Penalty Areas & Out Of Bounds

Red Penalty Areas – Rule 17 (Rules of Golf)

 Red stakes define penalty areas often at the outer edges of the general area or around bodies of water.

You may play your ball – if possible – from inside this defined area with no added penalty strokes. 

There are 3 other available options, each with a 1 stroke penalty (plus the original stroke)

  • Option 1 – All The Way Back

    Stroke & Distance Relief. Play the ball from where the previous stroke was made. 

  • Option 2 – Back On The Line

    Keeping the flag in sight, you may drop the ball on a straight line from the flag, through where it crossed the line       of the penalty area. (Note, this line can even cross bodies of water or result in play from another fairway.)

  • Option 3 – 2 Club lengths 

    Lateral relief of 2 club lengths – no closer to the hole – from the reference point where your ball crossed into the          penalty area. 

 

An easy way to remember the 3 options as “ABC”. A for ALL the way back, B for BACK on the line and C for (2) CLUB lengths.

 

 

OB1

YELLOW Penalty Areas – Rule 17 (Rules of Golf)

Yellow stakes, when used, often define a penalty area around all or some portions of bodies of water. Option 1 Stroke & Distance Relief and Option 2 Back On The Line Relief (as above) are available for use, each with 1 penalty stroke. Option 3 Lateral Relief (as above) may not be used.

OB2

A ball is deemed to in a penalty area when any part of the ball comes to rest in the area. 

 

Out of Bounds (OB) – Rule 18 (Rules of Golf)

Out of Bounds areas are generally defined by white stakes. Any area adjacent to but not on Club property is also considered Out of Bounds, even if no white stakes are present.

You may NOT play your ball (even if you find it), or another ball, from “Out-Of-Bounds” areas. 

There are 2 options available if your ball is “out-of-bounds”:

    • OB Option #1 – Stroke & Distance Relief. Play the ball from where the previous stroke was made. 1 penalty stroke. (plus the original stroke)
    • OB Option #2 –Local Rule E-5 Alternative to Stroke & Distance. In effect for general play and select competitions. You may drop your ball, no closer to the hole, up to 2 club lengths into the fairway, on or behind the line from where your ball crossed into the out of bounds area. 2 penalty strokes. (plus the original stroke)
OB3

All ball is deemed to be Out of Bounds when all of the ball comes to rest in the area. If any part of the ball comes to rest inside the boundary, it is considered in bounds. A player may stand out of bounds to hit a ball deemed to be in bounds. White stakes may not be removed even if they interfere with ball, stance or swing.

Remember: Penalty strokes are always in addition to the original stroke.

For example: 

  • If your 2nd shot lands in a Red Penalty Area and you use the lateral relief option, count both shots leading up the penalty area, plus a 1 stroke penalty to drop the ball laterally 2 club lengths. The next shot is your 4th shot.

 

  • If your tee shot is lost or out of bounds and you use the Stroke & Distance Relief option, count 1 stroke for your original tee shot plus a 1 stroke penalty to move back to the tee. The next shot from the tee is your 3rd shot.

  • If your tee shot is lost or out of bounds, and you use Local Rule E5, count 1 stroke for your original tee shot, plus 2 penalty strokes to drop your ball in the reference area outlined in the local rule. The next shot from the reference area is your 4th shot.