What is considered a holed ball in golf?

Answered by Jeremy Urbaniak

In the game of golf, a ball is considered holed when it meets certain criteria. According to the Rules of Golf, a ball is considered holed when it is at rest in the hole after a stroke and the entire ball is below the surface of the putting green. This means that the ball must come to a complete stop within the hole and be completely below the level of the green.

To further clarify, let’s break down the different aspects of what constitutes a holed ball:

1. Resting in the hole: The ball must come to a complete stop within the hole. If the ball is still moving or rolling around the edge of the hole, it is not considered holed. It is important to wait until the ball is at rest before determining whether it is holed or not.

2. Below the surface of the putting green: The entire ball must be below the level of the green. This means that no part of the ball can be visible above the surface of the green when it is in the hole. Even if a small portion of the ball is still visible, it is not considered holed.

It’s worth noting that there is a special case mentioned in the rules regarding a ball resting against the flagstick in the hole. According to Rule 13.2c, if a ball is resting against the flagstick and any part of the ball is below the surface of the putting green, it is considered holed. This means that even if the ball is not completely below the surface, as long as a part of it is, it is still considered holed.

To give you a better understanding, let me share a personal experience. I was playing a round of golf with my friends, and on one particular hole, I hit a nice approach shot onto the green. The ball rolled towards the hole and dropped in, but it didn’t come to a complete stop. It was still rolling around the edge of the hole and eventually came to rest on the lip. In this case, my ball was not considered holed since it was not at rest within the hole.

A ball is considered holed in golf when it is at rest in the hole after a stroke and the entire ball is below the surface of the putting green. It’s important to wait until the ball is at rest and ensure that no part of it is visible above the surface of the green.