What Is A Hole Out In Golf?

A hole out in golf is when a player hits the golf ball into the hole.

Most golfers finish each hole by “holing out” with a putt from a couple of inches or a couple of feet.

Technically, whenever a player gets the ball in the hole, it is considered a hole out, whether from 200 yards or 2 inches.

That said, the term “hole out” is typically used when someone makes a shot unexpectedly, such as from a bunker or from the fairway.

You will rarely hear a sports commentator use the term “hole out” to describe a player making a putt, but you will most certainly hear them use the term to describe a player making their second shot on a par 4 for an eagle.

How To Use The Term Hole Out In A Sentence

Rory holes out from the bunker on his third shot on a par 4:
- “What a shot! Rory McIlroy holes out from the greenside bunker for birdie!”
Tiger jars his third shot on a Par 5:
- ”Do you believe it? Tiger just holed out for eagle from 74 yards!”
Max Homa has a 30-yard chip left to save par:
- “Homa needs to hole out from here to save par.”

A hole-in-one, or an ace, is when a player holes out their tee shot on a par 3.

An albatross is when a player holes out on their second shot on a par 5, as Xander Schauffele did at the 2023 American Express.

Do You Have to Hole Out In Golf?

Stroke Play Tournament

Yes, you do.
Each player must hole out on every hole in order to post a valid score.

Match Play Tournament

No.
If your opponent gives you the putt or concedes the hole, you don’t need to hole out.

Other Formats

In other formats such as stablefords or some team events such as a shamble, not all players need to hole out on every hole.

Handicapping Purposes

If you are just playing a regular, non-tournament round and plan to post your score for handicapping purposes, you technically don’t need to hole out once your score for the hole is net double bogey or worse.

Read More: What Are Senior Golf Clubs?

Some Famous Hole Outs

1935 Masters

The “Shot heard ‘Round the World” occurred Sunday at the Masters on the Par-5 15^th hole. Gene Sarazan had 235 yards to the pin and holed out for a double eagle to tie for the lead. Sarazan went on to win.

1986 PGA Championship

Bob Tway holed out from the bunker on 18 to win: