Red Stakes vs Yellow Stakes: Relief Options for Each Penalty Area
The most common confusion on the course
"Red stakes or yellow stakes?" — one of the most frequent questions in golf. The difference between the two comes down to a single additional relief option that red areas provide.
Penalty areas: the basic concept
A penalty area (Rule 17.1) is any area marked by the Committee with yellow or red stakes or lines: water, marshes, rocky terrain, or any other ground the Committee designates. If your ball enters a penalty area and you don't play it from there, you must take relief with 1 penalty stroke.
Options with YELLOW STAKES
With a yellow penalty area, you have 3 options:
- Play as it lies (no penalty) — if you can reach the ball and make a stroke
- Stroke and distance — return to the exact spot of the previous stroke and replay (+1 stroke)
- Back-on-the-line relief — draw an imaginary line from the hole through the point where the ball last crossed the edge of the penalty area. Drop anywhere on that line behind the edge, with no limit on how far back (+1 stroke)
Options with RED STAKES
With a red penalty area, you have the same 3 options above plus a fourth:
- Lateral relief — drop within two club lengths of the point where the ball last crossed the edge of the penalty area, no closer to the hole (+1 stroke)
Lateral relief is the most commonly used option in amateur golf because it keeps you in the same part of the course without having to go back to the tee or far behind.
Comparison table
| Option | Yellow | Red |
|---|---|---|
| Play as it lies (no penalty) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stroke and distance | ✓ | ✓ |
| Back-on-the-line relief | ✓ | ✓ |
| Lateral relief (2 club lengths) | ✗ | ✓ |
How to identify the reference point
The key reference point is where the ball last crossed the edge of the penalty area (not where the ball came to rest inside the area).
For lateral relief (red stakes), the two-club-length zone is measured from that crossing point. For back-on-the-line relief, the imaginary line runs from the hole through that point and continues behind it.
If you didn't see where the ball went
If there is reasonable doubt that the ball entered a penalty area (but you didn't see exactly where), you may assume it crossed the edge at the most likely point. When in doubt, the most convenient point for you is reasonable as long as it's not contrary to the evidence.
Tactical tip
Before taking relief, evaluate the angle to the green from each option. The back-on-the-line relief (option 3) sometimes provides a cleaner approach angle than lateral relief, particularly on holes where the water sits beside the green. The most comfortable immediate option is not always the smartest one.