Can I play out of turn to speed things up?

Yes, you can. In stroke play there is no penalty for playing out of turn, and the Rules actively encourage ready golf as long as it's done safely and responsibly (Rule 6.4b).

What ready golf means

Ready golf just means the player who is ready to hit goes ahead, even if they aren't farthest from the hole. The Rule says players are "both allowed and encouraged" to do this in stroke play. It keeps the round moving and there's no penalty whatsoever.

The only catch

You still have to be safe. Don't hit if someone is in your line, don't rush a player who's addressing the ball, and don't use ready golf as an excuse to distract others. The encouragement comes with "in a safe and responsible way" built in.

Match play is different

In match play the order matters. If you play out of turn your opponent can cancel the stroke and make you replay it. The only exception is if you both agree to play out of turn to save time — then the right to cancel is waived.

Exceptions that change the answer

• Match play and both players agree to play out of turn to save time → The player who played out of turn keeps the stroke; the opponent gives up the right to cancel it.

Frequently asked questions

Is there any penalty for playing ready golf in stroke play?

No. Rule 6.4b explicitly says there is no penalty and that players are encouraged to play ready golf in a safe and responsible way.

Can I play ready golf on the tee?

Yes. The same principle applies — whoever is ready can tee off, regardless of who has the honour, as long as it's safe.

What if someone hits out of turn and hits another player?

That's not ready golf — that's careless. The encouragement only applies when played safely. You could face a penalty for dangerous play under Rule 1.2a.

Does ready golf change who has the honour on the next tee?

No. The honour on the next tee is still based on the lowest gross score on the previous hole, regardless of who actually hit first (Interpretation 6.4b(1)/1).

Can we agree to play ready golf in match play?

Yes. If both players agree to play out of turn to save time, the player who plays out of turn keeps the stroke and the opponent loses the right to cancel it (Rule 6.4a Exception).