There are many penalty areas in golf that may affect your play. Each comes with its own challenges including what type of relief we are allowed. Relief from a penalty area is one of the most misunderstood rule in golf. Many players do not know the difference between red and yellow stakes when it comes to relief. After playing many tournaments over the years, I watched many players make the wrong call with respect to relief because they did not know all the options available to them. Well, today lets clarify the different relief options in order to minimize the number of extra strokes we have to add to our final score.
For today’s topic, we will stay focused on red and yellow stakes. They are different penalty areas and have different relief solutions. Although they may seem similar they are a different beast all together. Take a look at your options for both:
As you can see, the options are simple and are easy to understand. The key aspect of taking relief is doing so in a manner that benefits your next shot. I have played in many tournaments where the drop zone is always the best option and conversely so was going back to my original position to hit my ball. The options are limited, but need to be applied to best suit your current situation.
The actual definition that defines what the red and yellow stakes mean is really not important. All that is important is that you know there is an extra option for relief for a penalty area marked with red stakes. Knowing that the two club length from point of entry rule can save you strokes in the long run.
Understanding the relief rules for penalty areas is important for amateur and professional golfers alike. If you are unsure, ask your playing partner for relief. If neither of you really know, stop in and see your local professional and they will be more than happy to explain the rules. If all else fails, read the rule book – it can be found at this link: https://www.golfcanada.ca/rules-of-golf/ There is plenty of resources at this site for you to lower your golf scores.
I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!
