Where can you drop a ball after a water hazard?

If your ball is in a penalty area you take a one-stroke penalty and drop based on the stake color: yellow stakes give you stroke-and-distance or back-on-the-line relief (Rule 17.1d), while red stakes add a lateral option within two club lengths of where the ball last crossed the edge.

The situation

Your ball is in a penalty area (water hazard) and you've decided to take relief. You know it costs a stroke — but where exactly do you drop the ball?

The rule

The answer depends on the colour of the stakes. Under Rule 17.1d, for yellow stakes, you have two options: (1) stroke-and-distance — drop at the original spot where you played from, and (2) back-on-the-line — drop anywhere on a straight line that goes from the hole through the point where your ball last crossed the edge of the penalty area, extending back away from the hole as far as you want. For red stakes, both yellow options are available plus a third: (3) lateral relief — drop within two club lengths of the reference point (where ball crossed the edge), no closer to the hole.

Real example

Your approach crosses the edge of a red-staked pond 30 yards short of the green. Your reference point is that crossing spot on the near edge of the pond. Lateral drop: within two club lengths of that spot, staying no closer to the hole — likely puts you at the front edge of the pond. Back-on-line: go as far back as you like on the line from the flag through the crossing point — useful if you want to avoid a water carry on the next shot.

What to do on the course

• Find the reference point first: where the ball last crossed the penalty area boundary (edge of water, not where it sank)
• For lateral relief, measure two club lengths from the reference point using your longest club
• Drop from knee height; if ball rolls back into the hazard or outside the relief area, re-drop
• When the reference point is in an awkward spot (behind water), the back-on-line option going well back is often more useful

Penalty

1-stroke penalty for all relief options from a penalty area.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between yellow and red stakes?

Yellow stakes offer two relief options — stroke-and-distance or back-on-the-line — while red stakes give you those two plus a third lateral option within two club lengths of the crossing point, no closer to the hole (Rule 17.1d).

Can I drop on the green side of a red penalty area?

Only if the lateral relief area (two club lengths from the reference point, no closer to the hole) reaches that side; you cannot drop on the green side just because it's more convenient.

How do I find the reference point for a lateral drop?

The reference point is where your ball last crossed the edge of the penalty area — the boundary line, not where it sank — and you measure two club lengths from that spot using your longest club.

What if my ball rolls back into the water after I drop?

If the ball rolls back into the penalty area or outside the relief area, you must re-drop; if it happens again you place the ball where it first struck the ground on the second drop.

Can I go back as far as I want on the back-on-the-line option?

Yes — for both yellow and red stakes you may drop anywhere on the straight line from the hole through the crossing point, extending back away from the hole as far as you like.