Order of Play in Golf: Honour, Rules and When It Changes

Order of play in golf is more precise than most players realise: the honour system governs who tees off first, but the ordering rule changes once the group moves into the fairway — and the consequences of playing out of turn differ sharply between stroke play and match play.

What is the honour in golf?

The honour is the privilege of playing first from the tee on a given hole. It is the basic order-of-play system in golf and is governed by Rule 5.4 of the Rules of Golf.

Honour isn't just etiquette: in match play, playing in the correct order can have Rules consequences. In stroke play, the order is more flexible (though honour remains the default).

How the honour is determined

First hole

The order of play on the first tee is determined in whatever way the Committee establishes, or if there is no specific direction, by agreement between the players or by lot.

In most competitions, the draw sheet assigns the order of play on the first hole. In social rounds, the order is decided by mutual agreement, and it's common for the lowest-handicap player or whoever suggests it to play first.

From the second hole onwards

In stroke play: the player with the lowest gross score on the previous hole plays first. If two or more players tied for the lowest score, they keep the same order they had on that hole — the carry-over rule (Rule 6.4b(1)) means the previous tee's sequence simply rolls forward. For a deeper walk-through of tied-hole scenarios, see who has honour after tied scores in stroke play.

In match play: the player who won the previous hole plays first. If the hole was halved, the order from the previous hole is retained.

In Stableford: the player with the highest points score on the previous hole plays first.

Important: honour is determined by the result on that hole, not by the cumulative score. If you're leading the card overall but lost the last hole, the honour belongs to whoever won that hole.

Within the hole: who plays first from the fairway

Once in the fairway or rough, the ordering is different from the tee:

• The player furthest from the hole plays first (regardless of whether they're in the fairway, rough, bunker, or penalty area)
• On the green, the same rule applies: the player furthest from the hole putts first

If two balls are equidistant, the players decide by agreement or lot.

What happens if you play out of turn

In stroke play

Playing out of turn in stroke play carries no penalty. The stroke counts and play continues. The Committee can give an informal warning, but cannot apply stroke penalties for this reason. This is precisely why Ready Golf works in stroke play — players are playing out of honour order, but there's no regulatory sanction.

In match play

In match play, if a player plays out of turn, the opponent may require that stroke to be cancelled and replayed in the correct order. There is no stroke penalty, but the stroke played is voided and must be replayed. The opponent must make this claim before either of them plays their next stroke.

If the opponent doesn't claim in time, the stroke played out of turn stands and play continues.

Order on the practice tee and warm-up

Order of play doesn't apply to practice strokes or warm-up on the driving range. It only applies to strokes that count on the scorecard.

Etiquette rules related to honour

• Don't jump ahead: if you have the honour but aren't ready yet, the next player shouldn't tee off without your implicit consent
• Signal when you're playing under Ready Golf: in practice, it's good etiquette to briefly indicate "I'll go" or "shall I go?" before playing
• Don't play out of turn to unsettle your opponent: in match play, order can have psychological weight. Playing out of turn to force a situation on your opponent may be seen as unsportsmanlike, even if it's not technically penalised

Order with a marker or referee present

In formal competitions with referees, the marker may keep a record of the honour on each hole to ensure compliance. If there's a dispute, the referee has the final say on who plays first.

Order of play in foursomes and fourball

In foursomes (alternate shot), the side that wins the previous hole tees off first on the next tee, and partners alternate shots throughout the hole — the player who did not tee off plays the second shot, and so on. In fourball better ball, each player plays their own ball and the honour follows the lowest score on the previous hole (stroke play) or the hole winner (match play), just like individual play. Rule 22.3 and Rule 23.6 confirm these procedures.

Keep reading: match play · strokeplay · foursomes

Frequently asked questions

What is the honour in golf and which rule covers it?

The honour is the right to tee off first on a hole and it is governed by Rule 5.4 of the Rules of Golf. It is more than etiquette because in match play playing out of order can have Rules consequences.

How is the honour decided on the first tee?

On the first hole the order is set by the Committee’s draw sheet, or if none is used, by mutual agreement or a random lot among the players. The player who starts that way holds the honour for that hole.

Who gets the honour after a hole in stroke play?

In stroke play the player with the lowest gross score on the just‑completed hole gets the honour on the next teeing area; if there is a tie the order from that hole is retained.

Who gets the honour after a hole in match play?

In match play the player who won the hole gets the honour on the next tee; if the hole was halved the previous order is kept. This ordering can affect later play and is covered by Rule 5.4.

What happens if a player tees off out of turn in stroke play or match play?

In stroke play there is no penalty for playing out of turn; the stroke stands and the round continues. In match play the opponent may require the stroke to be cancelled and replayed in the correct order, but there is no stroke penalty.

Can we play ready golf in a match play competition?

No. In match play the honour is mandatory and your opponent can require any stroke played out of turn to be cancelled and replayed (Rule 6.4a). Ready golf only applies in stroke play where there is no penalty for playing out of turn.

What if two balls are exactly the same distance from the hole?

The players decide between themselves who plays first — by agreement or by lot such as a coin toss. There is no default rule that favours either player (Rule 6.4b).

Does the honour system apply on the putting green?

Yes. The player whose ball is furthest from the hole putts first, regardless of whether they are on the green, fringe, or in a bunker. Honour from the tee does not carry over to the green (Rule 6.4b).