In stroke play, who plays first?

In stroke play, the player whose ball is farthest from the hole plays first. This rule is essential for maintaining pace of play and ensuring that the game proceeds in an orderly manner. By having the player farthest away putt or hit first, it minimizes confusion and overlap on the green or fairway, allowing players to focus on their own shots without interfering with those of others. This practice is rooted in both tradition and strategy, as it allows players to assess the conditions—such as wind or slope—before they make their own shot.

The other options, while they may seem plausible in certain contexts, do not reflect the established rules of stroke play. For example, determining who has the least number of strokes or who is playing the best that day could lead to delays and disputes about performance, which is not ideal in a competitive setting. Similarly, mutual agreement can lead to inconsistencies across different groups, as each group might have different methods for determining who plays first, which could disrupt the flow of the game.