Standing on the tee box with your friends, have you ever had that slight moment of confusion about who is supposed to hit first? That friendly back-and-forth is governed by one of golf’s oldest traditions: having the honors. Earning honors isn't just about etiquette, it’s a small reward for a job well done on the previous hole. This article will walk you through exactly what honors means, how it’s determined, and how you can use this simple rule to your strategic advantage.
In the simplest terms, “having the honors” gives a player the right to play first from the teeing area of a hole. It’s part of the formal Rules of Golf, but it’s also a long-standing tradition of courtesy that helps establish the order of play as you move from one hole to the next. Think of it as a small badge of achievement - you played the last hole the best, so you get to lead the way on this one.
It’s important to understand that honors only applies to the first shot on a hole. Once everyone has hit their tee shot, a different rule dictates the playing order for the rest of an hole. From the second shot onward, the player whose ball is “away” - or farthest from the hole - plays next. This helps keep the game moving and ensures players closer to the target don't have to wait on those farther back.
So, to recap:
Knowing you get to hit first is one thing, but how is that decided? The process is different for the first tee compared to the rest of the round. It is a system built on both tradition and performance.
When you start your round, no one has a better score yet, so there’s no formal rule for determining honors. Your group can decide the order however you like. Over the years, golfers have come up with several fun and classic ways to do this:
After the first hole, the process becomes much more structured. Honors is earned, not given. The player in the group with the lowest gross score (the actual number of strokes taken) on the previous hole earns the honor for the next tee box.
Let's look at a few examples to make it crystal clear:
While having an established order of play is tradition, the modern game has placed an enormous emphasis on pace of play. This has led to the widespread adoption of “ready golf,” which often overrides the formal honors system in casual and even some competitive rounds.
It's good to know the official rule. For match play (where you're competing hole-by-hole against an opponent), if you play out of order, your opponent has the right to cancel your shot and make you play again in the correct order. For stroke play (where your total score for the round is what matters), there is technically no penalty for playing out of turn. The rules encourage playing by the honors system, but don't punish breaches outside of match play because the main goal is to complete the round efficiently and fairly.
Ready golf is a common-sense approach that says: if you are ready to hit and it's safe to do so, go ahead. It’s about minimizing wasted time and keeping the game moving. This is strongly encouraged in most everyday golf situations. Here are some times when "ready golf" is the better choice:
The key to good ready golf is communication. A simple, "You mind if I go ahead?" is all it takes. In most cases, your playing partners will be happy to speed things up. It’s all about finding a balance between respecting tradition and being considerate of everyone's time on the course.
As a coach, I'm often asked if having the honors provides a real advantage. The answer is yes, but it can also be a double-edged sword. How you use the situation matters more than the situation itself.
When you have the honors, you're the leader. Your job is to execute your game plan. Don’t step up to the ball until you’re committed to your club and target. You are setting the tone, so step up with confidence after a smooth pre-shot routine and make a committed swing. Your goal is to make the others react to you.
When you don't have the honors, you are the observer. Pay attention. Don't check your phone or retreat into your own world while others are hitting. Watch the ball flight, check the bounce, and listen for your partners’ reactions. This is valuable intel. Use it to confirm or adjust your own shot plan so that when it’s your turn, your decision is backed by the most current information available.
The system of honors is a simple yet elegant part of golf's history that rewards good play and organizes the game. It dictates who tees off first, based on the previous hole’s score, but in modern, casual golf, the Caddie principle of "ready golf" often takes precedence to ensure a good pace of play for everyone.
Ultimately, knowing small rules like this is part of playing smarter, more confident golf. Playing with confidence often comes down to removing uncertainty, whether it's understanding on-course etiquette or knowing you have the right strategy for a tricky shot. That's why we built Caddie AI. If you're teeing off last and just saw your partners struggle with a crosswind, you can instantly get a recommendation on how to play the shot differently, taking the guesswork out of your decision and letting you focus on a confident swing.
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