Rule 17: Penalty Areas

A ball is in a penalty area when any part of it lies on or touches the ground inside the edge, or is above it.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.1a · recall

The edge line belongs to the penalty area, so a ball touching it is in the penalty area.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.1a; Definition of Penalty Area · applied

A ball in a penalty area may be played as it lies, under the same Rules as the general area.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.1b · applied

There are no special restrictions on playing from a penalty area; it is treated like the general area.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.1b · applied

Loose impediments may be removed in a penalty area just as in the general area.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.1b; Rule 15.1 · applied

Penalty areas are red or yellow; red allows lateral relief, yellow does not. The penalty is the same.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.1 · recall

A player may stand in a penalty area to play a ball outside it, including after taking relief.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.1 · applied

Playing as it lies from a penalty area is free.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.1b · applied

Everything from the edge line inwards, bank and water, is the penalty area.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Definition of Penalty Area · recall

C is fully outside the red line. A is inside it, B touches the line and D sits on a bridge above the area.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.1a · applied

When it is known or virtually certain the ball is in the penalty area, Rule 17 relief may be used.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.1c · applied

Without knowledge or virtual certainty that it is in the penalty area, the lost ball needs stroke and distance.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.1c; Rule 18.2 · applied

A good guess is not enough; the evidence must leave very little doubt.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.1c · recall

Once another ball is in play under Rule 17, the original is no longer in play, even if found.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.1c · applied

Watching it roll into the reeds is the evidence that settles where it went.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.1c · applied

The relief options use the estimated point where the ball last crossed the edge of the penalty area.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.1d · recall

Each penalty area relief option costs one penalty stroke.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.1d · recall

Certainty that it is in the penalty area opens the Rule 17 options.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.1c · applied

Doubt means stroke and distance, not penalty area relief.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.1c; Rule 18.2 · applied

Nobody saw B go into the water; it may be lost in the rough. A splashed in, C was found in the reeds and D was seen rolling into them.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.1c · applied

From a yellow penalty area the player has stroke-and-distance and back-on-the-line relief.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.1d · recall

Stroke and distance means playing again from where the previous stroke was made.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.1d(1) · applied

The estimated point where the ball last crossed the edge is kept between the hole and the dropped ball.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.1d(2) · recall

There is no limit on how far back the ball may be dropped on the line.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.1d(2) · applied

The ball must come to rest in the same area of the course that it first touched when dropped.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.1d(2) · applied

The relief area may be in any area of the course except the same penalty area.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.1d(2) · applied

The previous stroke was from the teeing area, so the ball is played from anywhere in it and may be teed.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.1d(1); Rule 14.6a · applied

The crossing point, the line from the hole, the drop and one penalty stroke.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.1d(2) · applied

Stroke and distance from the general area: drop near the previous spot and add one stroke.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.1d(1); Rule 14.6b · applied

Yellow means no lateral option, so C is out. A replays from the tee, and B and D sit back on the line.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.1d · applied

Lateral relief is available only when the ball last crossed the edge of a red penalty area.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.1d(3) · recall

Lateral relief is measured from the crossing point on the red edge, not from the ball.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.1d(3) · recall

The lateral relief area is two club-lengths from the reference point.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.1d(3) · recall

The relief area must not be nearer the hole than the reference point.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.1d(3) · applied

The Local Rule allows lateral relief on the opposite side at an equal distance from the hole.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.1d(3); Model Local Rule B-2 · recall

With more than one area in range, the ball must stop in the same area it first touched when dropped.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.1d(3) · applied

What matters is the colour of the edge the ball last crossed.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.1d(3) · applied

Find the crossing, measure two lengths, drop outside and add the stroke.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.1d(3) · applied

Rule 17.1d lists stroke and distance, back on the line, then lateral relief for red areas.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.1d · recall

A is within two club-lengths and not nearer the hole. B is nearer the hole, C is more than two club-lengths away and D is in the penalty area.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.1d(3) · applied

A ball in a no play zone in a penalty area must not be played; penalty relief must be taken.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.1e(1) · applied

The player may take penalty relief outside, or free relief in the same penalty area if available.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.1e(2) · applied

This free drop keeps the ball inside the very area it came from.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.1e(2) · recall

Interference from a no play zone after taking relief means further relief under Rule 16.1f(2).

