Golf Glossary
Out of Bounds
In short
Out of bounds is the area outside the golf course, usually marked with white stakes or lines. A ball is out of bounds when all of it lies outside the boundary. Rule 18.2 then applies: you take one penalty stroke and play again from where you made your last stroke.
What does out of bounds mean in golf?
Out of bounds is everything that no longer belongs to the golf course. That means neighbouring land, roads, car parks, buildings and often areas along the edge of the course that the Committee has deliberately excluded. The Rules of Golf call it out of bounds, and golfers often abbreviate it to OB.
The boundary between course and out of bounds runs along an imaginary line. It is set by the course-side points of the stakes, fences or walls with which the Committee has marked the boundary. Where the boundary is marked by a line on the ground, the line itself is already out of bounds. Even so, a ball is only out of bounds when all of it lies outside the boundary edge. If even a small part of the ball touches the ground or anything else inside the boundary, or overhangs the boundary edge into the course, it is still in play.
How is out of bounds marked?
Out of bounds is usually marked with white stakes or white lines. Solid fences, walls and buildings can also form the boundary. Where there are both stakes and a line, the line counts. White markings are not to be confused with the yellow and red stakes of a penalty area. Yellow and red mean water or similar areas, white means out of bounds.
Boundary stakes are not movable obstructions. You must not pull them out to make room for your swing. Fences and walls are also fixed boundary objects, and there is no relief from them. If they interfere with your stroke, you have to cope with them.
Some courses also define individual areas inside the course as out of bounds. This is usually stated in the Local Rules on the scorecard. A look at it before the round is always worthwhile.
The rule: one penalty stroke and stroke and distance
If your ball ends up out of bounds, Rule 18.2 sets out the procedure. You take one penalty stroke and play again from where you made your last stroke. The Rules call this stroke and distance, because you lose one stroke and the distance the ball travelled at the same time.
If it was your tee shot, you play again from the teeing area. You may use a tee. If it was a stroke from the general area, you drop a ball in an area of one club-length around the spot where you last played, and it must not come to rest nearer the hole. No other way than stroke and distance is available for out of bounds. There is no lateral relief unless the course has adopted a matching Local Rule, more on which below.
The provisional ball: how to save time
If your ball may be out of bounds or lost, you may play a provisional ball under Rule 18.3. Before you hit it, you must clearly announce that you are playing a provisional ball. Saying ‘I will play another one’ is not enough. The point is that you do not have to walk back to the old spot and do not hold up other groups.
If the first ball turns up in play, forget the provisional and carry on with the first ball. If the first ball is out of bounds or lost, the provisional becomes the ball in play. If you played it from the tee, it is your third stroke: first stroke, penalty stroke, then the provisional ball. A provisional ball is only allowed when the first ball could be out of bounds or lost outside a penalty area.
A practical example: par 4 with out of bounds on the left
You stand on the tee of a par-4 hole. White stakes run along the left of the fairway, with a garden behind them. Your tee shot pulls left and disappears behind the stakes. You say clearly: ‘I am playing a provisional ball.’
The provisional ball lands in the middle of the fairway. Walking up, you find the first ball behind the stakes in the garden, so out of bounds. The provisional ball is now the ball in play. You have:
- Stroke 1: tee shot out of bounds
- Stroke 2: penalty stroke
- Stroke 3: provisional ball on the fairway
Stroke 4 gets you onto the green, and two putts later you write down six strokes, which is a double bogey. Without a provisional you would have had to walk back to the tee. That would have cost time, and the score would have been the same.
Alternative Local Rule: two penalty strokes without walking back
Some courses offer a Local Rule that saves the walk back. It is based on a model from the rule-makers and is called the alternative to stroke and distance. If a ball is lost or out of bounds, you may then drop a ball in a relief area for two penalty strokes. The area lies between where the ball probably crossed the boundary or was lost and the edge of the fairway, plus two club-lengths, and it must not be nearer the hole. If you have already played a provisional ball, you can no longer use this Local Rule.
This rule only applies if the course has expressly introduced it. It is then printed on the scorecard. It does not apply to an unplayable ball or to a ball in a penalty area. It is not recommended for high-level competitions. For relaxed rounds it is a practical way to keep the game flowing.
Common mistakes and tips
These mistakes creep in with out of bounds:
- The ball is placed instead of dropped. After stroke and distance, a ball must be dropped unless you play from the tee.
- The penalty stroke is forgotten. If you replay from the tee, you play stroke 3.
- The provisional ball is not announced. Without an announcement it is the ball in play under stroke and distance.
- A stake is pulled out. That is forbidden with white stakes.
- Giving up too early: if it is not clear whether the ball is out of bounds, you may search for three minutes. If it lies inside the boundary, you play it.
Tip: if in doubt, play a provisional ball. It costs one ball but saves walking and arguments.
One more point: a player may stand out of bounds when playing a ball that still lies on the course. The ball counts, not the stance.
Try it at Golf Lounge
You can practise what applies to out of bounds, the provisional ball and penalty strokes at Golf Lounge Resort Hamburg on the DGV Platzreife course. The theory part covers rules, etiquette and safety on the course and is linked with practice, guided by PGA coaches. The course runs in small groups of no more than six people and usually comprises four to five sessions of two hours. The exam takes place every Saturday on site in Moorfleet.
Frequently asked questions
What does out of bounds mean in golf?
Out of bounds means outside the golf course. The boundary is usually marked with white stakes or lines. A ball is out of bounds when all of it lies outside. That costs one penalty stroke, and you replay from where you made your last stroke.
How many penalty strokes is out of bounds?
Under Rule 18.2 it is one penalty stroke, combined with the loss of distance. You replay from where you made your last stroke. If the course has adopted the alternative to stroke and distance, you may instead drop a ball in the relief area for two penalty strokes.
May I stand out of bounds and play a ball on the course?
Yes. The ball is what counts. If it still lies on the course because even part of it lies inside the boundary or overhangs it into the course, you may play it. Your stance may be outside the course. That is allowed and costs nothing.
Do I have to announce a provisional ball?
Yes. Before the stroke you must say expressly that you are playing a provisional ball. Without a clear announcement the second ball is the ball in play under stroke and distance. The first ball is then given up, even if it is found later.
What is the difference between out of bounds and a penalty area?
Out of bounds lies outside the course and is marked white. Only stroke and distance applies. A penalty area lies on the course and is marked yellow or red. There you may play the ball or take relief for one penalty stroke, with several options.
As of: October 2026