Page type: Glossary / definition
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Meaning
Holing out means completing a hole by making the ball come to rest in the hole after a stroke. Under the Rules, the ball is holed when it is at rest in the hole and the entire ball is below the putting-green surface, subject to specific flagstick and overhanging-ball rules.
How it matters in match play
Holing out is how a player normally finishes a hole and lets the players compare strokes, but match play can end the hole earlier. An opponent may concede the next stroke, the hole or the match before the relevant event; a conceded stroke counts in the score, while a conceded hole settles that hole without requiring the ball to be holed. A ball that is already holed is not affected by a later attempted concession.
Table
| Quick reference | Detail |
|---|---|
| Term | Holing Out |
| Category | scoring |
| Applicable rule | Rules of Golf, Rule 1.1 (definition of Holed), Rule 3.2a-b (match-play hole completion and concessions), Rule 13.2c and Rule 13.3a (flagstick and overhanging ball) |
| Related concepts | Putt Out, Hole-in-One, Hole Score, Concession |
Worked example
Alex holes out in 4 strokes and Ben holes out in 5, so Alex wins the hole 1 up; if Ben concedes Alex's next 1-foot stroke before it is played, Alex's score includes that stroke and he has holed out by concession rather than by striking the ball.
Rule reference: Rules of Golf, Rule 1.1 (definition of Holed), Rule 3.2a-b (match-play hole completion and concessions), Rule 13.2c and Rule 13.3a (flagstick and overhanging ball)
Sources: www.usga.org , www.randa.org , www.randa.org
Common questions
Does a player have to hole out in match play?
Not always. A player may concede the opponent's next stroke or the hole before the hole is completed, so the hole can be settled without the ball being physically holed. If no concession is made, the player normally completes the hole by holing out.
What counts as holed under the Rules of Golf?
The ball must be at rest in the hole after a stroke, with the entire ball below the surface of the putting green. Rule 13.2c deals with a ball resting against a flagstick, and Rule 13.3a deals with a ball overhanging the lip.
Is holing out the same as a Putt Out?
No. Holing out is the broader result of completing the hole. A Putt Out usually describes a short final putt, but a player can hole out from any distance and from any part of the course with a stroke that finishes in the hole.
Does a hole-in-one count as holing out?
Yes. A Hole-in-One is a special case in which the first stroke from the teeing area finishes in the hole. It is still holing out, although the phrase is normally used to describe the score rather than the general act of completing a hole.
What happens if a ball hangs over the hole?
The player gets a reasonable time to reach the hole and then 10 seconds to wait. If the ball falls in during that period, the player holed out with the previous stroke. If it falls in later before being played, it still counts as holed with the previous stroke but one penalty stroke is added.
Can a concession be withdrawn after holing out?
A concession is final and cannot be declined or withdrawn. If the ball has already been holed, a concession of the next stroke does not change that result; the R&A explains that such a concession does not matter once the ball is holed.