What happens if I don't hole out and play the next tee?

You're disqualified. In stroke play, if you don't hole out and then make a stroke from the next tee, you must correct the mistake before that stroke — otherwise it's DQ (Rule 3.3c).

The hard rule

Stroke play demands that you hole out on every hole. If you pick up, forget to putt out, or just walk off the green without finishing, and then you hit a tee shot on the next hole, you've failed to correct the mistake in time. The penalty is disqualification — no exceptions, no second chances once that next stroke is made. The rule exists because every player in the competition is measured against the same standard: a complete score on every hole. If one player skips holing out and nobody catches it, the whole field is compromised.

The only way to save it

You can avoid the DQ if you realize the mistake before you make a stroke from the next teeing area. Go back, hole out, and add the strokes you actually took (plus any penalties). Your score for that hole stands, and you continue. But the moment you swing from the next tee, the door closes — you're out of the competition.

What about match play?

Different rule, different outcome. In match play, if you don't hole out, you simply lose the hole (Rule 3.2). There's no disqualification for the round — you just concede that hole and move on. This page covers stroke play only.

Exceptions that change the answer

• You realize the mistake before making a stroke from the next tee → Return to the previous green, hole out, count all strokes including penalties, and continue — no DQ.
• The Committee discovers the failure before you return your scorecard and you haven't teed off next hole → They can direct you to complete the hole; if you do, the score stands.

Frequently asked questions

I picked up my ball thinking it was good — does that count as not holing out?

Yes. If the ball wasn't in the hole, you didn't hole out. Intent doesn't matter — the ball must be at rest in the hole.

My playing partner told me it was good, so I picked up. Still DQ?

Yes. Only the Committee can authorize a concession in stroke play, and they never do. A playing partner's 'that's good' has zero authority.

What if I notice after I've teed off but before I hit my second shot on the next hole?

Too late. The disqualification triggers the moment you make any stroke from the next teeing area — even a whiff counts.

Does this apply to Stableford or Maximum Score formats?

Yes. Rule 3.3c applies to all stroke-play formats, including Stableford, Maximum Score, and Par/Bogey. You must hole out (or reach the max score) on every hole.

Can I just take a penalty and move on instead of going back?

No. There's no penalty-stroke option that fixes a failure to hole out in stroke play. You either complete the hole before the next tee shot, or you're disqualified.