How to Count Out of Bounds in Golf

Hearing the thwack of a well-struck drive, only to watch it sail toward those daunting white stakes, is a feeling every golfer knows. The confusion that follows - how many strokes to add, where to hit from next - can turn a tough moment into a real headache. This guide breaks down exactly how to count your strokes when your ball goes out of bounds, explaining the official rule, the common provisional ball procedure, and the popular local rule for speeding up play.

What Exactly Is "Out of Bounds"?

Before we can count the penalty, we need to be certain the ball is actually out of bounds. In golf, "out of bounds" refers to any area outside the official boundaries of the course from which play is not allowed. Think of it as off-limits territory.

How to Identify an Out of Bounds Area

Golf courses use specific markers to define OB areas. You’ll want to look for:

• White Stakes: This is the most common indicator. A line connecting the inside points of the stakes at ground level defines the boundary.
• White Lines: Sometimes, a course will paint a white line on the ground. The entire ball must be past this line to be considered OB.
• Fences or Walls: In many cases, property-line fences or walls define the boundary. The rules will specify whether the entire fence is OB or if the inside posts define the line.

The Deciding Factor: The Entire Ball

This is where many golfers get it wrong. A ball is only out of bounds when the entire ball is outside the boundary line. If any part of your golf ball, no matter how small, is touching the white line or is on the course-side of the line between two white stakes, it is still "in-bounds."

Imagine the white line like the line in tennis. If the ball catches even a sliver of the line, it’s good. So, before you rush to take a penalty, take a close look. You might be pleasantly surprised to find that a tiny piece of your ball is saving you from a penalty stroke.

The Official Rule: Stroke and Distance

The standard, default rule for a ball that is lost or hit out of bounds is stroke and distance (Rule 18.2). It sounds technical, but the concept is straightforward once you walk through it. This penalty has two parts:

1. Stroke: You receive a one-stroke penalty.
2. Distance: You must return to the spot where you made your previous stroke and play from there again.

Let's break down the counting, because this is where the real confusion happens.

Counting Your Strokes: The Tee Shot Example

This is the most common OB scenario. You're on the tee box, ready to start the hole.

• Your first stroke (1) on the hole is your drive.
• The ball goes out of bounds.
• You add a one-stroke penalty (penalty).
• You must return to the teeing area to hit again.
• The next shot you hit from the tee will be your third stroke (3) on the hole.

Total Math: 1 (original shot) + 1 (penalty) = 2. You are now hitting your 3rd shot.

A good way to remember this is to say to yourself, "I'm lying two, hitting three." This way, you don't mistakenly mark a "2" on your scorecard for that shot. The shot hasn't happened yet - you're getting ready to make your third stroke.

Counting Your Strokes: The Approach Shot Example

Let's say your tee shot was perfect and is sitting in the middle of the fairway.

• You are lying one on the hole, preparing for your second shot.
• You hit your second stroke (2) - your approach - and it goes OB.
• You add a one-stroke penalty (penalty).
• You must drop a ball as close as possible to the spot where you just hit your approach shot.
• The next shot you take from that spot will be your fourth stroke (4) on the hole.

Total Math: 1 (tee shot) + 1 (OB approach) + 1 (penalty) = 3. You are now lying three, hitting your fourth shot.

The Provisional Ball: Your Best Friend for Pace of Play

If you hit a shot and think it might be out of bounds or lost, you should always play a provisional ball. A provisional is a backup ball you play "just in case" you can't find your first one or if it’s OB. This saves you the time and effort of walking all the way back to the original spot if your first ball is indeed unplayable.

Here’s the procedure:

1. Announce Your Intention: Before hitting, you must clearly announce to your playing partners that you are playing a "provisional ball." Just saying "I'm hitting another one" isn't enough.
2. Play the Provisional Ball: Hit the second ball from the same spot as your original shot.
3. Go Look for Your Original Ball: You get three minutes to search for your original ball once you get to the area where you think it is.

What Happens Next?

• If you find your original ball in-bounds: Great! You must pick up your provisional ball and continue playing with your original one. There is no penalty. The strokes you took with the provisional ball don’t count.
• If your original ball is found out of bounds (or is lost): Your provisional ball immediately becomes the ball in play. You lie to whatever the stroke count was on the provisional shot. For a tee shot, that means your provisional ball becomes your third stroke, and you're now lying three in the fairway (hopefully!).

Playing a provisional is one of the smartest things you can do to keep the game moving. It avoids the long, demoralizing "walk of shame" back to the tee box.

"That Drop Thing on the Fairway": The Model Local Rule E-5

If you've played in a relaxed club competition or with your weekend group, you've likely seen a golfer hit a ball OB off the tee and then drop one up by the fairway, taking a two-stroke penalty. This is not the official rule of golf, but rather an alternative called Model Local Rule E-5.

This rule was introduced to speed up recreational golf. It is *only* in effect if the course or competition committee has specifically adopted it.

How Does the Local Rule Work?

Instead of taking stroke and distance, the local rule gives you the option to take a two-stroke penalty and drop on the edge of the fairway.

1. Identify a Reference Point: Determine the spot where your ball most likely went out of bounds or was lost.
2. Find the Nearest Fairway Edge: From that point, identify the nearest edge of the fairway, no closer to the hole.
3. Drop Your Ball: You can drop a ball anywhere in a relief area between that fairway spot and the spot where the ball went OB. Most players just drop on the fairway edge.
4. Add Two Strokes: This is a two-stroke penalty, not one.

Counting Your Strokes: Local Rule Edition

Let's go back to our tee shot example, but this time using the local rule.

• Your first stroke (1) on the hole is your drive. It goes out of bounds.
• You choose to use the local rule. You add a two-stroke penalty (penalty).
• You walk up to the fairway, find your drop area, and drop a new ball.
• The next shot you hit from that spot will be your fourth stroke (4) on the hole.

Total Math: 1 (original shot) + 2 (penalty) = 3. You are now lying three, hitting your fourth shot.

Why would anyone choose this? While it feels harsh, the math is designed to mimic the outcome of a stroke-and-distance penalty. Under the standard rule, your third shot would be from the tee box again. The local rule essentially says, "Alright, let's assume your third shot from the tee would have been a good one that found this part of the fairway. Now you can hit your fourth from here." It saves time but offers no scoring advantage.

Final Thoughts

Navigating the out-of-bounds rule is all about knowing your options: the official stroke-and-distance penalty or the time-saving local rule alternative if it's available. By understanding how to count each scenario and using a provisional ball when in doubt, you can handle these tough situations with confidence and keep your round moving smoothly.

We know that on-course situations and penalties can often be stressful and confusing, which takes away from the enjoyment of the game. That’s why we’ve designed Caddie AI to be your personal rules expert. If you ever find yourself in a tricky spot or are unsure about how a rule applies, you can simply ask the app and get a clear, easy-to-understand answer in seconds. Caddie helps take the guesswork out of the game, letting you focus on your next great shot.