If the ball is playable, you may play it as it lies without a penalty. Alternatively, for one penalty stroke you may take stroke-and-distance relief or back-on-the-line relief. A red penalty area also offers lateral relief within two club-lengths of the reference point.
The colour of the marking matters because red areas have one extra relief option. You need the estimated point where the ball last crossed the edge.
Play the ball as it lies
The ball can be played from inside the penalty area if it is safe and practical. You may ground the club and remove loose impediments under the general rules, but you must not improve the conditions affecting the stroke.
Relief for one penalty stroke
- Stroke and distance: return to the place of the previous stroke.
- Back on the line: keep the hole and crossing point aligned and choose a reference point farther back.
- Lateral relief for a red area: drop within two club-lengths of the crossing point, no nearer the hole.
You need knowledge or virtual certainty
Penalty-area relief is available only when it is known or virtually certain that the ball is in the area. If it may instead be lost outside the area, the lost-ball rule can apply.
Compare this with When can you play a provisional ball?.
The essential point
First decide whether to play the ball as it lies. If taking relief, identify the crossing point, check whether the area is yellow or red and add one penalty stroke.
Sources
The following official or specialist sources were used to verify this independently written guide.
- The R&A – official guidance Source used to verify the rules or factual information in this guide.
Is your question still unanswered?
Send it to me, or point out anything unclear. I cannot answer every message immediately, but I review suggestions for future guides.