Golf Rules... 'Knowledge is Power' ① What to Do When You Hit OB

One-Stroke Penalty Previously, Tee Shot Retaken from Original Spot
After Rule Revision, Two-Stroke Penalty and Fairway Drop

Golf has no referees. It is a "gentleman's sport" where golfers play by following the rules themselves. The golf rules are "assistants" created to help with play. If well understood and used appropriately, they can greatly aid in score management. These are golf rules that weekend golfers must know.

Amateur golfers fear the tee shot on the 1st hole the most. If you take a shot without sufficient warm-up, the ball may fly to an unexpected place. An Out of Bounds (OB) is a disaster. In the past, a one-stroke penalty was given, and the player returned to the original spot to tee off again. Penalties for both stroke and distance were applied simultaneously. On a par 4 hole, taking two tee shots could at best result in a double bogey.

However, this changed starting in 2019. The new golf rules revised by The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews (R&A) and the United States Golf Association (USGA) can reduce the shock. This is a measure to speed up the pace of play. When an OB occurs, a local rule can be applied. After imposing a two-stroke penalty, the ball is moved to the spot where it last crossed into bounds. From there, it is dropped from knee height within a two-club length in the fairway area not closer to the hole.

Some golf courses in Korea and Japan have established "OB special tees." This allows the fourth shot to be taken from a relatively good position. Even if an OB is committed, there is an opportunity for recovery. Of course, the "OB local rule" is naturally applied only in friendly matches. In professional golf tournaments or amateur elite competitions, the previous rules must be used.