Red and yellow stakes look similar but give you different options when your
ball ends up inside. The one that matters most for most beginners: only
red penalty areas give you the convenient "2 club-lengths
drop" option. Here is every option, when to use each, and what the rules
changed in 2019.
✅ Always 1 penalty stroke — regardless of color
Both red and yellow penalty areas cost exactly 1 stroke
when you take relief. The color only determines WHICH relief options you
can choose from. You can also always play from inside the hazard for no
penalty at all.
Option A
Stroke and distance
Same as yellow: return to where you last played. Add 1 penalty stroke.
Option B
Back-on-the-line relief
Same as yellow: drop on the line through the crossing point, going as far back as you choose. Add 1 penalty stroke.
Option C
Lateral relief (red only)
Drop within 2 club-lengths of the point where the ball last crossed the margin of the penalty area, no closer to the hole. Add 1 penalty stroke. This is the option ONLY available for red penalty areas.
Step 1
Identify the stake color — red or yellow
Penalty areas are marked with either red or yellow stakes (or lines painted on the ground in the same colors). Yellow typically marks a water hazard that runs directly between you and the hole — like a pond in front of a green. Red marks lateral hazards — water that runs alongside the hole. The color determines which relief options you have.
Step 2
Decide: play it from where it lies, or take relief
You always have the option to play your ball from inside a penalty area without any penalty — as long as you can find the ball and it is playable. The penalty only applies if you choose to take relief outside the penalty area. There is no penalty for playing from inside one.
Step 3
For yellow stakes: choose option A or B
Yellow penalty areas give two relief options, both costing 1 stroke. Option A: go back to where you last played (stroke and distance). Option B: drop anywhere on a line from the hole through the crossing point, going as far back as you want. Option B is usually preferable — it lets you get distance from the hazard.
Step 4
For red stakes: use the lateral relief option (Option C) when it helps
Red penalty areas add Option C: drop within 2 club-lengths of the point where the ball crossed the margin, no closer to the hole. This is usually the most convenient option when you have a playable spot nearby. Remember: 2 club-lengths is measured from the crossing point, not from where the ball ended up inside the hazard.
Step 5
Drop from knee height, not closer to the hole
Under the 2019 rules, drops are from knee height (changed from shoulder height). The dropped ball must come to rest in the correct relief area. If it rolls closer to the hole, out of bounds, or more than 2 club-lengths from the drop spot, re-drop once. If it rolls out again, place it where it landed on the second drop.
What is the difference between red and yellow penalty areas?
Both cost 1 penalty stroke when you take relief. Yellow penalty areas give you two relief options: stroke-and-distance or back-on-a-line. Red penalty areas give you those same two options PLUS a third: lateral relief within 2 club-lengths of where the ball crossed the margin. In practice, red areas are almost always more convenient because of the lateral relief option.
How many penalty strokes do you get for going in a water hazard?
One penalty stroke — whether it is a red or yellow penalty area. There used to be more confusion when they were called "water hazards," but the 2019 rule change to "penalty areas" made the name clearer. It is always 1 stroke under Rule 17.
Can I play my ball from inside a penalty area?
Yes. You may always try to play the ball from inside a penalty area without any penalty stroke. You can ground your club (touch the ground or water before the stroke), remove loose impediments, and take practice swings — the rule changes in 2019 removed the old prohibitions. The penalty only kicks in if you decide to take relief outside the penalty area.
What is "lateral relief" and when can I use it?
Lateral relief (Option C under Rule 17.1d) is dropping within 2 club-lengths of where the ball last crossed the MARGIN of the penalty area, no closer to the hole, plus 1 penalty stroke. It is only available for red penalty areas — not yellow. The 2-club-length measurement is from the crossing point on the edge of the hazard, not from where the ball came to rest inside.
What is "back-on-the-line" relief and when is it better than lateral?
Back-on-the-line relief (Option B) lets you drop anywhere on the line from the hole through the crossing point, going as far back as you choose. It is useful when the hazard is directly in front of you and the lateral relief zone has poor lies or no room. For a pond directly in front of a green, going back far enough may give you a cleaner, shorter angle into the flag.
Where exactly is the "crossing point" for relief?
The crossing point is where the ball last crossed the edge (margin) of the penalty area — not where it landed in the water, not where it entered the hazard on a bounce. If your ball flew over the margin and landed deep in the water, you measure from where it flew over the edge, not from where it settled.
Can I go back and drop from where I originally played if I choose?
Yes — stroke-and-distance (Option A) is always available for both red and yellow penalty areas. You return to the spot where you last played, add 1 stroke, and play again. This is usually the worst option strategically (you lose distance), but it is available if you cannot find a good spot under Options B or C.
Was the rule different before 2019?
Yes. Before 2019, they were called "water hazards" (yellow) and "lateral water hazards" (red). You were not allowed to ground your club or touch the water before your stroke inside the hazard. The 2019 Rules of Golf change renamed them "penalty areas," allowed grounding the club inside them, and kept the same relief structure otherwise.