adj. referring to criminality, as in defining "penal code" (the l...

"pertaining to punishment," mid-15c., from Old French peinal (12c., Modern French pénal) and directly from Medieval Latin penalis, from Latin poenalis "pertaining to punishment," f [..]

having to do with prison or punishment.

Relating to crime, as in "penal code" (the laws specifying crimes and punishment) or "penal institution" (a state prison or penitentiary confining convicted felons).

Penal is the designation for a particular golf hole. For scoring par, the golfer has usually no alternative than stroking predefined shots. In case the golf player fails on doing so, his golf ball will drop into severe hazards.

Penal design differs from strategic design by forcing golfers to take risks and then punishing mistakes more than rewarding successful gambles. Penal courses are the most mundane, reducing the need for cerebral thought by instead prescribing how each hole must be played. Think water carry par threes, and narrow par fours and fives through trees, bu [..]

Difficult.

1 : of, relating to, or being punishment [ sanctions] 2 : making one (as an offender) punishable [a offense] ;also : criminal 3 : used as a place of confinement and punishment [a institution]

(adj) of or relating to punishment(adj) serving as or designed to impose punishment(adj) subject to punishment by law

Of, relating to or involving punishment or penalties.

referring to criminality, as in defining "penal code" (the laws specifying crimes and punishment), or "penal institution" (a state prison or penitentiary confining [..]

Relating to punishment for breaches of the law. Used in ‘penal colony’.