New golf rules 2019: 'Through the green' is now called the 'general area'
Golf Culture

New golf rules 2019: ‘Through the green’ is now called the ‘general area’



Golf has some pretty strange terms that are even confusing for golfers. One of those terms is "through the green."

The term "through the green" is really only used in the Rules of Golf, and it describes a specific area of the golf course. Under the Rules of Golf, "through the green" is defined as any area on the golf course, excluding four areas: tee boxes and greens on the hole being played, hazards and bunkers. The USGA and R&A have used "through the green" to create separate areas of the golf course where rules are applied in specific ways. However "through the green" has long been a confusing term, so the USGA and R&A have changed it.

The area on a golf course known as "through the green" is now called the "general area."

Why make the change?

The Rules of Golf now call "general area" what was once "through the green" in an effort to be consistent with another change in terminology. Water hazards are now called "penalty areas," as the USGA and R&A wanted to give courses and tournament operators the option to declare more parts of the golf course as places where golfers can take relief if needed. So, if the USGA and R&A were going to create "penalty areas," then why not be consistent and rename "through the green" as the "general area"?

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The "general area" term reflects the reality that most shots in golf are played from this part of the course.

Under the 2019 Rules of Golf, then, there are five areas of the golf course: the general area, penalty areas, bunkers, teeing ground and putting greens.

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Ryan Ballengee

Ryan Ballengee is founder and editor of Golf News Net. He has been writing and broadcasting about golf for nearly 20 years. Ballengee lives in the Washington, D.C. area with his family. He is currently a +2.6 USGA handicap, and he has covered dozens of major championships and professional golf tournaments. He likes writing about golf and making it more accessible by answering the complex questions fans have about the pro game or who want to understand how to play golf better.

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