RULES OF GOLF:  COURSE MARKING

Throughout the golf course, players will encounter various markings including lines and stakes of various colors. What does each one mean?

Yellow stakes and/or lines:

The presence of yellow stakes and/or lines indicates that a water hazard is present. A water hazard is any sea, lake, pond, river, ditch, surface drainage ditch or other open water course (whether or not containing water) and anything of a similar nature on the course. All ground or water within the margin of a water hazard is part of the water hazard. The margin of a water hazard extends vertically upward and downwards. Stakes and lines defining the margins of water hazards are in the hazards. Such stakes are obstructions. A ball is in the water hazard when it lies in or any part of it touches the water hazard, including when any part of the ball touches the hazard line. When both stakes and lines are used to define water hazards, the stakes identify the hazard and the lines define the hazard margin. If only stakes are used, the hazard margin is defined by line of the outside edge of the hazard stakes (fairway side).

Red stakes and/or lines:

Red stakes and/or lines indicate that a lateral water hazard is present. A lateral water hazard is a type of water hazard, or part of a water hazard, situated so that it is not possible or deemed by the Committee to be impracticable to drop a ball behind the water hazard, keeping the point where the ball last crossed the margin of the hazard between the hole and the point where the ball is dropped (Rule 26-1b). Lateral water hazards typically are found along side a hole, and examples include a river, lake, ocean, etc. The options in Rule 26-1c are available only for a lateral water hazard.

White stakes:

White stakes are used to define out of bounds. The out of bounds line is determined by the nearest inside points of the stakes at ground level, and these stakes are not obstructions and are deemed to be fixed. Out of bounds may also be marked by a white line in areas where the Committee does not wish to include stakes (i.e., around a clubhouse). When out of bounds is defined by a line, the line itself is out of bounds.

1 | 2