How Big Is a Golf Hole

A regulation golf hole is 4.25 inches (10.8 cm) in diameter and at least 4 inches (10.16 cm) deep. That standard applies to PGA tournament greens and ordinary golf courses alike. These are the measurements to use when checking a hole or setting up a practice green:

Feature	Regulation Requirement
Opening diameter	4.25 inches (10.8 cm)
Opening shape	Circular
Hole depth	At least 4 inches (10.16 cm)
Usual position of an optional cup liner	Top at least 1 inch (2.5 cm) below the green surface

What the Golf-Hole Measurements Mean

Measure the opening at the green surface, not the inside of the removable cup liner.

The diameter is the distance straight across the center of the opening, from one edge to the opposite edge. It is not the distance around the rim, which is the circumference.

Depth is measured vertically from the surrounding putting surface to the bottom of the hole. Unlike the diameter, the required depth is a minimum: a deeper hole can meet the standard.

Here is how those measurements relate to the physical hole:

TOP VIEW                         SIDE VIEW
       .----------.              Green surface
     /              \            ─────┐        ┌─────
    |<-- Diameter -->|                │        │  ↑
     \              /                 │        │  │ Depth
       '----------'                   │        │  ↓
                                      └────────┘

Diagram is illustrative, not actual size; the optional liner is omitted.

Golfers often call the target the “cup,” but the opening and its liner are different things. The hole is the cavity cut into the green. A plastic or metal liner helps support it and may hold the flagstick, but a liner is not mandatory.

How to Check or Make a Regulation Golf Hole

Only cut or adjust holes on a practice green you maintain or have permission to work on. On a club or public course, leave hole cutting and cup adjustments to the maintenance staff.

Step 1: Measure or Cut the Circular Opening

1. For an existing hole, lay a ruler across the center at the putting surface. Check across another direction as well; a damaged or oval opening can look correct from one angle.
2. For a new hole, use a circular golf-hole cutter that makes a 4.25-inch opening. The circular shape is part of the requirement, not merely an approximate width.
3. Keep the cutter upright and lift out the turf-and-soil plug without tearing the surrounding lip. Save the plug if you are moving the hole and need to fill the previous location.

A jagged opening made with a hand trowel may work as a casual backyard target, but it is not a reliable way to reproduce a regulation hole.

Step 2: Check the Depth

1. Measure vertically from the surrounding green surface to the bottom of the cavity.
2. Provide at least 4 inches of depth, removing loose soil that would make the finished hole shallower.

Do not use the height of a removable cup as the depth measurement.

Step 3: Install the Optional Liner

1. If you use a liner, choose one intended for a regulation opening. Its outside must fit within the cut rather than force the opening wider.
2. Set its top at least 1 inch (2.5 cm) below the edge of the hole, measured from the putting surface.
3. Seat it securely so it does not rock or lift during ordinary ball retrieval.

The USGA and The R&A allow the liner to sit closer to the surface when the nature of the soil requires it.

The liner’s rim should not form a raised obstacle that an incoming putt must cross.

Step 4: Finish the Green and Test the Hole

1. Remove loose soil and ragged grass without enlarging the opening.
2. If you relocated the hole, fill the old opening with the saved turf-and-soil plug. Set it flush with the surrounding green and repair any gaps so the surface is smooth.
3. Recheck the finished opening and depth, then gently roll a ball into the new hole. It should drop freely rather than catch on an exposed liner or obstruction.
4. Fit the flagstick if you use one, taking care not to strike the lip.

This leaves both the new target and the previous location ready for play.

Regulation Holes vs. Practice Targets

There is no larger regulation hole for professionals. PGA Tour players, championship competitors, and recreational golfers aim at the same-size opening under the Rules of Golf. Differences in green speed, slope, hole location, and putting distance change the challenge, not a special tournament cup size.

Oversized holes do exist for introductory golf, informal events, and practice. They can make holing putts easier, but they are alternatives to the regulation target.

A putting-mat cup is another separate case. Some mats use a shallow recess, raised ramp, or ball-return mechanism rather than a full-depth hole. Those features can be useful indoors, but they do not reproduce every aspect of a hole cut into a green.

When buying a practice target, distinguish between:

• The target opening: The part that determines how precisely you must aim.
• The product’s overall size: The outer rim, base, or return mechanism, which may be much wider.
• The entry design: A flat opening and a raised ramp require different ball behavior.

For practice aimed at normal course play, choose a regulation-size opening and pay attention to how the ball enters it, not just the product’s advertised overall dimensions.

How to Check a Golf Hole During Play

A hole that looks unusually large or small may have a maintenance issue rather than a different intended size. Look for:

• A collapsed or badly worn lip.
• A liner that has shifted upward.
• Loose soil, leaves, or another obstruction inside.
• Damage where the flagstick has struck the edge.

These conditions matter because the ball meets the turf edge before it reaches the liner. A correctly sized cup underneath cannot compensate for a damaged opening above it.

Help preserve the edge by retrieving your ball without levering a putter against the lip, and handle the flagstick carefully. If you notice damage during a round, notify the course staff or, during a competition, a rules official.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Make an Actual-Size Golf-Hole Printable?

Yes: create a circle with a radius of 2⅛ inches in a drawing program, mark its center, and print it at actual size. Then check the printed radius with a ruler to confirm that the printer has not resized it. A paper circle is useful for visualizing the target, but it cannot reproduce the way a rolling ball drops into a recessed hole.

How Big Is a Golf Hole Compared With a Golf Ball?

A minimum-size regulation golf ball is 1.68 inches in diameter, while the hole is wider. That comparison describes the opening’s width, not how many balls can be packed inside it. The available space also does not guarantee that an off-center putt will fall: speed and the ball’s approach to the edge still matter.

What Are the Dimensions of a Golf Course Hole?

A golf-course “hole” can mean the entire playing route from the teeing area to the cup, and that has no single regulation length or width. A standard round consists of 18 holes, each of which may have a different distance and layout. A hole’s listed yardage describes its playing length, not the size of the opening on the green.

What should a golf hole diagram or diameter chart show?

A golf-hole diagram or diameter chart should show a circular opening 4.25 inches in diameter and a hole at least 4 inches deep. The diameter measurement is taken from the inside of the lip.

How wide is a PGA tournament golf hole?

A PGA tournament golf hole is 4.25 inches wide. The opening is circular, so that width is its diameter rather than a measurement around the edge.

How was the standard golf-hole size determined?

The standard golf-hole size is believed to have originated with a hole-cutting tool made at Royal Musselburgh Golf Club in 1829. Based on a typical Musselburgh drainage pipe, the tool produced a 4.25-inch hole. The R&A adopted that width in 1891.