Golf Glossary
Fringe (collar)
In short
The fringe, also called the collar or apron, is the narrow strip of grass around a putting green. It is cut a little longer than the green but much shorter than the rough. Under the Rules of Golf it is part of the general area, so a ball resting there may not simply be marked and lifted.
Fringe in golf: what collar and apron mean
A putting green is almost always surrounded by a ring of short grass. Golfers call this the fringe, and you will also hear the words collar and apron. In everyday use the three terms mean much the same. Some players use collar for the very narrow strip next to the green and apron for the wider zone in front of it.
The fringe sits between the green and the fairway or rough. It is often only a few steps wide, but on some courses it is much wider. The grass is longer than on the green and shorter than in the rough, so a ball rolls more slowly and less evenly than on the putting surface.
Greenkeepers maintain the fringe as a transition between the surfaces, and it also protects the edge of the green, which sees plenty of traffic. For you as a player, the key question is where the fringe ends and the green begins, because that line decides several Rules.
The fringe in the Rules of Golf
The Rules of Golf do not use the word fringe as a defined term. They only distinguish the putting green from the general area. The putting green is the area specially prepared for putting, and its edge is where you can see that the prepared surface ends, for example at a clear mowing line. Everything outside that line is general area, including the fringe.
A ball is on the putting green when any part of it touches the green. If it lies partly on the green and partly on the fringe, it counts as being on the green. Only a ball that does not touch the green at all is on the fringe.
This has consequences:
- A ball on the fringe may not be marked, lifted and cleaned. Lifting it normally costs one penalty stroke (Rule 9.4).
- You may not repair damage such as pitch marks there if that improves your conditions for the stroke (Rule 8.1). Repair is only allowed on the putting green (Rule 13.1c).
- You may leave the flagstick in or have it removed for any stroke, including one played from the fringe (Rule 13.2).
Putt or chip: how to decide from the fringe
With a ball on the fringe you can either use the putter or play a short shot with a wedge or iron. A putt from the fringe is often called a Texas wedge.
The putter is usually the safer choice when:
- the grass is short and the ball sits cleanly
- the path to the flag has no dips or humps
- you can judge the distance well
A chip is better when:
- the ball sits down in the grass
- the fringe is very wide or fluffy
- there is an obstacle or a slope between ball and flag
When you putt from the fringe you need more power than on the green, because the longer grass slows the ball. As a rough guide, allow a little extra length for every metre of fringe. You learn the exact amount only through practice. On short, dry fringe the difference is small, on wet or tall fringe it can be large.
Practical example: a ball on the fringe of a par 4
Picture a par 4 of 350 metres. Your drive travels 210 metres to the fairway. With your second shot you hit a 7-iron from 140 metres. The ball lands at the back of the green, rolls two metres further and stops on the fringe. The flag is eight metres away.
First you check whether the ball touches the green. It does not, it lies completely on the fringe, so you may not lift it. The grass is short and the ball sits cleanly, so you choose the putter and roll the ball to one metre with a little more power than usual. The next putt drops.
That is four strokes: drive, iron, putt from the fringe, putt in the hole. A par. It would only have been a birdie if the first putt had dropped. For your stats, you missed this green in regulation, because the ball was not on the green after your second shot.
Fringe, green and rough compared
The three surfaces differ in grass height, ball roll and Rules.
- Green: shortest grass, the ball rolls fast and evenly. You may mark, lift, clean and repair damage here.
- Fringe: slightly longer grass, the ball rolls more slowly. It is general area, so the ball stays where it lies.
- Rough: tall grass around the fringe and fairway. The grass often holds the ball and a putter is usually a poor choice.
The line between green and fringe matters for statistics. A green in regulation means your ball is on the green in two strokes fewer than par. It is enough if any part of the ball touches the green. A ball only on the fringe does not count.
The fringe is also unrelated to the practice green. A practice green is a separate facility for training, while the fringe is a strip of grass around a green on the course.
Typical mistakes on the fringe
Beginners make the same few mistakes again and again.
- Marking and lifting the ball: the most common one. If the ball is only on the fringe it may not be lifted, and doing so costs a penalty stroke. Check first whether the ball touches the green.
- Too little power: putting from the fringe as if from the green usually leaves the ball short, because the grass slows it down.
- Wrong club: a lob wedge from the fringe is risky. The ball is easily thinned or flies too far. Simple shots are usually better.
- Repairing a pitch mark: a dent in the fringe may not be repaired if it affects your stroke.
- Misjudging the lie: a ball with any part touching the green is on the green. You may then mark, lift and clean it. Treating it as a fringe ball means giving up that option.
These mistakes are easy to avoid if you take a moment to assess the lie before the stroke.
Tips for confident play from the fringe
With a little practice the fringe turns from an obstacle into an opportunity.
- Read the lie: does the ball sit on top of the grass or deep in it? If it sits up, the putter is often ideal.
- Check the line: is the path to the flag flat or sloping? The clearer the line, the better the putter works.
- Build a feel for distance: on the practice area, put balls on the fringe and putt to three, six and nine metres. You will learn how much extra power is needed.
- In tall grass, choose a low chip that runs out after landing. It needs less precision than a high pitch.
- Aim approach shots at the middle of the green, not at the flag. Then the ball ends up on the fringe less often.
Players who practise this regularly often save strokes per round. A coach can help you find the right technique for your grass conditions.
Try it at Golf Lounge
On the Golf Lounge's 9-hole 'Black' course (par 33) the fringe meets protected greens, bunkers and water hazards. With the DGV Platzreife you can feel for yourself how approach shots and short shots around the green play. The course is open from April to December, with up to four players per tee time. From May to October there is a 9-hole handicap-counting competition every Saturday.
Frequently asked questions
What is the fringe in golf?
The fringe is the narrow strip of grass around a putting green. It is also called the collar or apron. The grass is longer than on the green and shorter than in the rough. Under the Rules of Golf it is part of the general area, so a ball there is played as it lies and may not be marked or lifted.
May I mark and lift my ball on the fringe?
No. Marking, lifting and cleaning are only allowed on the putting green. The fringe is general area, and lifting a ball there normally costs one penalty stroke under Rule 9.4. If any part of the ball touches the green, however, it is on the green and you may mark it.
Should I putt or chip from the fringe?
Both are allowed. If the ball sits cleanly on short grass and the path is flat, the putter is usually the safe choice. If the ball sits down in the grass or there is a dip in between, a low chip is better. When putting from the fringe you need a little more power than on the green.
Does a ball on the fringe count as a green in regulation?
No. A green in regulation means the ball is on the green in two strokes fewer than par, and any part of the ball must touch the green. If the ball lies completely on the fringe, the green does not count, even if it is only a few centimetres from the edge.
What is the difference between fringe, collar and apron?
In everyday use the words mean almost the same. Some golfers call the very narrow strip next to the green the collar and the wider zone in front of it the apron. Fringe is the common umbrella term. For the Rules the name makes no difference: whatever is not the putting green is general area.
As of: October 2026