how to play yellow stakes in golf

by Petra Bartell Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago

Drop the ball behind the water hazard, keeping the point where the original shot went in the water hazard between where the golfer drops and the hole. This is typically the option most golfers take from a yellow-stake water hazard, as it allows them to drop as far back as they wish on the line in which they went in the hazard toward the hole.

When a golfer hits their ball in a yellow-stake water hazard, the golfer has two options to drop the ball, take relief and incur a one-stroke penalty: Drop the ball behind the water hazard, keeping the point where the original shot went in the water hazard between where the golfer drops and the hole.Sep 17, 2018

Full Answer

What do yellow stakes mean in golf?

Oct 27, 2020 · This is a fairly rare occurrence as this typically only occurs when a ball is only just slightly into beyond the yellow stakes. What To Do Once You Have Hit Into Yellow Stakes. Once you have hit into a water hazard you have two options. First, you can hit your ball from the same location that your last shot was taken from.

Can you play a ball in a penalty area with yellow stakes?

That means dropping the ball outside of the area marked by yellow stakes/yellow lines. There are two options for relief from a yellow penalty area, both coming with a penalty of one stroke. The first of those is to go back to the place from which you played the original stroke and drop a ball into a one-club-length relief area no nearer the hole.

What are red stakes in golf?

Mar 12, 2013 · Tom Carpus of the PGA Rules Committee shows you the difference between red and yellow stakes, and what your options are under the rules.#rulesofgolf #golfrules

How do you get relief from a yellow penalty in golf?

May 06, 2013 · Option 1: Similar to a yellow-staked hazard, you must identify the point where your ball crossed into the water, but instead of dropping as far back as you want in between that spot and the pin, you must drop within two club lengths (no closer to the hole).

What is the difference between yellow and red stakes in golf?

Red and Yellow Stakes

When stakes are used to designate water hazards, yellow stakes must be employed for standard hazards, while red stakes must be used for lateral water hazards, according to the Rules of Golf.

Where can I drop yellow stakes?

For a yellow penalty area, you may take relief by dropping into a relief area using (1) the spot at which your last stroke was made under stroke and distance (see Rule 17.1d(1)) or (2) the back-on-the-line relief procedure (see Rule 17.1d(2)).

Do yellow stakes still exist in golf?

Yellow and red markings will continue, but committees may mark everything as a red area so the additional lateral relief is always available.

What do yellow stakes mean golf?

a water hazard

The Yellows. The yellow stakes on a golf course indicate a water hazard. You could argue that a water hazard is too obvious to put a mark on, yes, but there are cases when this marking works including but are not limited to indicating a ditch as a water hazard.Jun 21, 2020

Why are there yellow lines in golf?

That's because the R&A and USGA have given golf courses the option to designate all penalty areas as red penalty areas.

What is the rule for yellow penalty areas in golf?

Today, under the new, condensed rules, yellow penalty areas are covered under Rule 17.

What is a yellow penalty area?

So if you see yellow stakes or yellow lines on a golf course now, they designate a yellow penalty area: a place from which you can attempt to play your golf ball, if, in fact, it appears playable, ...

Who is Brent Kelley?

Brent Kelley. Brent Kelley is an award-winning sports journalist and golf expert with over 30 years in print and online journalism. our editorial process. Brent Kelley. Updated June 02, 2019. Before explaining what yellow stakes and lines on a golf course mean, let's start by explaining what they used to mean: These yellow indicators ...

Option 1

Play your next shot by dropping a ball nearest to the point where your last stroke was played (this is where Tiger got confused. Make sure you drop AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE to the location that your previous shot was played). If you’re on the tee box, you have the option to re-tee.

Option 2

Identify the spot where your ball last crossed the water hazard and drop as far back as you want in between that spot and the pin. (Remember it’s not where your shot ended up in the hazard, it’s where it last crossed).

Option 3

Go to the designated drop zone. If the golf course hasn’t set aside an area for this, you must go with Option 1 or Option 2.

Water Hazards Marked with Red Stakes

These are referred to as lateral hazards and the rules for dropping are a bit different. The same one-shot penalty must be added to your score but you really only have one option.

Definitions to know

Water Hazard: A Water Hazard is marked with yellow stakes and/or yellow line. This is also referred to as a Direct Water Hazard.

Situation 1

Ken and Kate are playing golf on a fabulous golf course. The only problem they are having is negotiating all the water hazards that seem to be on every hole. Kate and Kate tee up on the 9th hole and Kate’s shot takes a right pathway off the clubface and heads right into the water.

Situation 2

Kate and Ken continue their round after Kate’s bummer-of-a-9th hole and all seems to be peachy until they come to hole 16. Ken tees up and stripes one down the middle. Kate steps up and crushes the ball down the right side of the fairway but she is yelling ‘SIT’.

Final Take

There is no player out in the world of golf that likes to hit into a hazard. It happens and when it does, it makes for a better round of golf knowing the rules and getting yourself back into play. Knowing The Rules of Golf make the game more fun for you and your playing partners.

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