Collar
In golf, the collar is a narrow ring of grass surrounding a putting green, mowed slightly higher than the green itself but lower than the surrounding rough or fairway.
What is a collar in golf?
The collar is the strip of turfgrass that wraps around the edge of a putting green. It sits at a height between the closely shaved green and the longer grass beyond.
According to the USGA Green Section Record, the recommended mowing height for collars is between 0.250 and 0.350 inch, compared to roughly 0.125 inch on the green itself. The point is simple. The in-between cut softens what would otherwise be an abrupt edge between green-height and rough-height grass, and gives a ball that just barely runs past the putting surface somewhere to settle.
Visually, the collar appears as a clean ring of slightly darker, denser turf framing the green, and it usually follows the contour of the putting surface rather than the shape of the hole. Widths vary considerably from course to course. Some venues, such as Glen Echo Country Club outside St. Louis, mow theirs to about 30 inches wide. From a player’s perspective, the collar is a buffer: an approach shot that drifts a few feet past the green often stops on the collar instead of bouncing into deeper rough, which usually leaves a much easier next shot.
Collar vs. fringe vs. apron
Most of the confusion comes from overlap. In casual conversation and broadcast commentary, “collar,” “fringe,” and “apron” often get used interchangeably. But each word does carry a slightly different traditional meaning, and the table below sorts them out.
| Term | Where it sits | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Collar | Band of grass bordering the perimeter of the green | Typically describes the ring all the way around the green |
| Apron | Grass area in front of the green, where the fairway transitions into the putting surface | A specific section of the collar that meets the fairway |
| Fringe | Any grass adjoining the green at an in-between height | Often used as a full synonym for collar; sometimes used for apron too |
In modern usage, “fringe” has become the more popular term, especially in North America, and the line between these words has blurred. The colloquial “frog hair” can refer to any of them. The Rules of Golf do not actually distinguish between them at all: each is treated as part of the general area, not the putting green.
How the collar affects play
Because the collar sits between the green and the surrounding grass, balls coming to rest on it create a small but meaningful set of differences for the player.
Under the Rules of Golf, the collar is part of the general area, not the putting green (Rule 2.2a). That distinction matters. A golfer cannot mark, lift, and clean a ball that is on the collar without taking a penalty, even though that ball might be sitting just an inch from the putting surface. The special protections for putts on the green, such as the right to repair spike marks on the line, also fall away once the ball is off the green and on the collar.
For statistical tracking, a stroke played from the collar does not count as a putt on the major professional tours. This is the case even when the player chooses to use a putter to roll the ball across the collar and onto the green, which is a common play.
A player whose ball sits on the collar usually has two options: rolling the ball with a putter, or chipping with a wedge. Either is allowed, and the choice comes down to the lie and the player’s preference.
Why some greens don’t have a collar
Not every green has a collar. Some courses mow right up to the green’s edge, with no transitional band of grass between the putting surface and the rough or surrounds.
Several factors drive this choice. Collars sit at the boundary where mowing equipment turns and where golfer foot traffic concentrates. The constant mechanical and human pressure causes them to thin out and decline, especially on the creeping bentgrass varieties commonly used on greens. According to the USGA Green Section Record, mower abrasion and overspray of plant growth regulators are two of the leading causes of collar deterioration.
Some superintendents have responded by lowering the mowing height of the collar to match the green itself, essentially eliminating the transition band and converting the area into more putting surface. The trade-off cuts down on a labor-intensive maintenance task and removes one of the harder areas to keep healthy through stressful summer weather.
Architectural choice plays a role as well. On some links courses and minimalist designs, the green is meant to flow visually into the rough or fairway-height grass without a defined ring of intermediate turf, which fits the natural aesthetic of the course.
Related Golf Terms
- Coil — The rotation of the upper body during the backswing that creates power.
- Clubface angle — The direction the clubface is pointing at impact relative to the target.
- Apron —The section of grass at the front of the green where the fairway meets the putting surface, often considered part of the collar.
- Clubhouse — The main building at a golf course with facilities and a pro shop.
- Clubhead speed — The velocity of the clubhead at the point of impact with the ball.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the collar the same as the fringe?
In modern usage, yes. The two terms are treated as synonyms by most golfers, broadcasters, and writers today. Some traditionalists still use “collar” specifically for the perimeter ring around the green, while “fringe” can cover any grass at an intermediate height adjoining the putting surface.
Is a ball on the collar considered on the green?
No. Under the Rules of Golf, the collar is part of the general area, not the putting green. Special green-only privileges, such as marking and cleaning the ball or repairing spike marks, do not apply when a ball is on the collar.
Does a putt from the collar count as a putt?
Not on the professional tours. For statistical purposes, only strokes played from the putting surface count as putts. A stroke made with a putter from the collar is recorded as a regular stroke, not a putt.
Sources
- Kelley, Brent. “Definition: ‘Collar’ on a Golf Green.” Golf Compendium. Accessed May 2026.
- “Top Four Collar Cures.” USGA Green Section Record. Accessed May 2026.
- “Strategies to Prevent Putting Green Collar Decline.” USGA Green Section Record. Accessed May 2026.
- “Rule 2: The Course.” The R&A and USGA Rules of Golf. Accessed May 2026.
- “Fringe (aka Collar) – Golf Term.” Golf Info Guide. Accessed May 2026.
- “Putting Green, Apron and Collar in Golf.” Golf Calculators (golf.okrasa.eu). Accessed May 2026.
- “Golf Terminology with Definitions.” Galvin Green. Accessed May 2026.
- “Glossary of Golf.” Wikipedia. Accessed May 2026.
- “Fringe / Apron in Golf: Meaning, Rules, and How to Play From It.” Golf With Brio. Accessed May 2026.
