what do the different colored stakes mean in golf

The Meaning of Colored Stakes and Lines on the Golf Course

• White Stakes and White Lines on a Golf Course. White stakes or white lines are used to indicate out-of-bounds. ...
• Yellow Stakes and Yellow Lines. Yellow stakes and lines indicate a water hazard. ...
• Red Stakes and Red Lines. Red stakes and lines indicate a lateral water hazard. ...
• Less Common Colors Used on Golf Course Stakes. ...

Full Answer

What are the colored Stakes and lines on a golf course?

When it comes to colors on a golf course, the stakes are high. Crossing the line could cost you strokes. We're talking about the colored stakes and lines golfers encounter on golf courses: Red stakes and red lines; yellow stakes and yellow lines; white stakes and white lines are the most common colors used as indicators.

What do the yellow stakes mean on a golf course?

A set of yellow stakes or lines indicates a water hazard. These stakes can also indicate what is considered a water hazard but doesn't always have water in it. A golfer is allowed to play their ball from a water hazard, if possible, without grounding their club in the hazard before the stroke.

What do the Red Stakes mean on a golf course?

The red stakes on a golf course indicate a lateral water hazard. A lateral water hazard is different from a normal water hazard for it is lateral or it runs alongside the line of play. Simply put, a normal water hazard runs across the line of play while the lateral water hazard runs adjacent to the line of play.

What do the different colored Stakes mean on a construction site?

Double Stakes, Yellow Stake Next to Red Stake (frequently tied together): These denote the dividing point between a dual hazard, treated as a regular water hazard on one side and a lateral water hazard on the other side. Blue Stakes: Uncommon, but they are sometimes used to denote ground under repair.

What do stake colors mean in golf?

That is to say a water hazard could have a yellow stake or line from one side and a red stake or line from the other side depending on its position and coverage on a golf course. You either play your ball (if possible) or apply the one-stroke penalty and take a drop for having your ball in a lateral water hazard.

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

Unlike red and yellow stakes, white stakes do not represent a hazard, but instead communicate what areas are “out of bounds” for the course you're playing. While some courses choose to make everything red/yellow staked, when you do see white stakes there is a very specific procedure you must follow.

What color stakes define out of bounds in golf?

white stakeA white stake is the worst of the stakes. It marks out of bounds, either indicating the property line (which can include a fence) or a part of the property where golf isn't to be played. If you find your ball on the wrong side of a white stake, you're taking what's called a stroke-and-distance penalty.

What is the rule for yellow stakes in golf?

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.

What do blue markers mean in golf?

These markers are sometimes yellow or orange. A blue or white marker typically means you are 150 yards or metres from the centre of the green, while a black marker is commonly used to show you are 200 yards or metres from the centre of the green.

What is a blue stake in golf?

Blue Stake. A blue stake denotes a waste bunker and is also a movable obstruction. You are allowed to ground the club, and you may have a practice swing hitting the sand. You may also remove a blue stake if it interferes with your stance or stroke, whether you are standing in the bunker or not.

What are the rules for red and yellow stakes in golf?

Red stakes in golf (or lines) allow the additional lateral relief option (see below). However, Committees may still use yellow stakes or lines in some instances, from which the lateral relief option would not be available.

Can you hit out of red stakes in golf?

Lateral relief allows you to drop a ball into a relief area measured from where your ball last crossed the edge of red penalty area. From that reference point, you are allowed to drop outside the penalty area and anywhere within two club-lengths of that spot, no nearer to the hole (see Rule 17.1d(3)).

Can you move white stakes in golf?

You are not allowed to remove the white stake, since you would thereby improve a “forbidden area.” Your ball ends three feet from a white stake, perpendicular to the course (compared to the direction to the hole). There is no penalty to remove the white stake, as it is not in a forbidden area.

What are the red stakes in golf?

When you have a Lateral Water Hazard (red stakes) there are two extra options. One option is dropping a ball within two club lengths of where the ball last crossed the margin of the hazard and no closer to the hole.

What's the difference between red stakes and yellow stakes?

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.

What is black and white stakes on a golf course?

2. The Boundaries: Out of bounds is defined by the line between course-side points at ground level of white stakes with black tops. Out of bounds is also defined by boundary fences and boundary fence posts.

What does a white stake mean in golf?

It marks out of bounds, either indicating the property line (which can include a fence) or a part of the property where golf isn't to be played. If you find your ball on the wrong side of a white stake, you're taking what's called a stroke-and-distance penalty. That means you have to add 1 stroke to your score and rehit the shot you just played from the same spot. If the shot was from the tee, however, a player can go back to the tee box and pick a new spot to tee up and effectively start the hole over again. White lines can also be used to indicate drop zones and ground under repair, which is a spot on the course from which you shouldn't play and you'll get a free drop no nearer the hole.

