what is the provisional rule in golf

Rule 18 - Stroke-and-Distance Relief; Ball Lost or Out of Bounds; Provisional Ball

• (1) Playing Provisional Ball More Than Once. The player may continue to play the provisional ball Provisional Ball: Another ball played in case the ball just played by the player ...
• (2) When Provisional Ball Becomes Ball in Play. ...
• (3) When Provisional Ball Must Be Abandoned. ...

Full Answer

What is the Provisional ball rule in golf?

Jan 14, 2022 · Golf Rules Explained: Provisional Ball (Rule 18.3) The provisional ball Rule is one of the most useful Rules in the book. If, after playing a shot, you think your ball may be lost outside of a penalty area or out of bounds, you should play a provisional ball. The purpose of the Rule is to save time, hence the player must inform his opponent, marker or fellow-competitor that he …

Do you have to announce 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 ). Official Definition in the Rule Book

What happens if you lose a provisional ball in golf?

You must announce that you are playing a provisional ball before doing so. 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.

When is a provisional ball in play under penalty of stroke?

Rules of golf: 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.

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.

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.

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 ...

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.

Golf Rules Explained: Provisional Ball - Golf Monthly

Golf Rules Explained: Provisional Ball (Rule 18.3) The provisional ball Rule is one of the most useful Rules in the book. If, after playing a shot, you think your ball may be lost, in a penalty area, or out of bounds you should play a provisional ball.

Provisional Ball in Golf: What It Is, When to Hit One

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). Official Definition in the Rule Book

Rules of Golf explained: How should I announce playing a ..

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." It adds: "It is not enough for the player only to say that he or she is playing another ball or is playing again.

Rule 18 - United States Golf Association

Purpose of Rule: Rule 18 covers taking relief under penalty of stroke and distance. When a ball is lost outside a penalty area or comes to rest out of bounds, the required progression of playing from the teeing area to the hole is broken; the player must resume that progression by playing again from where the previous stroke was made.

Did you know about the new local golf rule on PROVISIONAL ..

a - When Provisional Ball Is Allowed If a ball might be lost outside a penalty area or be out of bounds, to save time the player may play another ball provisionally under penalty of stroke and...

Golf Provisional Ball - Frequently Asked Questions ..

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.

Golf Rule 27: Ball Lost or OB and Provisional Balls

Note: If a provisional ball played under Rule 27-2a might be lost outside a water hazard or out of bounds, the player may play another provisional ball. If another provisional ball is played, it bears the same relationship to the previous provisional ball as the first provisional ball bears to the original ball.

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 does "if a provisional ball is played" mean?

If a provisional ball Provisional Ball: Another ball played in case the ball just played by the player may be: (...Continued) itself might be lost Lost: The status of a ball that is not found in three minutes after the player or his or her caddie (or the player ’s partner or partner’scaddie) begins to search for it.

What is the purpose of Rule 18?

Purpose of Rule: Rule 18 covers taking relief under penalty of stroke and distance. When a ball is lost outside a penalty area or comes to rest out of bounds, the required progression of playing from the teeing area to the hole is broken; the player must resume that progression by playing again from where the previous stroke was made.

What is the penalty for playing the wrong ball?

(... Continued) in Breach of Rule 18.2: General Penalty General Penalty: Loss of hole in match play or two penalty strokes in stroke play.

What is the meaning of "No matter where the player's ball is on the course course"?

No matter where the player’s ball is on the course Course: The entire area of play within the edge of any boundaries set by the Committee: (...Continued), and. Even when a Rule requires the player to take relief in a certain way or to play a ball from a certain place. Once the player puts another ball in play In Play: The status ...

When can a player take stroke and distance?

At any time, a player may take stroke-and-distance Stroke and Distance: The procedure and penalty when a player takes relief under Rules 17, 18 or 19 by playing a ball from where the previous stroke was made (see Rule 14.6).

What does "out of bounds" mean in golf?

A player may stand out of bounds Out of Bounds: All areas outside the boundary edge of the course as defined by the Committee. All areas inside that edge are in bounds. (... Continued) to play a ball on the course Course: The entire area of play within the edge of any boundaries set by the Committee: (...Continued) .

What happens if you don't identify your ball?

If the player does not identify his or her ball in that reasonable time, the ball is lost Lost: The status of a ball that is not found in three minutes after the player or his or her caddie (or the player’s partner or partner’scaddie) begins to search for it. (... Continued) . (2) When Ball Is Out of Bounds.

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.