Golf Course Markings

Stakes, painted lines or well-defined physical features which provide a clear boundary between two areas. Markings are used for the following areas:
• Ground Under Repair (GUR): The edge of this is marked by stakes, a continuous painted line, or less commonly a defined area such as a turf nursery. The colour for the marking is not specified in the rules of golf, although white is commonly used.
• Out of Bounds: Any area outside of the boundary edge of the course, being marked by white coloured stakes, a fence, or a white line.
• Penalty Area: Any water features, including ditches, or other specified parts of a course defined by a course committee. They are marked out using stakes or lines, being coloured yellow will mean a player has two relief options, whilst coloured red means the two reliefs given for the yellow are permitted as well as an extra lateral relief.
• No Play Zones: A part of the course where the course committee decides play should be prohibited. This might be classed as either an abnormal course condition, such as a wildlife area, or a penalty area, such as a stream. Colours for the stakes or lines to use for these areas are not specified but the following are recommended:
o Abnormal course condition no play zone: lines or stakes to be white or blue, with stakes also having a green top.
o Penalty area no play zone: lines or stakes to be red or yellow, with stakes also having a green top.
• Dropping Zones: These are usually provided so that a player has an extra relied option. They are marked out using lines, stakes, tee markers, signs, or similar, typically being marked out in white.
(Source: R&A Official Rules of Golf https://www.randa.org/rules/rules-hub)