Definition of Stakes on the golf course

Things to know about stakes (posts) on the golf course.

Yellow & Red Stakes:

- Defines “Penalty areas” (water hazards but could be areas of the golf course with no water at all).
- Stakes themselves are within the penalty area, i.e. the edge runs along the outside of them.
- A ball is in a penalty area as soon as it touches its edge.
- When defined by a painted line on the ground, the edge of the penalty area is the outside edge of the line, and the line itself is in the penalty area .
- When a line on the ground defines the penalty area edge, stakes can be used to show where the penalty area is, but they have no other meaning.
- Penalty area stakes are “movable obstructions “, therefore they can be moved if you want. (Must be replaced afterwards)


White Stakes (boundary objects):

- Defines “Out of Bounds “ or “Internal Out of Bounds”
- The out of bounds stakes are themselves out of bounds, i.e. the edge runs along the course side of the posts. The best way to determine whether a ball is out of bounds is by standing behind a post and bringing it in line with the next post.
- A ball is out of bounds when the entire ball lies out of bounds.
- When defined by a painted line on the ground, the boundary edge is the course-side edge of the line, and the line itself is out of bounds.
- When a line on the ground defines the boundary edge, stakes can be used to show where the boundary edge is, but they have no other meaning.
- You can stand out of bounds to play a ball which is not out of bounds.
- Boundary objects are not permitted to be moved and free relief is not given.
- Internal out of bounds stakes left of the 4th hole and right of the 10th hole are treated as boundary objects. For all other holes they are immovable obstructions.