How Long Can a Golf Ball Wait on the Lip of the Cup?
By Staff Writer
2 min read
LoopGolf
Key takeaways
- Under Rule 13.3a, a ball overhanging the cup gets a reasonable time to reach it plus a maximum 10 additional seconds before it must be dealt with.
- A ball that drops after that 10-second window still counts as holed with the previous stroke, but one penalty stroke is added.
- Rule 13.1c allows repairing damage to the hole, such as a dinged edge, before or after players putt.
- Deliberately repairing the hole to influence a ball already in motion violates Rule 11.3 and carries a two-stroke penalty in stroke play or loss of hole in match play.
A ball teetering on the edge of the cup does not get an indefinite grace period, and neither does fixing a dinged hole wait for the whole group to finish putting. Both situations are covered directly by the Rules of Golf.
How long can a ball wait on the lip before it must be marked?
Under Rule 13.3a, a player whose ball is overhanging the edge of the hole is allowed a reasonable amount of time to walk to the ball, regardless of the distance, and then a maximum of 10 additional seconds to see if it falls in. That 10-second window applies whether or not the other players in the group have reached the green. Clarification 13.3a/1 defines what counts as a reasonable time to get there.
A ball on the lip gets ten seconds, not a free pass to wait out the group.
If the ball drops within the 10 seconds, play continues as normal. If it falls in after that window, the ball is still considered holed, but with the previous stroke, and one penalty stroke is added to the score. A player may also choose to mark the ball, replace it, and tap in, rather than waiting out the clock.
Can you repair hole damage before everyone has putted?
Rule 13.1c permits repairing damage to the hole, such as an edge dinged by a flagstick, either before or after other players in the group have putted. The only restriction is timing relative to a ball already in motion: repairing the hole with intent to influence that ball violates Rule 11.3, which carries the general penalty of two strokes in stroke play or loss of hole in match play.
Frequently asked questions
What rule covers a ball hanging on the edge of the hole?
Rule 13.3a governs it, giving the player a reasonable time to reach the ball plus up to 10 additional seconds before it must be marked or tapped in.
What happens if the ball falls in after the 10-second wait?
It still counts as holed with the previous stroke, but the player adds one penalty stroke to their score.
Can a player fix a dinged hole edge while others are still putting?
Yes, under Rule 13.1c, as long as it isn't done to influence a ball that is already in motion.
- rules of golf
- rule 13.3a
- rule 13.1c
- ball overhanging hole
- golf rules explainer
