Glossary
Out of bounds
An area marked as off limits on a hole, usually adding a penalty stroke if a disc lands inside it.
Out of bounds, often shortened to OB, refers to an area of a disc golf course, such as a road, water hazard, or marked zone, where a disc landing inside costs the player a one stroke penalty and typically requires replaying from a nearby point instead of where the disc actually landed. Courses mark OB with paint, rope, natural boundaries like water, or simply the edge of the playing property.
OB matters because it turns some holes into a real risk versus reward decision, where cutting a corner close to a hazard might shorten the hole but also risks a costly penalty if the disc drifts even slightly off line. Learning where OB lines sit on a home course, and playing more conservatively near them, is one of the fastest ways for a newer player to lower scores.
A common rules mistake is assuming a disc that merely bounces through an OB area but comes to rest outside it is still fine, when many local rules actually treat the entire area as OB regardless of where the disc finally stops. Always check posted local rules, since OB definitions and penalties can vary slightly between courses.