
In golf, having the honour refers to the order in which golfers tee off. The golfer with the honour has the right to tee off first. In match play, the honour goes to the golfer who won the previous hole. In stroke play, the honour goes to the golfer with the lowest gross score on the previous hole. On the first tee, the honour is determined by the competition organiser, or by agreement among the players, or randomly. From the second to the 18th hole, the honour is based on the outcome of the previous hole.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | "The right of a player to play first from the teeing area" |
| Relevance | More relevant to match play than stroke play |
| Determination | Randomly, by mutual agreement, or by the outcome of the previous hole |
| First hole | Determined by the competition organizer, mutual agreement, or randomly |
| Subsequent holes | Based on the lowest score on the preceding hole |
| Ties | Maintained order of the previous tee |
| Stroke play | Players can agree to play "ready golf" |
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What You'll Learn

Honor is about the order of play on a golf hole
In golf, "having the honor" refers to the golfer who has the right to tee off first on a hole. The term can be used in both its singular and plural forms, and it is believed to have originated in the UK. The Rules of Golf define "honor" as "the right of a player to play first from the teeing area." Thus, honor is primarily about determining the order of play on a golf hole and the sequence in which golfers take their strokes.
The order of play in golf is particularly significant in match play. In match play, if a player takes their turn out of sequence, their opponent may require them to redo the stroke, adhering to the proper order. On the other hand, in stroke play, there is no penalty for playing out of turn, and players are even encouraged to play "ready golf," which means playing out of turn in a safe and responsible manner.
The honor on the first tee is typically determined by random methods, such as drawing lots or flipping a coin, or by mutual agreement among the players. However, from the second hole onwards, the honor is usually based on the outcome of the previous hole. The golfer with the lowest score on the preceding hole earns the honor of teeing off first on the next hole. In the event of a tie, the order of play from the previous hole is maintained.
While "honors" primarily refer to the order of play, it is also the name of a golf side bet. In this betting game, a golfer or a side earns a point each time they earn the honor of teeing off first. The side that consistently tees off first accumulates points, and the final points are tallied up at the end of the round.
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How is the order of play determined?
The order of play in golf is determined by a combination of factors, including the honour system, ready golf, and the distance of a player's ball from the hole.
Honour System
The honour, or "having the honour," refers to the privilege of teeing off first on a hole. In match play, the honour goes to the player who won the previous hole. If the previous hole was tied, the honour remains with whoever had it on that hole. In stroke play, the honour goes to the player with the lowest gross score on the previous hole. If there is a tie in stroke play, the players who tied maintain the order of their previous tee-off. On the first hole, the honour is determined by the competition organiser, or by mutual agreement or random selection if there is no organiser.
Ready Golf
The USGA encourages players to play "ready golf" to speed up the pace of play. This means that whichever player is ready to play first can do so, as long as it is done in a safe and responsible manner.
Distance from Hole
Once all players have teed off, the player furthest from the hole plays first until all players have holed out. However, players may agree to play out of turn for safety, convenience, or to speed up play, as long as it is not to gain an advantage.
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The honor on the first tee
The concept of "honor" in golf refers to the privilege of teeing off first on a hole. The honor is typically determined by the outcome of the previous hole, where the golfer with the lowest score gets to tee off first on the next hole. This process repeats for each hole, with the honor being passed to the golfer with the lowest score on the preceding hole.
Now, when it comes to the first tee, determining who has the honor is a bit different. Since there is no preceding hole to consider, the honor on the first tee is usually determined either randomly or by mutual agreement among the players. For instance, players might decide to flip a coin or agree that whoever is ready first can tee off first.
It's worth noting that the honor system is more relevant in match play than in stroke play. In match play, the order of play is crucial, and if a player goes out of turn, their opponent can make them replay the shot without penalty. On the other hand, in stroke play, there is no penalty for playing out of turn, and players are encouraged to play "ready golf," which means playing out of turn in a safe and responsible manner.
Additionally, in stroke play, golfers can agree to play "ready golf" when it comes to teeing off. This means that, by mutual agreement, golfers can tee off in the order they are ready rather than strictly adhering to the honors determined by the previous hole's scores.
In conclusion, the honor on the first tee in golf is typically determined by random methods or mutual agreement among the players. From the second hole onwards, the honor is passed to the golfer with the lowest score on the preceding hole. This system helps establish the order of play and is particularly important in match play to ensure players follow their turn.
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The honor from the second to the 18th holes
In golf, "having the honor" refers to the golfer who has the right to tee off first on a hole. The term "honor" is used in the Rules of Golf to define the order of play on a golf hole. While the term is more relevant to match play than stroke play, it is important to note that there are no penalties for playing out of turn in stroke play, and players are encouraged to play "ready golf".
From the second to the 18th holes, the honor is based on the outcome of the previous hole. The golfer with the lowest score on the preceding hole tees off first on the next hole. In the case of ties, the order of hitting from the previous tee carries over. For example, if Golfer A scores 3, Golfer B scores 4, and Golfer C scores 5 on Hole 2, then on Hole 3, A tees off first, followed by B, and then C.
In stroke play, the honor is based on gross scores, even if handicaps are being used. However, in a handicap competition, while net scores determine the overall outcome, gross scores still determine who has the honor on each tee. Additionally, golfers in a group can agree to play "ready golf", which means they can tee off in the order of readiness rather than strictly adhering to the honors.
In match play, the honor is given to the player who won the previous hole. If the previous hole was halved, the honor remains with the player who had it on that hole.
The concept of "honor" in golf dates back to at least the 1700s, with the earliest known citation in a book from 1862.
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Deviations from the order of play
In golf, "having the honour" refers to the golfer with the right to tee off first on a hole. The Rules of Golf define "honour" as "the right of a player to play first from the teeing area". The honour is determined by the outcome of the previous hole, with the golfer who had the lowest score teeing off first.
In four-ball play, partners can play in whatever order they think is best when it is their turn. Additionally, players can agree to play out of turn for safety, convenience, or to speed up the game. However, playing out of turn to gain an advantage is not allowed.
In stroke play, if a player fails to correct playing out of turn before playing from the next teeing area, they are disqualified under Rule 6.1(b). Similarly, in match play, if both players knowingly play the holes in the incorrect order, they are disqualified under Rule 1.3b(1). An exception is made if the players were unaware of the rule and then corrected their mistake.
While there is no penalty for playing out of turn in stroke play, there is a penalty for agreeing to play out of turn to give one player an advantage. This results in a general penalty, which is a loss of the hole in match play or two penalty strokes in stroke play.
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Frequently asked questions
"Having the honour" in golf means that you are the player who gets to tee off first on a hole.
On the first tee, the player with the honour is determined randomly or by agreement among the players. From the second hole onwards, the player with the lowest score on the previous hole has the honour. In the case of ties, the order of play from the previous hole is maintained.
In match play, a golfer who plays out of turn may be made to replay the shot without penalty. In stroke play, there is no penalty for playing out of turn and players are allowed and encouraged to play ""ready golf", which means playing out of turn in a safe and responsible way.



























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