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.1e(1) · applied

There is no free relief when playing as it lies is clearly unreasonable because of something else.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.1e(3) · applied

Without interference, the no play zone changes nothing.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.1e · applied

Playing when relief was required is playing from a wrong place, the general penalty.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.1, Penalty · applied

Dropping inside the area costs nothing here, unlike going outside.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.1e(2) · applied

Relief is compulsory and costs the usual stroke.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.1e(1) · applied

C has no no play zone near it. A lies in one, B's stance is in one and D's swing would pass through one.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.1e · applied

The ball may be played as it lies, or relief taken for one stroke under the Rule 17.2a options.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.2a · applied

The relevant crossing is the most recent one into the area where the ball sits now.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.2a(1) · applied

The second penalty area is the one that matters, measured at its own edge.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.2a(1) · applied

For a red area, the normal options include lateral relief, measured from the last crossing point.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.2a(1) · applied

Whichever of these routes is chosen, the cost is a single stroke.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.2a · recall

Playing again as it lies from the penalty area is always allowed without penalty.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.2a; Rule 17.1b · applied

Going back means the spot of the stroke just played, which was inside the water area.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.2a(1); Rule 17.1d(1) · applied

Play it, take a normal option, or use the extra option.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.2a · recall

The last crossing, not the first, is the reference.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.2a(1) · applied

D is a drop inside the penalty area beside the ball, which no option allows. A is stroke and distance, B the extra option from the tee and C back on the line.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.2a · applied

The extra option is to play from where the last stroke was made from outside a penalty area.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.2a(2) · recall

Only the tee shot was played from outside, so that is the spot the extra option uses.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.2a(2) · applied

They may take back-on-the-line, lateral or the extra option outside, adding one more penalty stroke.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.2a(1) · applied

One for stroke and distance, and one more for taking relief outside the penalty area.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.2a(1) · applied

The extra option sends the player back to the tee, where the ball may be teed again.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.2a(2); Rule 14.6a · applied

The extra option is also one penalty stroke.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.2a · recall

Rule 17.2a applies whether the ball stays in the same penalty area or ends in another one.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.2a · applied

Back to the last spot outside, for one stroke.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.2a(2) · applied

Leaving the area after the stroke-and-distance drop adds a second stroke.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.2a(1) · applied

A is the teeing area, where the tee shot came from. B is the second stroke inside the area, C the crossing point and D where the ball lies.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.2a(2) · applied

Out of bounds means stroke and distance, which here points back into the penalty area.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.2b; Rule 18.2 · applied

After dropping in the area, they may still take relief outside it, with one more stroke.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.2b · applied

Relief outside may be taken directly, but the total is still two penalty strokes.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.2b · applied

The ball is now outside the penalty area, so unplayable ball relief is available.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.2b; Rule 19.2 · applied

The bush lies outside the area, but the stroke that sent it there came from inside.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.2b; Rule 19.2a · applied

Rule 17.2b deals with a ball lost, out of bounds or unplayable outside after a stroke from a penalty area.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.2b · recall

A lost ball means stroke and distance, with the option of going outside the area for one more stroke.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.2b · applied

Back into the water area it goes, to the spot of the last stroke.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.2b · applied

Going directly outside still costs two strokes.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.2b · applied

D is near where the ball went out of bounds, which no Rule allows. A is stroke and distance, and B and C are relief outside the area for a second stroke.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.2b · applied

There is no relief from abnormal course conditions for a ball in a penalty area.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.3 · applied

A plugged lie inside the red or yellow line does not open Rule 16.3.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.3 · applied

Rule 19 stops at the edge of a penalty area; inside it, the player turns to Rule 17.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.3; Rule 19.1 · applied

A dangerous animal condition is the exception: free relief in the area or penalty relief outside.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.3; Rule 16.2b(2) · applied

Rules 16.1, 16.3 and 19 all step aside once the ball is inside the line.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.3 · recall

Temporary water in a penalty area gives no free relief.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.3 · applied

Removing a movable obstruction is allowed anywhere, including in a penalty area.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 15.2a; Rule 17.1b · applied

The bush makes no difference: it is play it or pay one stroke.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.3 · applied

The dangerous animal exception allows a free drop inside the area.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 16.2b(2) · applied

C's alligator is a dangerous animal condition. Temporary water (A), an embedded ball (B) and a bush (D) give no relief in a penalty area.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.3 · applied

One stroke from the tee, one penalty stroke, so the next stroke is the third.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.1d · applied

Two strokes made plus one penalty stroke: the next is the fourth.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.2a · applied

Dropping under stroke and distance costs one stroke and taking relief outside the penalty area after changing mind costs another, so the count stands at four and the next stroke is the fifth.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.2a(1) · applied

Tee shot and approach, then one for going back: the replayed approach is shot four.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.1d(1) · applied

Tee shot, penalty stroke and two more strokes make four.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.1d(3); Rule 3.1c · applied

Playing as it lies costs nothing: tee shot, stroke from the area and the putt make three.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.1b · applied

The score for a hole includes strokes made and any penalty strokes.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 3.1c; Definition of Stroke · recall

The penalty stroke sits between the tee shot and the next stroke made.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.1d · applied

The failed escape still counts as a stroke before the penalty is added.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.2a · applied

Shots 1 and 2 are on the picture; relief adds one, so the player is hitting their fourth.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 17.2a · applied