Who Hits First in Golf? Order of Play Explained

TL;DR

The player farthest from the hole usually hits first, but on the tee it’s by honors (lowest score last hole) or ready golf in casual play.

Key Takeaways

• Tee box: lowest score last hole (honors) or agreed order.
• Fairway/rough/bunker: player farthest from the hole plays first.
• Green: same rule, farthest from hole putts first.
• Ties or casual rounds: groups often play ready golf to save time.
• Match play vs stroke play: match play is stricter about order, stroke play allows ready golf.

What Does “Hitting First” Mean in Golf?

“Hitting first” in golf simply means deciding which player plays their shot before the others. It’s about order of play, not who is stronger or faster.

• On the tee box, it’s usually the player with the lowest score on the previous hole (called “honors”), or by draw/agreement on the first hole.
• On the fairway, rough, or green, the player farthest from the hole always plays first.
• In casual golf, groups often switch to ready golf (whoever is ready plays first) to keep the pace moving.

So, “hitting first” = who has the right (or responsibility) to take the next shot before others, based on golf’s rules and etiquette.

Who Hits First on the Tee Box

On the tee box, the player who hits first is decided by golf’s “honors” system or by agreement:

• First hole: order is set by draw, coin toss, or group agreement (no one has honors yet).
• After the first hole: the player with the lowest score on the previous hole gets “honors” and tees off first.
• If there’s a tie: players keep the same order from the last tee box.
• Casual rounds: many groups use ready golf, whoever is ready and safe to play hits first, instead of strictly following honors.

In short: lowest score tees off first after each hole, but ready golf is common in casual play.

Who Hits First on the Fairway or Rough

On the fairway or in the rough, the rule is simple: the player farthest from the hole always hits first.

• This applies whether you’re in the fairway, rough, sand, or fringe: distance to the hole decides order, not who’s in a “better” or “worse” spot.
• The idea is about fairness and safety: the player farther away plays before others, so no one risks hitting over or into another player’s ball.
• In casual play, many groups use ready golf here too, if it’s safe and you’re ready, you can hit first to keep the game moving.

In short: farthest from the hole plays first on the fairway or rough, unless the group agrees to ready golf.

Who Hits First on the Green (Putting Order)

On the green, the same principle applies: the player farthest from the hole putts first.

• Distance decides the order, not whose ball is “on line” or “inside” someone else’s putt.
• If two or more balls are about the same distance, players can agree who goes first.
• Golf etiquette adds extra care here: players should mark their ball if it’s in another’s putting line, and avoid stepping on putting lines.
• In casual play, ready golf works on the green too, if you’re set up and it’s safe, you can putt out of turn to speed up play.

In short: farthest from the hole putts first, but ready golf is common in casual rounds.

Match Play vs Stroke Play Rules

In match play and stroke play, the order of who hits first is treated differently:

Match Play

• Order matters a lot because playing out of turn can affect the outcome.
• If a player hits when it wasn’t their turn, the opponent may require the shot to be replayed (Rule 6.4a).
• That’s why golfers in match play usually stick strictly to honors on the tee and farthest from the hole elsewhere.

Stroke Play

• Order of play is more flexible.
• Playing out of turn doesn’t carry a penalty, it’s only a matter of etiquette and pace of play.
• The rules even encourage ready golf (Rule 6.4b), so players can hit when ready if it’s safe.

In short: Match play enforces strict order (with penalties if challenged), while stroke play allows ready golf with no penalty.

Ready Golf: The Modern Approach

Ready golf means players don’t wait for strict turn order — instead, whoever is ready and it’s safe to hit, plays first. It’s encouraged in stroke play to speed up the game without breaking rules.

• On the tee: if the “honors” player is not ready, someone else can tee off.
• On the fairway/rough: players can hit when safe, even if they’re not farthest from the hole.
• On the green: golfers can putt out or finish putting instead of marking and waiting.
• Key rule: safety first, don’t hit if someone is in front or in danger.

In short: Ready golf is all about keeping pace, play when you’re ready, as long as it’s safe.

Common Mistakes Golfers Make

Here are the common mistakes golfers make with hitting order:

• Forgetting honors on the tee: players assume any order works, but in match play this can cause disputes.
• Playing out of turn in match play: can give opponents the right to make you replay your shot.
• Not checking who’s farthest from the hole: leads to confusion and awkward pauses.
• Rushing shots in ready golf: hitting without checking safety or if others are clear.
• Failing to mark a ball on the green: can interfere with another player’s putting line.
• Over-strictness in casual rounds: insisting on full honors even when ready golf would save time.

In short: the biggest mistake is ignoring both etiquette and safety when deciding who hits first.

FAQs

What if two players are the same distance from the hole?

If it’s too close to tell, players can agree who plays first, there’s no penalty either way.

Does “ready golf” apply in tournaments?

Yes, in stroke play tournaments ready golf is encouraged to speed up play (Rule 6.4b). In match play, though, strict order still applies.

What happens if I play out of turn?

In stroke play, there’s no penalty. In match play, your opponent can require you to replay the shot if they choose.

Who hits first on the putting green?

The player farthest from the hole always putts first, unless the group agrees to ready golf.

Can we change the order by agreement?

Yes, as long as all players agree, especially in casual rounds, pace and safety come first.