
What do red Stakes and lines mean on a golf course?
Feb 24, 2021 · You may take practice swings and touch or move loose impediments when your ball lies in a penalty area marked with red stakes in golf (or lines). You can do all these things just as you can in the general area of the course. A word of warning though – if you move your ball in the process, you will be penalised under Rule 9.4.
What do the yellow lines mean on a golf course?
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. Picture a typical water hazard, say, a creek that crosses the fairway or a pond in front of the green.
What do the while lines mean on a golf course?
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. Picture a typical water hazard, say, a creek that crosses the fairway or a pond in front of the green.
What do the colors on a golf course mean?
Jul 25, 2016 · 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 …

Is the red line in golf out of bounds?
When a line on the ground is used, the line itself is out of bounds. However, a ball is deemed in bounds still even if only a small part of it lies on the course side of the boundary line.Jun 28, 2021
What is the difference between red and yellow lines in golf?
Simply put, a yellow hazard is a “regular” water hazard and you have two options to play. A red hazard is a “lateral” water hazard and comes with four options to play your ball.Nov 1, 2016
What do the colors on a golf course mean?
BLUE means "200 yards from the center of the green" WHITE means "150 yards from the center of the green" RED means "100 yards from the center of the green" YELLOW STAKES indicate the boundaries of a water hazard. WHITE STAKES indicate the boundaries of a lateral water hazard, ground under repair or out of bounds.
What is the penalty for red stakes in golf?
one strokeThere is a penalty of one stroke. You must drop in the same area of the course as your reference point. So if your reference point is in the general area, your relief area must also be in the general area. If the original shot was a tee shot, you may tee the ball up in any part of the teeing area.Feb 24, 2021
What is the unplayable rule in golf?
If you declare your ball unplayable, you then have three options. First, you can go back to where you last played from under penalty of stroke and distance. The second option is to drop within two club lengths of where your ball is lying but no nearer the hole, again under penalty of one stroke.Aug 6, 2021
What does a red flag on a golf cart mean?
A Handicap Flag on a golf cart signifies that the driver of said cart has a disability that makes walking to their ball a hardship. To qualify for a Handicap Flag the individual must possess a state approved permanent or temporary disabled parking placard/license plate or be approved by the Golf Committee.
What do tee colors mean?
Green tees are rare and are used on courses to teach novice golfers. Black tees are used almost exclusively for special events such as club championships or professional tournaments. Gold tees can have two purposes. If placed near the tee they are meant for senior players.Aug 17, 2011
Why do they change flag colors on a golf course?
The flag colors may vary, though. Since the distance from the front to the back of the green can make a significant difference in terms of yardage, the colored flags aid golfers with their club selection.
What does the yellow stakes on a golf course mean?
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.
What happens when you go out of bounds?
When you go out-of-bounds, the stroke-and-distance penalty applies which means you get a one-stroke penalty and play the ball again from the previous spot. And because the nature of complying to this penalty takes time, hitting a provisional ball instead is a good alternative. More on this can be found in Rule 27.
What is 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. The red lines on a golf course also indicate a lateral water hazard.
What happens if you don't play your ball?
If you decide not to play your ball, you have three relief options at your disposal. There’s no guarantee that all of them will always be practical depending on the topography and geography.
Can you play a golf ball as it lies?
You may play it as it lies. There is nothing to stop you playing the ball as it lies in a penalty area marked with red stakes in golf if safe (and perhaps wise!) to do so. If you opt to play it, there is no penalty for touching the ground or water with your hand or club.
Is there anything to stop you from playing the ball?
There is nothing to stop you playing the ball as it lies in a penalty area marked with red stakes in golf if safe (and perhaps wise!) to do so.
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 ...
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.
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 May 24, 2019. When it comes to colors on a golf course, the stakes are high. Crossing the line could cost you strokes.
Is there a water hazard in golf?
Shouldn't a water hazard be obvious? Most of the time, yes, but sometimes a part of the golf course— say, a seasonal creek, or a ditch— might be designated a water hazard even though there is rarely (or never) water in it. Golfers can try to play out of a water hazard, and sometimes that's easy to do.
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 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 is the rule for free relief in golf?
Players are not entitled to free relief if stakes within a hazard render a ball unplayable, according to Note 1 of Rule 24-2b. Free relief is available under Rule 24 if both the ball and the stakes are outside of a water hazard.
What are the stakes on a golf course?
Stakes may be used throughout a golf course to indicate the status of certain areas, such as ground under repair or out of bounds areas. Some stakes are white, but stakes -- or lines drawn on the ground – that mark the boundaries of water hazards must be either red or yellow, according to the United States Golf Association’s Rules of Golf.
What are water hazards in golf?
Common water hazards include ponds or small lakes, but a drainage ditch will also be considered a water hazard if it normally contains water, even if the ditch is dry on a particular day.
What are the different types of 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.
What is lateral water hazard?
Lateral Water Hazard. A water hazard may be designated as a lateral water hazard when the hazard's shape or position on the course makes it difficult or impossible to drop the ball in accordance with the rules while maintaining a fair playing position.
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 is the third option in golf?
Option 3: Your third and final option is to take a penalty stroke and then replay your shot from its original location. 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.
What is the first option in a hazard?
Your first option in any hazard is to simply play the ball out. You don’t have to take a penalty stroke, you simply play your next shot as you would outside of a hazard. Here’s the catch though…. In a hazard, you’re not allowed to move impediments (sticks, leaves, etc.) out of the way as you set up for your shot.
