Rules Corner July Edition:

This edition of Rules Corner covers relief from abnormal ground conditions and immovable obstructions and includes specific situations we all face from time to time on our course. 

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Rules Corner June Edition Below: 

A quick Q and A on Lost Ball (Rule 18.2).

When is a ball lost?

A player cannot declare their ball “lost”. There are three circumstances, either of which render a ball “lost”.

1. The player has put another ball in play. If you play a second ball from where the original ball was played without declaring it a “provisional ball”, the second ball becomes the ball in play and the original ball is a “wrong ball” and cannot be played. (Rule 18.3b)
2. 3 minutes of search time have elapsed, and the original ball has not been found. (Rule 18.2)
3. A provisional ball is played from a point closer to the hole than where the original ball is believed to be lost. (Rule 18.3c)

Do I have to search for my original ball?

No, you are under no obligation to search for your original ball for 3 minutes, or at all. By taking actions 1 or 3 you render the original ball a “wrong ball” and it cannot be played. In these circumstances you must proceed with the second ball if you played a second ball without declaring it a “provisional” ball. Or just continue with the provisional ball, once it is played from a point closer to the hole than where you believe the original ball to be lost it becomes the ball in play.

When does the maximum 3 minute search time commence?

When the player or their caddy reach the search area.(Rule 18.2a)

If I find my ball but want to take stroke and distance penalty for an unplayable lie, can I just continue with my provisional ball?

No, once you found your original ball within the 3 – minute search time the provisional ball is a “wrong ball”. (Rule 18.3c(3)) If you want to take the stroke and distance option for an unplayable lie, you must return to where the last shot was played with the original ball. If you hit a good provisional and circumstances mean your best unplayable ball option may be stroke and distance it may be best to just continue with the provisional ball and not worry about searching.

Can my playing partners or my opponent in Matchplay look for my ball even if I state I don’t want to find it?

In Strokeplay any player in the field can look for your ball if they think it is in their interests for the ball to be found. In Matchplay your opponent can look for your ball if they think it is in their interests.

In this instance the 3 minutes would commence when they began to search for your ball.

In these circumstances if a “provisional ball” has been played and the original ball is found by the other player / opponent within 3 minutes, presuming a shot has not been played with the provisional ball from a point closer to the hole than where the original ball has been found, the original ball is the ball in play, and any provisional ball becomes a “wrong ball” and cannot be played.

So, what should I do if I have hit a provisional ball and don’t want to find the original ball, but a playing partner or opponent does?

In these circumstances you should immediately progress to your provisional ball and play your next shot. If it is in advance of where the original is believed to be lost this will render the original ball a “wrong ball” and your “provisional ball” becomes the ball in play. If your provisional ball comes to rest further from the hole than where the original ball may be lost, remember the provisional ball does not become the ball in play until a shot is played from a point closer to the hole than where the original ball is believed to be lost, so you may have to play more than 1 shot with the provisional ball before it becomes the ball in play. Obviously do this without delay to restrict any search time for your opponent.

But what if it’s not my shot in Matchplay?

Remember, playing when it’s not your shot in Matchplay isn’t a penalty. It just gives your opponent the option to make you replay your shot. So, whilst you may have to play that shot again it does not change the fact that the provisional ball has become the ball in play as it was played in advance of where the original ball is thought to be lost, and the original ball remains a “wrong ball”.

What if I holed out with my “provisional ball” and I don’t have another shot to play?

Yes, the rules of golf have this situation covered also! In these circumstances the act of removing your ball from the hole counts as your next shot. So, get there quick before the pesky opponent can find that original ball and lift your provisional ball from the hole.

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