rules of golf when you can hit a provisional

Hitting a provisional ball is allowed under the Rules in the interest of saving time when you believe your original ball might be out of bounds or lost OUTSIDE a penalty area. You must, however, announce that you’re playing a provisional, or the next shot you hit will be considered in play as if you took a stroke-and-distance penalty.

Full Answer

What is the rule on provisional balls in golf?

In the rule book, provisional balls are covered under Rule 18 — specifically, in Rule 18.3, the third of three sections under Rule 18. Summarizing Rule 18.3 based on the Player's Edition of the rule book: "... if you are aware that the only possible place your original ball could be lost is in a penalty area, a provisional ball is not allowed.".

Do you have to announce a provisional in golf?

And you must use the word "provisional" in letting the other golfers in your group know what you are doing. "If you did not announce this (even if you intended to play a provisional ball) and played a ball from where the previous stroke was made, that ball is your ball in play under penalty of stroke and distance," the rule book states.

What do you say when you hit a provisional ball?

(Decision 27-2a/2) 3. Make sure you announce that you are about to play a provisional ball Say something like “I’m going to hit a provisional ball” and say it loud so there is no doubt as to what you are doing. You must include the words “provisional ball”.

Can you hit a provisional under stroke-and-distance?

How many times have you seen a playing partner scoot around the rough for a minute before saying “it’s lost” and returning from whence they came and putting one in play under penalty of stroke-and-distance? And yet, the rules say it’s perfectly acceptable to go back and hit a provisional.

What is the rule on hitting a provisional ball?

A provisional ball is an additional ball played under Rule 27 for a ball that may be lost in a water hazard or out of bounds. Playing a provisional ball allows players to re-hit without having to walk back to the original spot of the ball if it is lost or out-of-bounds.

When can you not hit a provisional ball in golf?

Continued), a provisional ballProvisional Ball: Another ball played in case the ball just played by you may be out of bounds or lost outside a penalty area. is not allowed and a ball played from where the previous stroke. was made becomes your ball in play.

When can you hit a provisional in golf?

When can you play a provisional ball? You can call on this option when your ball might be lost outside a penalty area or be out of bounds. That means to say you can't play a provisional ball when you are aware that your ball is lost in the penalty area.

Is a lost ball a 2 stroke penalty?

Local rule for out of bounds, lost ball If a player hits a ball out of bounds or loses a ball, the general rules still require the player to return to the spot of the previous stroke and take a one-stroke penalty - a standard stroke-and-distance scenario.

Can you hit a provisional from the fairway?

Hitting a provisional ball is allowed under the Rules in the interest of saving time when you believe your original ball might be out of bounds or lost OUTSIDE a penalty area.

What does it mean to hit a provisional in golf?

A "provisional ball," often shortened just to "provisional," is a second golf ball played by a golfer who believes his first ball (the stroke he just played) may be lost (but not in a penalty area or out of bounds).

What is the rule if you hit your tee shot out of bounds?

What this means is that you incur a one-stroke penalty and need to go back to the point from where you hit your last shot. For example, if you hit your tee shot out of bounds, you incur a one-shot penalty, must go back to the tee, hitting your third shot.

What is the new out of bounds rule?

The new stroke-and-distance local rule allows players the option of dropping in the fairway if they so choose. Players must find where their ball went out of bounds and create an imaginary perpendicular to the fairway, no closer to the hole. From there, you can now drop anywhere within two club-lengths behind the line.

When do you use provisional in golf?

And you must use the word "provisional" in letting the other golfers in your group know what you are doing. "If you did not announce this (even if you intended to play a provisional ball) and played a ball from where the previous stroke was made, that ball is your ball in play under penalty of stroke and distance," the rule book states.

How does a provisional become a ball in play?

One way the provisional becomes the ball in play is by the golfer playing it from a spot nearer the hole than the original ball. On the other hand, there are situations when you must abandon that provisional and play the original ball. Those include, quoting from the Player's Edition: When your original ball is found on ...

What is a provisional ball?

A "provisional ball," often shortened just to "provisional," is a second golf ball played by a golfer who believes his first ball (the stroke he just played) may be lost (but not in a penalty area or out of bounds ).

What is the official definition of "lost outside a penalty area"?

The USGA and R&A, golf's rule-making bodies, provide this official definition in the Rules of Golf : Another ball played in case the ball just played by the player may be: *Lost outside a penalty area.

What is the penalty for a lost ball?

The penalty for a lost ball (or a ball hit out of bounds) is stroke-and-distance. The "and distance" part means that if you are strictly adhering to the rules, after walking forward and searching for your ball, and confirming that it is lost or OB, you'd have to trudge all the way back to the spot of that previous stroke and play another shot. ...

What is Rule 18?

Rule 18 Covers Provisional Balls. In the rule book, provisional balls are covered under Rule 18 — specifically, in Rule 18.3 , the third of three sections under Rule 18. Summarizing Rule 18.3 based on the Player's Edition of the rule book: "... if you are aware that the only possible place your original ball could be lost is in a penalty area, ...

When is the original ball found on the course outside a penalty area?

When your original ball is found on the course outside a penalty area before the end of the three minute search time. When your original ball is found in a penalty area or is known or virtually certain to be in a penalty area. You must either play your original ball as it lies or take penalty relief.

