Holed
A ball is holed when it is at rest in the hole and lies entirely below the rim of the hole.
Holing out ends every hole in golf. Only when the ball is in the hole is your stroke count for that hole final. The rulebook defines the moment precisely: the ball must be at rest and completely below the rim. A ball hanging on the edge and partly staying above it does not count as holed. The same applies to a ball that wedges against the flag or the flagstick: it must be handled so that it correctly falls into the hole or is played on.
In practice, every way of holing out counts the same. Whether you roll the putt from two metres or sink the chip from thirty metres directly — holed is holed. An example: your chip takes one hop, hits the flagstick and drops. Since the 2019 rule change you may putt with the flag in, and a ball that hits the stick and falls counts as normal. On the scorecard you write down the strokes only once the ball is in the hole.
Typical misconceptions concern the seemingly holed ball. A ball that pops up and falls back out does not count as holed and must be played on — without penalty, but with the next stroke. Another favourite: the ball wedged in the edge of the hole. Here you may lift the ball and drop it into the hole if it is partly below the rim. The rarest form of holing out is the Hole in One, the shot from the tee straight into the hole.
FAQ
Does a ball count as holed if it hangs on the edge of the hole?
Only if it is at rest and lies entirely below the rim of the hole. If it hangs partly above the edge or wedges itself in the rim, you may lift it and drop it into the hole. If a ball hops into the hole and back out, by contrast, it does not count as holed and is played on without penalty.
May I hole out with the flag in?
Yes, since the 2019 rule change you may putt with the flagstick left in without risking a penalty. If the ball hits the stick and drops, that counts as normal. Whether you leave the flag in or have it pulled is purely a matter of taste — many leave it in on long putts because it helps as a visual target.
What is it called when the ball is holed straight from the tee?
That is the hole in one, the rarest and most beautiful moment in golf. It practically only happens on par-3 holes and counts as an eagle or albatross depending on the par. Traditionally, the lucky shooter then buys a round in the clubhouse.