Where to drop out of a red penalty area

Do you know all your options when you drop out of a red penalty area? Are you dropping in the correct area? This has changed in the new rules so check below...

Option 1:  Stroke and distance relief means you can play the original ball or another ball from a relief area near where you played the previous shot. If you played from the teeing area, you can replay from anywhere within the teeing area. If you played from the general area, you must drop within a one club length relief area, no nearer the hole. If you’ve putted from the green into a penalty area (I’ve seen it happen on the 4^th at Everglades!), you can replace the ball on the spot from where you played the previous shot.

Option 2: Back on the line relief. Here you may drop the original ball or another ball in a relief area based on a reference line going from reference point X, where it last crossed the edge of the penalty area, to the flag. Imagine this line and you can go back as far as you like on the line. Sometimes, such as on our 3^rd, you may choose this option so you can get a good lie on the fairway. You select a point on that line and drop within a one club length relief area. The ball must finish within this relief area.

Option 3: You may take lateral relief. This is often the best option at Breakers in places such as the side of the 8^th and 9^th. If you choose this option, you must note the reference point X, which is the estimated point where the original ball last crossed the edge of the penalty area. The relief area is measured from this reference point on the edge of the penalty area. You must drop your ball within two club lengths of this reference point and it must finish within this relief area, ie within two club lengths of where the ball last crossed the edge of the penalty area.

As discussed regularly, the local rule on our 4^th hole allows you to drop on the opposite side of the penalty area but again, you must note the reference point X where the ball last crossed the edge of the penalty area, then select the point equidistant from the flag on the opposite side. You must then drop the ball within two club lengths of this point and it must finish within this relief area ie, within two club lengths of the edge of the penalty area.

The original shot must be counted plus a one stroke penalty no matter what option you choose.