What to Do When You Hit the Wrong Fairway

Hitting the wrong ball in the wrong fairway. It happens. But before you make the long and embarrassing trek to the adjacent fairway to look for your errant tee shot, there are a few things you’ll want to consider.

Considerations for Wrong-Fairway Shots

Here are a few things to consider if you’re playing from the wrong fairway. Note that we also address this in our golf etiquette series on YouTube.

Other Golfers Playing the Right Hole

Golf is a popular game, especially now. Courses filled up during the pandemic, and it’s common to have players in front of and behind you on every course. That’s why it’s especially important to check for other golfers when you hit into the wrong fairway.

You’ll want to consider their play position. You’ll make less of an intrusion if you wait for them to get off the fairway, and it’s usually polite to wait until everyone in their foursome is already on the green.

Checking the Ball

If you hit your ball onto the wrong fairway, there’s a non-zero chance you’re also approaching the wrong ball. Always check the ball before you take your shot. This is crucial when you’re playing on someone elses’ hole, because you could accidentally hit one of the other players’ balls.

If you’re not already marking your ball, you should. This is especially important if you’re making the kind of mistakes that lead you into someone else’s fairway. That might sound like tough love. It should. If you aren’t hitting the fairway everytime (and maybe even if you are), consider marking your ball.

A quick mark with a sharpie can save headaches from mis-hit balls. And a mark means you can keep using your favorite Kirkland-brand balls along with all the rest of your friends.

Prevention Tips

Of course, the best way to handle a shot onto the wrong fairway is to avoid it entirely. We have an in-depth guide to common driver mistakes. But if you’re regularly hooking or slicing your shots, you’ll want to take a look at what you’re doing wrong.

Get specifics.

You might even consider recording your swing for review online or hiring a pro to help you find the specific issue with your drive.

Conclusion

The main takeaway for shots from the wrong fairway: You’re a guest on that hole, and you should recognize that other players aren’t expecting to see you or your ball. So it’s your responsibility to check the ball and confirm it’s yours before hitting.

Clint is PGA-certified and was a Head Teaching Professional at one of Toronto's busiest golf academies. He was also featured on Canada's National Golf TV program, "Score Golf Canada," twice. He graduated with a degree in Golf Management from the College of the Desert in California and studied under Callaway's co-founder, Tony Manzoni. He has a handicap index of 6.2 and spends the winters near Oaxaca, Mexico, where he plays twice a month at the Club de Golf Vista Hermosa. He's written over 100 articles at GolfSpan since 2021. You can connect with Clint at LinkedIn, FB, his website, or Clintcpga@gmail.com.

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