How many times can you hit a provisional ball?

You can hit the provisional ball as many times as you like until you reach the distance where your ball may be lost. If you then find your original ball, then disregard the provisional and the number of shots you have played with it. If you don’t find your original ball, continue playing your provisional ball. 6.

When playing a provisional ball from the tee, must it be played?

When playing a provisional from the tee it must be played after your playing partners have played their first shot. If more than one golfer elects to play a provisional ball, the original order must be preserved. ( Rule 10-3) 9. If your original ball is found but deemed unplayable, the provisional ball cannot be played.

What happens if the provisional ball is found but deemed unplayable?

9. If your original ball is found but deemed unplayable, the provisional ball cannot be played. The provisional ball can only be played if the first ball is lost or out-of-bounds.

Can you play a provisional ball in a water hazard?

You can only play a provisional ball if you think your ball may be lost outside of a water hazard or out-of-bounds. This is an often misunderstood rule so take note, these are the only two scenarios when you can play a provisional ball. 2. If you are virtually certain that your ball is in a water hazard, do NOT hit a provisional.

What is the rule for provisional ball?

Rule 27-2 (Provisional Ball) requires two things to be done correctly: 1) you must announce your intention to play a provisional ball and 2) you must play the second ball before you have gone forward to search for the original ball.

What happens if you play a provisional ball in the water hazard?

Then if it is determined that your ball is in the water hazard, you must abandon the provisional and proceed by playing your original ball or taking relief under the water hazard relief options. If you play a provisional and also think that your provisional might be lost or out of bounds, the Rules allow you to play a second provisional ball.

What does it mean to play a second ball after a statement?

Playing a second ball after one of these types of statements means that you have put a second ball into play under penalty of stroke and distance (and you can no longer play your original ball).

What does requirement 2 mean in golf?

Requirement 2 simply means that if you have walked forward to search for your original ball, which is usually when you have gone forward approximately 50 yards or more, you can no longer turn around to walk back and play a provisional. Most golfers play a provisional right away, so this requirement is usually satisfied.

When to play under stroke and distance?

There are two times when your only option under the Rules is to return to the spot of your previous stroke to play under stroke and distance: when your ball is lost or when it is out of bounds. If you hit a shot and think that your ball might be either lost or out of bounds, the Rules allow you to play a ball provisionally to save time.

When will the new golf rules come into effect?

With Golf’s New Rules taking effect on January 1, 2019, golf courses and tournament organizers will have the option to use a Local Rule that provides an alternative to stroke and distance for balls that are lost or out of bounds. Note that this optional Local Rule is not intended for higher levels of play. We can take a look at this topic in more ...

Can you play a provisional ball right away?

Most golfers play a provisional right away, so this requirement is usually satisfied. One important item to note is that you can’t play a provisional ball if you think your ball might be lost in a water hazard.

What do the Rules of Golf say about announcing the play of a provisional ball?

Rule 18.3b states “before the stroke is made, the player must announce that he or she is going to play a provisional ball.”

Make sure people hear you say it

This little nugget is revealed in another interpretation to Rule 18.3b titled: “What is Considered Announcement of Provisional Ball”.

Have a question for our Rules of Golf expert?

Despite the simplification of the Rules of Golf at the beginning of 2019, there are still some that leave us scratching our heads. And as I’ve passed the R&A’s level 2 rules exam with distinction, I am more than happy to help.

What is provisional ball?

A provisional ball is an option taken into account in a golf game under penalty of stroke and distance to save time when the ball in play might have gone out of bounds or be lost outside a penalty area.

Why is provisional ball important?

Is provisional ball important or really necessary? It is one of the most useful Rules in the golf book and its ultimate purpose is to save time. Looking for your lost golf ball may take some time – time which the game of golf needs to keep things moving on schedule.

Is a provisional ball a secondary ball?

We know a provisional ball acts as a secondary ball, but only to a certain degree. Basically, you can proceed on playing your provisional ball up until you reach the place where the first ball (the one lost) is likely to be.

Is a provisional ball allowed in golf?

Otherwise, as defined in the Rules of golf, a provisional ball is not an option or is not allowed.

What is provisional ball?

If you are then unable to find your original ball, or you find it out of bounds, your provisional ball is your ball in play under stroke and distance, and you don’t have to take the time to walk all the way back to the spot of your previous stroke.

How far can you drop a golf ball in the fairway?

You can drop a ball in the fairway within two club-lengths of that fairway edge point, or anywhere between there and the estimated spot where your ball is lost or went out of bounds. To see this visually and learn more about how this optional Local Rule works, click here.

What happens if you hit your ball out of bounds?

If you hit your ball out of bounds or lose it (you have three minutes to search for your ball before it becomes lost), your only option is to go back to the spot of your previous stroke to play under stroke and distance. The only exceptions to this are if your ball is lost in a penalty area (when you can use any of the penalty area relief options) or lost in an abnormal ground condition or in an obstruction.

What is a final exception in golf?

A final exception is when a new Local Rule which provides an alternative to stroke and distance relief is in effect . This Local Rule is recommended for casual play and not for competitions involving highly-skilled players. If it is in effect, for two penalty strokes, you can estimate the spot where your ball is lost or went out ...