A player can NOT declare his ball lost. A ball is lost after 3 minutes of searching and a few other reasons. After 3 minutes it is a fact that the ball is lost.

In term of the 3 minutes time frame, does the clock start when the player arrive at the approximate area where the ball might ended up? what happen if the player send their caddie to search first? or another player starts the search first (i.e. another player is in a cart and the player is walking, so they can be at that location sooner than the player). Thanks!

@GolfRulesQuestions

2 жыл бұрын

The search time starts when the player or their caddie (or partner or partner's caddie in a four-ball/foursome) starts looking for the ball. The player can ask his caddie to hang back and wait until the player arrives, but the player cannot hang back and watch other players search.

@MrMunchies2x

2 жыл бұрын

@@GolfRulesQuestions Thanks!

@alberticus07

10 ай бұрын

@@GolfRulesQuestions But what if you or your caddie is not going to search for the ball, but your competitor is? When does the time start? When the competitor starts searching?

@GolfRulesQuestions

10 ай бұрын

Great question. The clock will never start, the only way that original ball stops being the ball in play is if: 1. You play a provisional ball from nearer to the hole than where the original is thought to be, 2. You start a search, hoping that you don't find it, then walk away and wait 3 minutes, hoping they don't find it. 3. You hit the provisional ball in the hole and then pick it out of the hole.

If the original ball is found, the provisional can no longer ever be played right?

@GolfRulesQuestions

2 жыл бұрын

Correct, unless the original ball is found out of bounds. So if in bounds, and found within 3 minutes, then the provisional instantly becomes an abandoned ball.

@stuartmcphee6009

2 жыл бұрын

... and an abandoned ball therefore means a wrong ball.

If you hit a provisional ball, but don't say the words "I'm hitting a provisional ball" does this now become your ball in play regardless of wether or not you find your first ball? I'm sure I remember watching a Golf Monthly youtube video saying this.

@GolfRulesQuestions

2 жыл бұрын

Correct, as per Rule 18.1, you have proceeded as per 'stroke-and-distance' and you are now 3 extra from that spot.

@stuartmcphee6009

2 жыл бұрын

Whilst it is strongly advised to use the word "provisional", technically you don't have to. The wording under Rule 18.3 is "The player must use the word “provisional” or otherwise clearly indicate that he or she is playing the ball provisionally under Rule 18.3." Therefore you can say (and I use all of these), "I am playing a provisional ball" or "I am going to play this ball just in case I cannot find my original ball" or "I am proceeding under Rule 18.3" Of course, the last one is more likely to elicit weird looks from other players. However as Blakey said, using none of the above means 'stroke and distance'.

Does the original ball have to be identified within the 3 minutes or merely spotted. If the ball in play is spotted within the 3 minutes, but not identified within the 3 minutes is it permanently lost even if found. As a retired lawyer who did not practice in Philadelphia I can’t answer these questions. But this is a whole lotta fun.

@GolfRulesQuestions

2 жыл бұрын

If a ball is found within 3 minutes, the player must promptly identify it. The reasonable time it takes to identify it could be outside the 3 minute search time.

@terrygain1343

2 жыл бұрын

@@GolfRulesQuestions Could be? You mean “may be.” If that’s the case the rule should be rewritten to avoid the use of misleading language. Clearly a ball is not identified until the golfer looks at it and confirms it has the correct name and number and other markings he may have placed upon it. I would suggest that “identified” be replaced with “found” or “precise location is known”.

@Okwegeddit

2 жыл бұрын

@@terrygain1343 could be or may be should never be in a law book of any organisation under this sun haha

If it was Colin’s ball that was found, he would have to play it or take an unplayable. It seems it’s not in his favor to find or identify the “lost” ball and hit the provisional that is already on the green.

@GolfRulesQuestions

2 жыл бұрын

Correct, would have been a better decision to not even look. But he might have been thinking he had gotten lucky and it had bounced into the clear.

Sorry, but this was a convoluted explanation of what is only a moderately complex situation. State the facts of the original situation, then state the rules and the options available to the player. Then, outline the additional facts about another ball being seen and the procedures for identifying it. Based on how the video explained this situation, I'm not sure that anyone who didn't already know the rules would be any more informed after hearing it.

A player CANNOT declare a ball lost.

@jonc3295

2 жыл бұрын

As clearly explained at 1:53

@peadargill7565

2 жыл бұрын

@@jonc3295 😂 With a headline that was 100% false I didn’t bother wasting time watching it.

@stuartmcphee6009

2 жыл бұрын

@@peadargill7565 I have seen among professional players however, that once they abandon the search, they believe that it doesn't matter whether a ball is then found. It does happen - it happened in this very situation with Mr Morikawa. You are 100% correct - there is nothing you can say to make your ball lost.

@apaulmcdonough2170

2 жыл бұрын

@@stuartmcphee6009 here the Ball that was Found, WASN'T CM's though.

@apaulmcdonough2170

2 жыл бұрын

He played a Provisional because he didn't expect to find his Ball, and It never was found.