Every penalty at a glance
| What happened | Penalty | Your options |
|---|---|---|
| Lost ball | 1 stroke | Play again from where you last hit (stroke and distance) |
| Out of bounds | 1 stroke | Stroke and distance |
| Lost or out of bounds, with the local rule | 2 strokes | Drop near where it was lost or went out, on the fairway side |
| Yellow penalty area | 1 stroke | Stroke and distance, or drop back on the line |
| Red penalty area | 1 stroke | The yellow options, or drop within two club-lengths of where it crossed in |
| Unplayable lie | 1 stroke | Stroke and distance, back on the line, or within two club-lengths |
Penalty strokes are added to your score for the hole. Your next shot after a lost ball off the tee is your third: the first tee shot, one penalty stroke, then the new tee shot.
Lost ball and out of bounds
You have 3 minutes to look for a ball. If you don't find it in that time, or it's beyond the white stakes, it's lost or out of bounds: add one stroke and play again from where you last hit. From the tee, you can tee it up again.
Hit a provisional. If your ball might be lost or out of bounds, say "I'm hitting a provisional" and hit another from the same spot before you go looking. If you find the first ball in bounds within 3 minutes, play it and pick up the provisional. If it doesn't, the provisional is in play and you've saved the walk back.
The local rule many courses use
To keep play moving, many courses adopt a local rule (Model Local Rule E-5) that lets you skip the walk back for 2 penalty strokes. You drop anywhere between where the ball was lost or went out of bounds and the edge of the nearest fairway, no nearer the hole. It isn't used in elite competitions, and it doesn't apply to balls in penalty areas or once you've hit a provisional. Check the scorecard or ask the pro shop.
Penalty areas: yellow and red
Water and other areas marked with yellow or red stakes or lines are penalty areas. You can play the ball as it lies with no penalty. Or, for one stroke:
- Stroke and distance: play again from where you last hit.
- Back on the line: drop on a line from the hole through where your ball last crossed into the area, as far back as you like.
- Red only, lateral relief: drop within two club-lengths of where it crossed in, no nearer the hole.
If you didn't see the ball go in but it's known or virtually certain that it did, use these options. If it might be lost somewhere else, it's a lost ball.
Unplayable lie
Anywhere but a penalty area, you can call your ball unplayable for one stroke: stroke and distance, back on the line from the hole, or a drop within two club-lengths, no nearer the hole. In a bunker the drop has to stay in the bunker, or for two strokes you can drop back on the line outside it.
Spend fewer strokes on penalties
Penalty strokes are the most expensive shots in golf: a lost ball off the tee usually costs two strokes once you count the extra shot. Take the club you keep in play on tight holes, and play away from the side with the water or white stakes. How to break 100.
Updated November 13, 2026 by the Greens team.