How should a player proceed when their ball lies in a penalty area?

When a player's ball lies in a penalty area, the appropriate course of action is to take a penalty drop. This is aligned with the rules of golf, which stipulate that if a player's ball is in a penalty area, they must either play the ball as it lies or take relief by dropping a ball outside the penalty area, incurring a penalty stroke.

Choosing to take a drop allows the player to position their next shot more favorably while adhering to the rules governing penalties. This is vital for maintaining fair play and ensuring that the game continues smoothly within the established regulations.

In contrast, simply playing the ball as it lies does not consider the potential challenges or disadvantageous positions that could arise from being in a penalty area. Bringing the ball back to the last non-penalty area or calling for a ruling adds unnecessary complexity to the situation and deviates from the established protocols for handling balls in penalty areas. Therefore, the decision to take a penalty drop is the most effective and rule-compliant action in this scenario.