when is your provisional golf ball not in play

The provisional ball can only be played if the first ball is lost or out-of-bounds. In this case, play proceeds with the original ball under the rules for an unplayable lie – which may mean going back to the place the original ball was struck, under penalty of stroke and distance.

Full Answer

What is the rule on hitting a provisional ball?

Keep hitting your provisional ball until you reach the area where your original ball might be lost: There's no limit to the number of strokes you can take with a provisional ball. If your original is found, disregard the strokes and any penalties you might've incurred with the provisional.

How do you count a provisional ball in golf?

If only one of the balls is found on the course, that ball is treated as the provisional ball which is now in play. If both balls are found on the course, the player must choose one of the balls to be treated as the provisional ball which is now in play, and the other ball is treated as lost and must not be played.

Can you go back to play a provisional ball?

And yet, the rules say it's perfectly acceptable to go back and hit a provisional. It's all in an interpretation to Rule 18.3a and is revealed under the very straight forward heading “Playing Provisional Ball After Search Has Started Is Allowed”.

Is a provisional ball 3 off the tee?

A Provisional ball, as described, is ALWAYS classed as '3 off the Tee' - provisionally! You must announce it as a 'provisional ball', otherwise it isn't provisional, so becomes the ball in play (and 3 off the tee). 27-2b describes the conditions under which the Provisional becomes the ball in play.

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.

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 3 minute rule in golf?

Limiting the search period to 3 minutes is more consistent with the underlying principle that golf is to be played in a prompt and continuous way, without long pauses in play. In most cases, if the ball is going to be found, it will be found within the first 3 minutes.

Do you get relief from tree roots in golf?

Is there any free relief, or is it just play it as it lies? Answer: The Rules of Golf stipulate that this is play it as it lies, similar to a ball being up a tree, or on top of a rock. If you don't wish to play it as it lies, then you can take an unplayable, which will cost you a one stroke penalty. .

How many provisionals can you hit in golf?

Just one. But do note that you also get a penalty of stroke and distance with it. And there may be special cases wherein you could hit a provisional ball more than once – a scenario which is also covered by one of the questions answered here.

What is Rule 5.3 A in golf?

March 9, 2021. Rule 5.3a states: The player must start at (and not before) his or her starting time: This means that the players must be ready to play at the starting time and starting point set by the Committee.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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 happens if you play a provisional ball?

If the player plays a provisional ball into the same general location as the original ball and is unable to identify which ball is which: - If only one of the balls is found on the course, that ball is treated as the provisional ball which is now in play.

Can you play a provisional ball multiple times?

The player may continue to play the provisional ball without it losing its status as a provisional ball so long as it is played from a spot that is the same distance or farther from the hole than where the original ball is estimated to be. This is true even if the provisional ball is played several times.

Can a provisional ball be played in a penalty area?

But if the player is aware that the only possible place the original ball could be lost is in a penalty area, a provisional ball is not allowed and a ball played from where the previous stroke was made becomes the player’s ball in play under penalty of stroke and distance (see Rule 18.1 ).

Can you drop a golf ball out of bounds?

This new local rule concerning 'balls lost or out of bounds' is not intended for higher levels of play. However, it does permit club committees to allow golfers the option to drop their golf ball in the vicinity of where the ball is lost or out of bounds (this also includes the nearest fairway area) under a TWO-STROKE PENALTY.

Can you play a provisional ball after you have gone forward?

Another change when it comes to provisional balls is that you can now play a provisional ball after you have gone forward to search for the original ball. "Previously, once you headed off towards the original ball (approx. 50 yards from the tee as a rule of thumb), if you then played another from the tee it was stroke and distance ...

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?

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 ...

DannyK

Not only can you, but you MUST abandon the provisional ball if your ball is found on the course. R18 When Provisional Ball Must Be Abandoned. When your provisional ball has not yet become your bal

Vindog

Not only can you, but you MUST abandon the provisional ball if your ball is found on the course.

Vindog

They (makers of the rules) want to avoid a situation where you get to choose between 2 balls in play. So if you want to use your S&D option then you can't use the provisional. Along the same principle, if you find your ball you must abandon the provisional, even if it's "better".

Vindog

Most situations it isn't practical, but S&D could have saved Kevin Na 10 strokes in Texas, but by the time he realized it was an option it was too late.

Vindog

"Hey, I have to write a score for this round. Sorry but I have to hit again".