Honour System
The honour system in golf is the convention that gives the player with the lowest score on the previous hole the right to tee off first on the next. On the opening tee, the order is set by draw, lot, or agreement among the players.
What is the honour system in golf?
The honour system, sometimes just called “honour” or “having the honour,” is golf’s traditional method for deciding who plays first from the tee. The player who scored the lowest on the previous hole earns the honour and tees off first on the next. The next-lowest scorer plays second, and so on. Ties carry the order over from the previous tee.
The system is written into the Rules of Golf under Rule 6.4, which covers order of play. The rule states that play from the teeing area depends on who has the honour, and after that, on whose ball is farthest from the hole.
The term itself dates back centuries. The earliest reference book citation appears in an 1862 golf text, but informal usage almost certainly goes back into the 1700s on Scottish links courses, where the right was originally called “the privilege.” The British spelling “honour” remains standard in the official rule book; American sources sometimes write it “honor.”
How the honour system works
On the first tee, there is no previous score to fall back on, so the order is decided by the competition organiser, by draw, by lot (such as a coin toss), or by agreement among the players. A common informal arrangement at club level is to give the honour on the opening hole to the player with the lowest handicap.
From the second hole onward, the rule is simple: whoever scored lowest on the hole just played tees off first on the next, with the next-lowest scorer playing second and so on down the order. According to the USGA and R&A’s published Rule 6.4, this applies in both stroke play and match play, and the order is based on gross scores (the actual number of strokes before handicap is applied) even in a handicap competition.
When two players tie on a hole, they tee off on the next hole in the same order they teed off on the previous one. So a player who held the honour going into a halved hole (tied) keeps it.
Honour in match play vs stroke play
Match play and stroke play handle the honour system differently, and the gap matters.
In match play, the order of play is fundamental. If a player tees off out of turn, the opponent has the right to cancel that stroke and require it to be played again. The honour itself is awarded to whoever wins a hole. If a hole is halved, the honour stays with whoever held it on that tee.
In stroke play, there is no penalty for playing out of turn. The R&A and USGA actively encourage stroke-play groups to play “ready golf” instead, meaning whoever is ready hits first, regardless of who technically has the honour. The exception: if two players agree to play out of turn specifically to give one of them an advantage, both receive the general penalty of two strokes.
The differences side by side:
| Match play | Stroke play | |
|---|---|---|
| Honour at first tee | Draw, lot, or agreement | Draw, lot, or agreement |
| Honour at later tees | Winner of previous hole | Lowest gross score on previous hole |
| Tied hole | Honour stays with whoever held it | Order from previous tee carries over |
| Penalty for out-of-turn play | Opponent can cancel and replay | None (unless agreed for advantage) |
| Ready golf allowed? | No | Yes, encouraged |
Honour system vs ready golf
Ready golf is the modern alternative to strict honour-based order. In a ready-golf round, players hit when they are prepared rather than waiting for whoever technically has the honour or is farthest from the hole.
The R&A and USGA codified the practice into the official rules in 2019, under Rule 5.6 (Pace of Play). The R&A’s published Pace of Play guide lists specific examples of ready golf in action, including a tee shot taken when the player with the honour is delayed, a shorter hitter playing first if longer hitters have to wait, and continuous putting (finishing a short remaining putt rather than marking the ball and waiting for a later turn) where it is safe to do so.
Ready golf is permitted only in stroke play. In match play, the honour system still applies, and a player who hits out of turn risks having the stroke cancelled by the opponent. Ready golf must also be played safely; players cannot skip ahead in turn order if doing so puts anyone else on the course at risk.
Related Golf Terms
- Away — The player whose ball lies farthest from the hole and plays next once everyone has teed off.
- Honour — The right to tee off first, usually given to the player with the best score on the previous hole.
- Heathland course — A course built on heathland with heather, gorse, and sandy soil.
- Etiquette — The unwritten and written conventions of courteous play, including the spirit behind the honour system.
- Hole-in-one — Completing a hole with a single stroke from the tee.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the honour system apply to every shot or only the tee?
Only the tee. After every player has hit a tee shot, order of play switches to “away,” meaning the player whose ball lies farthest from the hole plays next. Honour and away cover different stages of the same hole.
Why is it spelled “honour” and not “honor”?
The Rules of Golf are jointly maintained by the USGA and the R&A. The R&A’s headquarters are in St Andrews, Scotland, and the British spelling “honour” is the version used in the official rule book. American golf sources often use “honor,” but the meaning is identical.
Can the honour system be ignored in casual play?
Yes, in stroke play and casual rounds. The R&A and USGA encourage ready golf to keep pace of play moving. In match play, however, the honour system still applies, and an opponent can cancel an out-of-turn stroke.
Sources
- USGA and R&A. “Rule 6.4: Order of Play When Playing Hole.” Official Rules of Golf (Players Edition). Accessed 2026.
- USGA and R&A. “Rule 5.6: Unreasonable Delay; Prompt Pace of Play.” Official Rules of Golf. Accessed 2026.
- R&A. “Pace of Play: Ready Golf for Stroke Play.” Accessed 2026.
- Easdale, Roderick. “What Is The Honour In Golf?” Golf Monthly. Accessed 2026.
- Kelley, Brent. “‘Honors’ in Golf: What ‘Having the Honor’ Means.” Golf Compendium. Accessed 2026.
- National Club Golfer. “NCG’s Golf Glossary: What is the honour?” Accessed 2026.
- Hole19. “Honor: Golf Glossary.” Accessed 2026.
