your ball is lost or went out of bounds. To see this visually and learn more about how this optional Local Rule works, click here.
What does "lost" mean in baseball?
Definition of Lost. Definition of Out of Bounds. Definition of Provisional Ball. Rule 18 - Stroke-and-Distance Relief; Ball Lost or Out of Bounds; Provisional Ball.
What is the line from the hole through the fairway reference point?
But with these limits: Must not be nearer the hole than the ball reference point. Once the player puts a ball in play under this Local Rule:
What is the purpose of provisional ball?
When a provisional ball has not been played, significant issues with pace of play can result for a player needing to take stroke-and-distance relief for a ball that is out of bounds or cannot be found. The purpose of this Local Rule is to allow a Committee to provide an extra relief option that allows a player to play on without returning ...
What happens if a provisional ball is not found?
If a provisional ball is played and neither the original ball nor the provisional ball can be found, then the Local Rule may be applied for the provisional ball that cannot be found. “When a player’s ball has not been found or is known or virtually certain to be out of bounds, the player may proceed as follows rather than proceeding ...
Can you play a ball that was lost in golf?
The original ball that was lost or out of bounds is no longer in play and must not be played. This is true even if the ball is found on the course before the end of the three-minute search time (see Rule 6.3b). But, the player may not use this option to take relief for the original ball when:
