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Fairway Support›Glossary›Casual Water (Ground Under Repair)

Casual Water (Ground Under Repair)

Temporary standing water or a marked damaged area on the course from which a golfer is entitled to free relief.

More on this

Officially, this was renamed "temporary water" in the same 2019 rules modernization that introduced "penalty area," but "casual water" has stuck as the term most golfers still actually use on the course.

More course & etiquette terms

Fore!

The traditional warning shout when a ball might be heading toward someone, always yell it, immediately, if there's any doubt.

Honor

The right to tee off first on a hole, traditionally earned by having the lowest score on the previous hole.

Ready Golf

An informal approach to pace of play where whoever is ready hits, instead of strictly playing in honor order, common (and encouraged) in casual rounds.

Out of Bounds (OB)

The area outside the legal boundaries of the course, marked with white stakes, hitting a ball there costs stroke and distance.

Penalty Area (Hazard)

Water or other marked areas (yellow or red stakes/lines) where a ball landing inside carries a one-stroke penalty and specific relief options.

Provisional Ball

A backup ball played when the original might be lost or out of bounds, to save time walking back if it is.