GOLF.com: Ball Deflected by OB Stake Stays In Play — What the Rules Actually Say

The Lucky Bounce: When an OB Stake Saves Your Ball

Every golfer dreams of a lucky break, and few are luckier than watching your ball carom off an out-of-bounds stake and land safely in play. Under Rule 18.2 of the Rules of Golf, this is perfectly legal — a ball must come entirely to rest out of bounds to be deemed OB. What it hits along the way is irrelevant.

How the Rule Works

Rule 18.2 is straightforward: the entire ball must be at rest outside the OB boundary for the penalty to apply. If an OB stake deflects the ball back into the course, the ball is simply in play. No penalty, no relief — just a stroke of good fortune.

OB Lines Don't Just Stop

A trickier question arises when an internal OB has a final stake: does the boundary end there, or extend beyond it? In most cases, OB boundaries extend indefinitely along the line defined by the last two stakes. A "double-stake" marking (two stakes placed close together) typically signals this extension. The definitive answer lies in the course's local rule or the committee's interpretation.

Strokeslab's Take

Knowing the exact wording of Rule 18.2 can save you strokes — and arguments. OB is defined by where the ball rests, not what it touches en route. Always check local rules before your round.