Rule 17.1
Red penalty area
Also searched as: red stakes, red lines, red hazard, stream beside the fairway
Until 2019: lateral water hazard
A penalty area marked red. If your ball is in it, you have four options, including lateral relief within two club-lengths.
The crossing point is the spot where your ball last crossed the edge of the penalty area. It is the reference for lateral relief and for the line straight back.
You may drop on the opposite side of the water only if a Local Rule allows it. A penalty area that is not marked is treated as red.
Step by step
- 1Play it as it lies. No penalty. You may ground your club and remove loose impediments.
- 2Stroke and distance. One penalty stroke, play again from where you made your last stroke.
- 3Back-on-the-line relief. One penalty stroke. A line from the hole through the crossing point, as far back as you like.
- 4Lateral relief. One penalty stroke. Within two club-lengths of the crossing point, no nearer the hole and outside the penalty area.
In the video
