Penalty Area

Designated areas on golf courses where balls are subject to penalty relief options, formerly known as water hazards and lateral water hazards. Penalty areas are marked by yellow stakes (regular penalty areas) or red stakes (lateral penalty areas) and include bodies of water, environmentally sensitive areas, or other designated zones. Players have specific relief options when balls enter penalty areas, including playing as it lies, dropping behind the area, or taking stroke-and-distance relief. Understanding penalty area rules and relief options is crucial for minimizing scoring damage and maintaining proper pace of play during rounds.