Seeing colored stakes on a golf course and not knowing the rules can turn a fun round into a confusing mess. Those stakes aren't just for decoration, they are the traffic signs of the course, defining boundaries and telling you exactly how to proceed when your shot goes awry. This guide will walk you through what each color means and give you the clear, practical options you have in each situation so you can play with confidence and keep your group moving.
Before we get into the colors, you need to understand the two fundamental categories these stakes define. Almost every colored stake or line on a golf course marks one of two things: a Penalty Area or Out of Bounds.
Understanding this distinction is the foundation. A red or yellow-staked area gives you options, while a white-staked area gives you only one, punitive choice.
Let's start with the most severe one. White stakes define Out of Bounds. Hitting your ball past these is the most penal mistake in golf, because it costs you both a penalty stroke and the distance you just gained.
The "Out of Bounds" line is determined by the nearest inside points of the white stakes at ground level. For your ball to be O.B., the entire ball must be over this line. If any part of your ball is touching the line or on the course-side of the line, it is still in play. Don't be shy about getting down on your hands and knees to check!
When your ball is lost or O.B, this is what you do according to the formal Rules of Golf:
So, if you hit your tee shot out of bounds, you are now hitting your third shot from the tee box again. If your second shot from the fairway goes out of bounds, you're now dropping a ball on that same spot in the fairway and hitting your fourth shot.
Hiking back to the tee box is terrible for pace of play. As a result, many courses have adopted a local rule for recreational golfers. This rule allows you to take relief from an O.B. shot for a two-stroke penalty.
Here’s how it works:
For example: You slice your tee shot (1st stroke) out of bounds. Instead of going back to the tee, you can use this local rule. You would find where it crossed the white stakes, go to the nearest fairway edge, drop, and you will now be hitting your fourth shot. It's essentially what you'd get if you had hit a good tee shot and then had to take an unplayable drop for one stroke.
Always check with your playing partners or the pro shop if this local rule is in effect!
Red stakes are the most common color you'll see on the course. They mark a lateral penalty area. The word "lateral" is important. It means the area runs alongside the line of play, like a stream, lake, or thick wooded area that borders a fairway.
If your ball goes into a red-staked area, you have several options, all of which cost one penalty stroke (unless you play it as it lies).
Let's say your ball lands in a penalty area marked with red stakes.
If you can't or don't want to play it, take a one-stroke penalty and choose one of these relief options:
For 99% of golfers, Option 4 (Lateral Relief) is the go-to play for a red-staked area.
Yellow stakes or lines mark a standard penalty area that typically crosses the line of play. Think of a creek that runs directly across the fairway or a pond that sits right in front of the green.
The rules for a yellow penalty area are very similar to red, with one huge exception: you do not get lateral relief. You cannot drop within two club-lengths of where it went in.
You have three choices here after taking your one-stroke penalty (unless you decide to play it where it lies, for no penalty).
Imagine your ball rolls into a creek in front of the green that is marked with yellow stakes. You can’t drop on the side. You are forced to use the "Back-on-the-Line" option, which often means an awkward pitch back over the water you just hit into, or to play from your original position.
While red, yellow, and white are the primary colors, you may encounter a few others that serve different purposes. These usually benefit you!
Stakes that are blue or green (or sometimes white lines that completely enclose an area) typically signify an "Abnormal Course Condition." This is most often Ground Under Repair (GUR). It might be an area of the fairway that is newly seeded, damaged from water, or under construction.
When your ball is in a GUR area, you get free relief. YES, FREE!
Some courses use ग्रीन stakes to mark an Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA). These are MUST-TAKE relief areas. You are not allowed to play your ball from an ESA, even if it looks perfect. You must take free relief as you would with GUR.
Learning what red, yellow, and white stakes mean moves you from a casual visitor to an informed player. Understanding these rules eliminates confusion, helps you make the right strategic play after a bad shot, and speeds up the game for everyone.
Knowing the written rule is one thing, but applying it under pressure is another. When you're standing near a penalty area facing a tough lie, unsure about the best place to drop, having an expert opinion can save you strokes and stress. I made Caddie AI to be that on-demand golf brain. You can describe your situation - or even snap a photo of your lie - to get instant, smart advice on a shot or your relief options. It takes the guesswork out of confusing rules so you can commit to your next shot with confidence.
Thinking about hosting a golf tournament fundraiser is the first swing, executing it successfully is what gets the ball in the hole. This guide will walk you through the entire process, step-by-step, from laying the initial groundwork months in advance to watching your happy golfers tee off. We’ll cover everything from securing sponsors and setting your budget to planning the on-course fun that makes an event unforgettable.
A golf handicap does more than just give you bragging rights (or a reason to demand strokes from your friends) - it’s the game’s great equalizer and the single best way to track your improvement. This guide breaks down what a handicap is, how the supportive math behind a handicap index a is, and exactly how you can get one for yourself. We’ll look at everything from Course Rating to Adjusted Gross Score, helping you feel confident both on the course and in the clubhouse.
The compression of a Pinnacle Rush golf ball is one of its most defining features, engineered specifically to help a huge swath of golfers get more distance and enjoyment from their game. We'll break down exactly what its low compression means, who it's for, and how you can use that knowledge to shoot lower scores.
Figuring out which spikes go into your new (or old) pair of Puma golf shoes can feel like a puzzle, but it’s much simpler than you think. The key isn't the brand of the shoe, but the type of receptacle system they use. This guide will walk you through exactly how to identify your Puma's spike system, choose the perfect replacements for your game, and change them out like a pro.
The Golf Genius app is one of the best tools for managing and participating in competitive golf events, but figuring it out for the first time can feel like reading a new set of greens. This guide cuts through the confusion and shows you exactly how to use the app as a player. We’ll cover everything from logging into your tournament and entering scores to checking the live leaderboard so you can enjoy the competition without any tech headaches.
Walking onto the first tee with sweaty palms, worried you’ll be a good partner to paly wtih...or even asked back again ...We’ve all been there - trust me! The real trick of feeling confortable... is about how you handle you’re ready to plsy. THIS guide explains the simple rules of the rode to show you hnow t play golf while staying calm relaxed and focused... an having much morse fun while you,',re aat it? You'll also play with confidence a dn make fiendsa while you're at i
Just ask a question or share a photo and Caddie gives personalized guidance for every shot - anytime, anywhere.
