What Is A Hole Out In Golf?

Ever wonder what is a hole out in golf?

All it means is when the ball ends up in the hole after hitting a shot. 

You may remember one of Tiger Woods’s famous hole-outs from greenside when the Nike ball falls into the hole barely.

But you probably remember your own hole-outs a lot better. Nothing is more memorable than the first time a golfer holes out.

There is a lot more to what a hole out is and when you should or shouldn’t hole out.

In this post, you will find out everything you could possibly need to know out holes outs.

Do You Have To Be On The Putting Green For A Hole Out?

No a hole out in golf doesn’t mean you have to put the ball in the hole with your putter.

A hole out is when the ball ends up in the hole regardless of the golf club or golfing shot used.

Hole outs can be the result of a greenside chip, you’re second shot, a well-struck approach shot, from hitting an iron off the tee box, a hole-in-one, or even from tee shot on a short par 4 if you’re long enough.

So when it comes to a hole out it just means you hit a shot and the ball ended up in the golf hole.

Do You Have To Hole Out?

Depending on what format you’re playing will decide if you must hole out. Similarly, if you’re playing in a competition or just a casual round will also come into play.

Below are the different formats and situations you may or may not have to hole out for.

Playing For A Handicap

When it comes to handing in scorecards to receive a handicap down your local golf course every stroke counts. 

To get the most accurate handicap you’ll need to play every shot and finish every hole. 

But don’t take this as a bad thing you’re only helping yourself in the future. 

For example, if you were to be going for a triple bogey or worse you could technically pick it up as you won’t be able to score with them even with a high handicap.

However, by picking up and not marking down your especially bad holes you could be looking at receiving a much lower handicap than you would otherwise. Sounds great but if you can’t play to that handicap you won’t enjoy your golfing as much.

Most golf courses will require you to finish every hole regardless so better to be safe than sorry.

When Playing Stableford

Stableford is a format of play that will require you to have a handicap to play.

If you’re not familiar with Stableford it works like this…

Depending on a golfer’s handicap will decide how many additional shots they get on each hole which will lead to better-scoring chances.

For example, a golfer with a handicap of 18 will have an additional shot on every hole. This additional shot means that a bogey will score them 2 points instead of 1 point and a double bogey will score them 1 point instead of 0 points.

This means that if an 18 handicap is going for a triple bogey then they can pick up the golf ball and are not required to hole out in golf.

So when it comes to Stableford holing out is not required but as long as you’re not holding up the group behind you then you can still finish out regardless of the score.

When Playing Scrambles

When you’re playing a scramble the majority of the time every golfer on the team is not required to hole out in golf. 

Instead, the golfers plays towards achieving the lowest score possible.

Meaning if there are 4 of you playing but the first golfer to putt rolls it into the hole then the rest of the team doesn’t need to hit the same putt.

So yes you do have to hole out but not every golfer has to.

When Playing Match play

Match play golf is a format where you are playing against another golfer and trying to outscore each other on every hole.

If a golfer has a birdie on a hole but the other golfer made par then the first golfer will go 1 UP in matchplay.

This means that if you’re in a situation where the golfer you’re playing against makes a birdie and you cannot match or beat their score with you’re next shot you can pick up the golf ball.

So when it comes to Matchplay you don’t have to hole out if you cannot match or beat the other players’ score for that hole.

This also speeds up play as you will move onto the next hole sooner.

When Playing Best Score 

Best score is a team format where the best score per hole will be marked down on the scorecard for a team. 

Meaning if a golfer makes double bogey but their teammate made par then the team will be marked down for a par on that hole.

Just like a scramble then every team is required to hole out but not every golfer on that team is.

If your teammate is going for par on the green but you were going for bogey you could pick up your golf ball if you have that much confidence in your teammate.

When Playing Competitions

Once again this one will depend on the level or format of the competition you’re playing. 

Should the competition be stroke play then you will be required to hole out every hole. 

On the other side if the format is a scramble, matchplay, or stableford then you won’t technically have to if you don’t want to.

It is important to know how the stroke index works when playing these formats.

What Happens If You Don’t Hole Out When You’re Supposed To?

Not holing out when the format or competition requires you to will result in your round being disqualified.

This only applies if you’re playing in a stroke play competition or if you’re playing in a team event and your team decides not to hole out for whatever reason.

However, if you don’t hole out while playing Stableford or matchplay then you simply concede that one hole and can keep playing for the rest of the round.