Rules of Golf Review: Is your ball on or off? In or out? Understanding course boundaries
Scottie Scheffler at the Memorial Tournament courtesy of Michael Miller/ISI Photos/Getty Images
Your ball is touching an out-of-bounds stake. Is it in bounds or OB? Part of your ball is resting on red paint marking a penalty area. Again, in or out? How about a ball that is partially on the green and partially on the fringe. Can you mark it and clean it? Ever wonder if the grassy lip of a bunker is considered part of the bunker or just the general area of the golf course? Your tee box only has grass on the back half but the markers are in the dirt up in front. Can you tee in the grass since you are behind the markers?
If you aren't sure what the answer is for any of these questions, it's probably time for a quick refresher on some common course boundaries. "In or out" and "on or off" are good things to know if you want to avoid mistakenly commiting a penalty, because the Rules of Golf vary depending on what kind of marker is by your ball.
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Out-of-bounds markers: Whether it's a fence, lines, stakes or anything else defining a course's boundaries, your ball has to be completely out of bounds to be deemed OB. That means if most of your ball is resting on a white line but a tiny sliver is on the course side of that line, you're still in bounds. Remember, however, you do not get relief from anything that serves as a course boundary. Don't remove stakes or take a drop away from the fence. If you do, it's a penalty.
Penalty-area markers: These markers differ from OB markers in that, if any part of your ball touches the boundary of a penalty area like a pond, ditch, etc., your ball is considered in the penalty area. And if it is, remember that you can ground your club to play the shot, remove the stake if it's in your way or even take penalty relief.
Putting greens: The boundary of a putting green is "defined by where it can be seen that the specially prepared area starts (such as where the grass has been distinctly cut to show the edge), unless the Committee defines the edge in a different way (such as by using a line or dots)." Your ball is considered on a putting green when even the smallest portion of it is on that boundary. That means you can lift and mark a ball that is in touching the fringe and the green.
Bunkers: Although the entire complex of a bunker might seem like a surface where you can't ground your club at address or during the backswing, or take a practice swing that touches it, there are some spots around a bunker that are not considered part of it. A lip, wall or face that consists of soil, grass, stacked turf or artifical materials is outside the bunker. So is grass, bushes and trees that are growing or attached inside the bunker. Basically, if your ball is on prepared sand inside the bunker's boundary, it's in the bunker. If it's on the grassy lip, you can ground your club.
Teeing areas: As long as you are behind and inside the outside boundary of the tee markers, it's probably tempting to tee your ball up anywhere you can find a decent piece of turf. However, you're only allowed to go back up to two clublengths from the imaginary line created between the markers that represents its forward-most point. Two important things to remember: As long as any portion of the ball is in the teeing area, it's considered in the teeing area. And you can address a ball while standing outside the teeing area as long as your ball is inside of it.
Ground under repair: If your ball simply touches the border markings of ground under repair, you are entitled to free relief. The entire ball doesn't have to be inside the boundary.