What are the different types of stakes on a golf course?

You'll run into three different types of stakes (or sometimes painted lines) on a golf course: red, yellow and white. Each comes with a different set of options and related penalties, so let's break it down.

What is a red stake?

Red stake. A set of red stakes marks the margin of a lateral water hazard. Really, this should be the only kind of water hazard there is, but we digress. A lateral water hazard is water that can come into play with a poor shot, but it runs alongside or adjacent to the intended line of play.

What does a yellow line on a golf ball mean?

A set of yellow stakes or lines indicates a water hazard . These stakes can also indicate what is considered a water hazard but doesn't always have water in it. A golfer is allowed to play their ball from a water hazard, if possible, without grounding their club in the hazard before the stroke. If the ball isn't playable, then the golfer can take a 1-stroke penalty and use one of two options: return to the original spot of the last shot and drop the ball as near as possible to that spot to hit again, or, keeping a line between themselves, the flag and where the ball crossed the hazard line, they can drop as far back from the hazard as they choose.

What color stakes are used to indicate a golf course?

We're talking about the colored stakes and lines golfers encounter on golf courses: Red stakes and red lines; yellow stakes and yellow lines; white stakes and white lines are the most common colors used as indicators. But golfers might also encounter blue or green stakes;

What does red stakes mean?

Red stakes and lines indicate a lateral water hazard. A lateral water hazard is differentiated from a water hazard by the fact that it is, well, lateral. That is, it runs alongside or adjacent to the line of play, rather than across it.

What does a white line mean on a golf course?

White Stakes and White Lines on a Golf Course. White stakes or white lines are used to indicate out-of-bounds. (A course can mark out-of-bounds in other ways, too; for example, a fence might mark the boundary along certain parts of a course.) When stakes (or a fence) indicate out-of-bounds, then out-of-bounds begins at the nearest inside point ...

When a golfer takes a drop out of a water hazard, must he drop behind the?

When a golfer takes a drop out of a water hazard, he must drop behind the point where his ball crossed the margin of the hazard. The drop can be made at any point, as far back as the golfer wishes, so long as the point where the ball crossed into the hazard is kept between the point of the drop and the hole.

What does the blue line mean in a GUR?

Blue Stakes: Uncommon, but they are sometimes used to denote ground under repair. (More commonly, GUR is denoted by a white line painted around the area.) Check with your head pro or starter for further information, if not shown on the scorecard or Conditions of Competition.

Where is the drop in golf?

The drop can be taken within two club-lengths of the point where the ball crossed the margin of the hazard, no nearer the hole. Or a golfer can go to the opposite side of the hazard and drop at a spot on the hazard's margin that is equidistant from the hole.

When a fence line is painted on the ground, what is the line used to indicate?

When stakes (or a fence) indicate out-of-bounds, then out-of-bounds begins at the nearest inside point of the stakes at ground level (excluding any kind of angled supports). When a line (painted on the ground) is used to indicate out-of-bounds, the line itself is out-of-bounds.

What is white stake?

Unlike red and yellow stakes, white stakes do not represent a hazard, but instead communicate what areas are “out of bounds” for the course you’re playing. While some courses choose to make everything red/yellow staked, when you do see white stakes there is a very specific procedure you must follow.

What happens if you cross a hazard with a red stake?

In addition to the three options above, if your ball crosses into a hazard marked with red stakes you can choose to take a penalty stroke and drop a new ball two club lengths from where the ball entered the hazard (as long as it isn’t any closer to the hole).

What happens if your ball comes to rest in out of bounds territory?

If your ball comes to rest in out-of-bounds territory you must take a penalty stroke and then rehit from the spot of your last shot . This combined loss of stroke and distance are often considered the worst punishment in golf for an errant shot. As if we needed another reason to stay away from the tall grass….

What are the hazards in golf?

Hazards can be a wide range of natural or man-made obstacles on the golf course such as lakes, rivers, sand traps, and so on. That’s not all though, in practice, anything with red or yellow stakes around it can be considered a hazard during your round.

How many club lengths do you need to stand for your next shot?

This is useful when facing lateral water hazards (which are red staked) as you would need roughly two club lengths of space to stand for your next shot. And, as long as your lie is decent around the drop zone, this is often one of the more popular options a golfer can take as it doesn’t sacrifice the distance you gained in your last shot.

Is there a red and yellow hazard in golf?

While this is usually not a golfer’s first choice, sometimes the angle you had during your last shot was better than the one you would have next to the hazard. Regardless, it is an option for red and yellow marked hazards.