Wikipedia
Pre-green is a golf term used to describe the grass between the green and the fairway. Around a foot in width, the grass is slightly shorter than that of the fairway, but longer than the green itself. The pre-green is commonly mistaken for the fringe. The fringe is the change in level from the green to the pre-green. Many courses don't make use of the pre-green, which means the fringe will connect the fairway and the green directly.
The pre-green carries the same rules as the fairway, not the green. Golfers cannot mark or pickup their ball, but the flag may remain in the hole for their shot without incurring a penalty.
In some cases, as with The Little 'B' Open in Spain, a player might be closer to the pin on the pre-green than a player actually on the green. The next shot honor will go to the pre-green player, as they are officially not on the green.