Away
In golf, “away” refers to the player whose ball is farthest from the hole. The player who is away traditionally plays the next stroke.
What is an away in golf?
“Away” is a positional term, not a rule of the swing or a type of shot. It describes a player, specifically the one whose ball sits farthest from the hole at any given moment during a hole of golf. If three players are on the fairway and a fourth is in the rough 30 yards behind them, the fourth player is away.
The term matters because of order of play. Once every player in a group has hit their tee shot, the traditional order shifts from who had the best score on the previous hole to who is farthest from the cup. That person plays next. After their shot, the group looks again: whoever is now farthest from the hole is the new “away” player, and they play next.
Golfers use the word conversationally on the course. “Who’s away?” is a shorthand for “whose turn is it?” And “you’re away” is a way of telling a playing partner they’re next up. The word “out” means the same thing and can be used interchangeably, though “away” is far more common in the United States.
Why the away player goes first
The rule comes from Rule 6.4 of the Rules of Golf, written jointly by the USGA and R&A. According to the rule, once a hole is underway, the ball farthest from the hole should be played first. The logic is practical. It keeps the group organised, and it avoids the safety problem of one player making a shot while another stands further up the fairway directly in the firing line.
The distinction between “honor” and “away” also sits inside Rule 6.4. Honor governs the teeing area. It is the right to play first from the tee, earned by the lowest score on the previous hole. Away governs everything after the tee shot.
Away vs. honor, what’s the difference?
This is the single biggest source of confusion for newer golfers. Both terms decide who plays next, but they apply in different places and work in different ways.
| Factor | Honor | Away |
| Where it applies | Teeing area only | Everywhere else: fairway, rough, bunker, green |
| How it’s determined | Lowest score on the previous hole | Ball farthest from the hole |
| How often it changes | Once per hole (on the next tee) | Can change after every shot |
| Rule reference | Rule 6.4a | Rule 6.4b |
| First-tee exception | Decided by draw, coin flip, or agreement | N/A |
On the first tee, honor is set randomly. A coin toss, a drawn name, a flipped tee pointing at a player, or simple agreement among the group will all work. From the second tee onward, the player with the lowest gross score on the previous hole has honor. And honor is based on gross scores even in handicap competitions, according to the USGA.
Away on the green (and the most common misconception)
Recreational golfers often get this wrong: they assume that a player who is off the green always plays before players who are on the green. That is incorrect.
Distance to the hole is what matters, not location. If one player is on the green with a 35-foot putt and another is just off the fringe with a 30-foot chip, the player on the green is away and plays first. Golf Digest has called this one of golf’s most misunderstood rules, and it catches even experienced players out.
The same logic applies to every shot on the green. A player who putts and misses can still be away after their putt, if their ball finishes farther from the cup than anyone else’s. In that case, they simply putt again.
Ready golf and when “away” doesn’t apply
The strict order of play based on “away” is softer today than it used to be. In the current Rules of Golf, stroke play allows and actively encourages “ready golf”, players hitting when they are ready rather than in strict away order, as long as it is done safely and doesn’t give anyone an advantage. The USGA introduced this change to speed up the pace of play, one of the biggest issues in the recreational game.
In match play, the order of play is stricter. If a player plays out of turn without agreement, the opponent has the right to cancel the stroke and make them replay it. That happened famously to Annika Sorenstam at the 2000 Solheim Cup: she chipped in for Team Europe but was ruled to have played out of turn, was forced to re-chip, missed, and Europe lost the match.
Four-ball play has its own rules. Under Rule 23.6, partners can play in whatever order they think is best when it is their side’s turn. If one partner is away, either partner on that side can play next.
Related Golf Terms
- Automatic press — A Nassau rule where a new bet automatically starts when a player falls behind by a set number.
- Attack angle — The vertical direction of the clubhead’s movement at impact (up or down).
- Honor — The right to play first from the teeing area, earned by the lowest score on the previous hole.
- Army golf — Hitting the ball alternately left and right (left-right-left).
- Four-ball — A partner format where either partner can play when it’s the side’s turn.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “you’re away” mean in golf?
It means your ball is farthest from the hole, and it is your turn to play. A playing partner is letting you know you are up next.
Is there a penalty for not playing when you’re away?
In stroke play, no. Rule 6.4b allows ready golf. In match play, yes: the opponent can require the player to cancel and replay the shot.
What if two balls are the same distance from the hole?
If neither player can agree or decide who is away, the order is settled by lot: a coin flip, drawing a tee, or any random method.
Does the player who is away always play first, even on the green?
Yes. Being on the green doesn’t give priority. Whoever is farthest from the hole plays first, whether that’s a 35-foot putt or a shot from the rough.
Is “away” the same as “out” in golf?
Yes. Both terms describe the player whose ball is farthest from the hole, and “who’s out?” and “who’s away?” are used interchangeably on the course, though “away” is the more common phrasing in the United States.
Sources
- USGA. “Rule 6.4 – Order of Play When Playing Hole.” Rules of Golf. Accessed April 2026.
- R&A. “Rule 6 – Playing a Hole.” The Rules of Golf. Accessed April 2026.
- USGA. “Rule 23.6 – Side’s Order of Play.” Rules of Golf. Accessed April 2026.
- Golf Digest. “Rules of Golf Review: I’m on the green, my opponent is not. Who’s away?” Accessed April 2026.
- LiveAbout. “Why Amateurs Often Get Golf’s Order of Play Rule Around the Green Wrong.” Accessed April 2026.
- Keiser University College of Golf. “Who Plays and Putts First?” Accessed April 2026.
- Golf Compendium. “Meaning of ‘Away’ In Golf.” Accessed April 2026.
