The word out gets used a lot on the golf course, and surprisingly, it means two completely different things. Misunderstanding the term can lead to confusion on the scorecard or, even worse, a frustrating delay on the course. This guide will clarify both meanings of out so you can understand the lingo, navigate the scorecard, and know exactly when it’s your turn to play.
The first and most straightforward meaning of "out" in golf appears right on your scorecard. When you start an 18-hole round, you typically play holes 1 through 9 first. This set of holes is commonly referred to as the "front nine" or the "out nine." When you've completed hole 9, you have finished "going out."
Why "out"? The term is a holdover from the traditional links-style courses in Scotland, where golf began. These courses were often designed in a linear fashion. Golfers would play nine holes "out" away from the central clubhouse to the farthest point on the property. Then, they would turn around and play the remaining nine holes "in" toward the clubhouse, completing the loop.
Today, even on modern courses that loop back to the clubhouse after every few holes, this classic terminology remains. Look at any standard scorecard, and you'll see it broken down into three main scoring sections:
Knowing this helps you track your game and communicate with fellow golfers. If someone asks, "What'd you shoot on the out nine?" they’re simply asking for your score on the first nine holes. It’s a great way to break the game into two smaller, more manageable halves. If you had a rough start, you can mentally reset at the turn and tell yourself, "Okay, that was the out nine. The in nine is a whole new game."
The second meaning of "out" is arguably more important in the flow of a golf round. This meaning refers to the order of play. In simple terms, the golfer whose ball is farthest from the hole is considered "out," and it is their turn to hit next. This rule governs play from the moment after everyone has hit their tee shots until the last putt drops on the green.
To fully grasp this, you first need to understand its counterpart on the tee box: "honors."
So, who tees off first? That's determined by "honors." On the first hole of the day, honors are usually decided by a friendly, random method - flipping a tee and seeing where it points, rock-paper-scissors, or a simple agreement. From the second hole onward, honors are earned. The player with the lowest score on the previous hole gets the honor of teeing off first on the next. Ties typically revert to the honors from the hole before that.
But honors only apply to the tee box. Once everyone's ball is in play, the concept of being "out" takes over.
After everyone has teed off, the group should identify which ball is the greatest distance from the pin. That player is "out" and plays first. It doesn’t matter if your ball is in the middle of the fairway and your friend's is in the deep rough, if you are physically farther from the hole, you hit first.
Let's use a clear example to illustrate this:
Adam, Brenda, and Charlie are playing a par-4. All three have hit their tee shots.
Even though Charlie and Brenda are in trouble spots, Adam is "out" because his ball is farthest from the hole at 180 yards. He hits his second shot. After he hits, Brenda's ball (at 165 yards) is now the farthest away, so she is "out" and plays next, followed by Charlie.
This same principle applies all the way to the putting green. Once all balls are on the putting surface, the player whose ball is farthest from the cup putts first, regardless of where the other balls are. The main reason for this rule is safety. It ensures that players anead are not in the line of play when someone behind them is swinging, dramatically reducing the risk of being hit by a ball.
If you've played golf with friends, you’ve likely noticed that groups don’t always follow the "farthest from the hole" rule to the letter. This is because most casual rounds operate under the friendly concept of "Ready Golf."
Ready Golf is an informal, common-sense approach designed to improve the pace of play. The basic premise is: if you are ready to hit and it's safe to do so, go ahead and play, even if you are not technically "out." A 4-hour round is fun, a 5.5-hour round is a slog. Ready Golf helps keep things moving and makes the experience more enjoyable for everyone on the course.
Here are some perfect scenarios for using Ready Golf:
While Ready Golf is fantastic for everyday play, there are specific situations where you absolutely must stick to the traditional order of play. The most important of these is match play.
In a match-play competition - where you compete hole-by-hole against an opponent - the order of play is a strict part of the rules. Playing out of turn gives your opponent a choice: they can either ignore the breach and let the shot stand, or they can require you to cancel the stroke you just made and replay it in the correct order. In a tight match, being forced to re-hit a great shot can be a tough penalty, so always pay attention to who is "out."
In official stroke-play tournaments, while pace of play is highly encouraged, it's always wise to be more mindful of the proper order, particularly around the greens, to avoid any potential interference with another player's line.
Ultimately, the key is awareness. For casual rounds, use Ready Golf generously to keep things moving. For competitive rounds, especially in match play, know the rules and play accordingly.
Understanding "out" boils down to two contexts: your location on the course (the "out" nine being holes 1-9) and your turn to play (the player farthest from the hole is "out"). Knowing both helps you track your rounds properly and navigate the course with confidence and good etiquette.
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