Golfers often encounter various colored stakes on the course, each with its own set of rules and implications. Among these, yellow stakes indicate a “penalty area,” a term that replaced “water hazard” in the 2019 Rules of Golf update.
These areas can include more than just water, extending to deserts, jungles, and even lava rock fields. Understanding the rules surrounding yellow penalty areas can significantly impact a player’s strategy and score.
When a ball lands in a yellow penalty area, golfers have options: they can attempt to play the ball if it’s deemed playable or take a drop with a penalty stroke.