Red Stakes - Golf Rules
June 9th, 2008 by mulligan
Red stakes and lines indicate a lateral water hazard. A lateral water hazard is differentiated from a water hazard by the fact that it runs alongside or adjacent to the line of play, rather than directly across it.
Pretend you see a creek that crosses the fairway or a pond directly in front of and protecting green. If you hit into this type of water hazard, it’s not problem to take a drop behind the spot where your ball entered the hazard and in fact you can go as far back as you like (which can help get a better distance for your “second” approach shot!).
Now picture a creek or pond that runs alongside a hole, or a lake to the side of a fairway that extends all the way back to the tee or beyond (dreadful right?!?!). Dropping behind such a hazard might be inconvenient, or even impossible, but mostly it would be unfair. These are the primary reasons why lateral water hazards are handled differently than “normal” water hazards.
As for dealing with a ball that has entered a lateral water hazard: Golfers have the same option to play from the hazard if they so desire (We’ll talk about Yellow Stakes in another article where this might make more sense!). More than likely, a golfer will assess themselves a 1 stroke penalty and take a drop. The drop can be taken within two club lengths from the point where the ball crossed the margin of the hazard, no nearer to the hole. Or a golfer can go to the opposite side of the hazard and drop at a spot on the hazard’s margin that is equidistant from the hole.
A ball is considered in the hazard when it lies within the hazard or when any part of it touches the hazard (remember, stakes and lines are themselves part of the hazard).
NOW that you understand the red stake, the last thing you need to know is how to “play” a shot while in the hazard. Remember you cannot “ground” your club. That is to say your club may not come into contact with ANY portion of the hazard in your practice swings (this got me once!). So play the shot as if you were in a bunker, but be aware that the long native grass can’t be touched by your club until you take your actual swing!
Posted in Rules | 5 Comments
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2003 - 2010
December 11th, 2008 at 8:18 am
for the first time in my 5 years of playing, I now understand the meaning and implication of landing into red staked hazard. Thanx a million.
August 2nd, 2009 at 12:05 pm
Last week I played a course where red stakes were placed all along a wooded area. No water hazard. Just woods. I assumed one could play from the hazard and try to hit out without grounding the club. My partner felt there was no option to playing from the wooded area but that one had to take a stroke and play within two club lengths of where the ball entered. Can you clarify?
August 3rd, 2009 at 12:22 am
Unless the area is marked as an environmental safe zone you are allowed the opportunity to play out of the hazard. Do not ground the club (each grounded club counts as one stroke - that’s if you hit ANYTHING in the hazard). The other option would be to take an “unplayable” lie. Whereby you could get relief two club lengths from the line the ball entered the hazard, no closer to the hole. This however carries a one stroke penalty.
October 13th, 2009 at 5:08 pm
While discussing a recent round of golf with a group of co-workers, a question was asked about a “redstake” ruling that none of us had the answer for. Here goes: during a tournament player A hit his ball into redstake area and placed his bag down in the redstake area. He proceeded to hit out of the redstake area, not grounding his club. After he hit his shot, his opponent claimed that he violated a rule about placing his bag in the area and it was two strokes per club in his bag. I said it was a bunch of BS because you can bring clubs with you into a sand trap as long as you don’t use them to get a feel for the sand. How can you get a feel by placing your stand bag down? Seems to me you could get a better feel just by walking on it. Anyway, is there any such rule about putting your bag down in a redstake area or does “equity” take precedence? Thank You
August 15th, 2010 at 6:15 am
Playing in a game we came across this scenario. Can anyone help in giving an answer.
Ball does not lie in the hazard but the red stake interferes with his swing. Can he take relief by removing the redstake without penalty?