If a ball played from a penalty area comes to rest in the same penalty area or another penalty area, the player may play the ball as it lies (see Rule 17.1b).

Or, for one penalty stroke, the player may take relief under any of these options:

(1) Normal Relief Options. The player may take stroke-and-distance relief under Rule 17.1d(1), back-on-the-line relief under Rule 17.1d(2) or, for a red penalty area, lateral relief under Rule 17.1d(3).

Under Rule 17.1d(2) or (3), the estimated point used to determine the relief area is where the original ball last crossed the edge of the penalty area where the ball now lies.

If the player takes stroke-and-distance relief by dropping a ball in the penalty area (see Rule 14.6) and then decides not to play the dropped ball from where it comes to rest:

• The player may take further relief outside the penalty area under Rules 17.1d(2) or (3) (for a red penalty area) or under Rule 17.2a(2).
• If the player does so, they get one more penalty stroke, for a total of two penalty strokes: one stroke for taking stroke-and-distance relief, and one stroke for taking relief outside the penalty area.

(2) Extra Relief Option: Playing from Where Last Stroke Made Outside a Penalty Area. Instead of using one of the normal relief options under (1), the player may choose to play the original ball or another ball from where they made the last stroke from outside a penalty area (see Rule 14.6).

Diagram: When a Ball Played from the Penalty Area Comes to Rest in the Same or Another Penalty Area

A player plays from the teeing area to point A in the penalty area. The player plays the ball from point A to point B. If the player chooses to take relief, for one penalty stroke there are four options. The player may:

1. Take stroke-and-distance relief by playing a ball from a relief area based on where the previous stroke was made at point A, and is playing their 4th shot.
2. Take back-on-the-line relief by dropping a ball outside the penalty area, keeping point X between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped, and is playing their 4th shot.
3. Take lateral relief (red penalty area only). The reference point for taking relief is point X, and a ball must be dropped in and played from the two club-length relief area, which is no nearer the hole than point X, and is playing their 4th shot.
4. Play a ball from the teeing area as that was where they made the last stroke from outside the penalty area, and is playing their 4th shot.

If the player chooses option (1) and then decides not to play the dropped ball, the player may take back-on-the-line relief or lateral relief in relation to point X, or play again from the teeing area, adding an additional penalty stroke for a total of two penalty strokes, and would be playing their 5th shot.