Miles Bennett
In golf, a provisional ball is a rule that allows players to save time and avoid penalties when they believe their original ball may be lost or out of bounds. If a player hits their ball and suspects it might be lost or out of bounds, they can announce their intention to play a provisional ball and either tee up again or drop a ball near the original shot location. They can continue playing the provisional ball until they reach the estimated location of the original ball. If the original ball is found in bounds, it must be played; if it is out of bounds, the provisional ball becomes the ball in play with a one-stroke penalty.
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What You'll Learn
When to use a provisional ball
A provisional ball is played when a golfer believes their original ball may be lost somewhere on the course or out of bounds. In such cases, a golfer can save time by playing another ball provisionally under penalty of stroke and distance.
Rule 18.3b states that a golfer must announce to someone that they are going to play a provisional ball. They must use the word "provisional" or clearly indicate that they are playing under Rule 18.3. If there is no one nearby to hear the announcement, the golfer may play the provisional ball and inform someone later. If a golfer fails to make this clear and plays another ball, that ball becomes the ball in play under penalty of stroke and distance.
It is important to note that a provisional ball cannot be played if a golfer thinks their original ball might be lost in a water hazard. However, if there is a chance that the ball is lost outside the water hazard, a golfer can play a provisional ball. If the original ball is then found to be in the water hazard, the provisional ball must be abandoned, and the golfer must play their original ball or take relief under the water hazard relief options.
A golfer can continue to play the provisional ball until they reach the vicinity of where they believe the original ball to be. If a golfer hits the provisional ball from a point beyond where the original ball was likely to be, the provisional ball becomes the ball in play, and the original ball is deemed lost.
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How to play a provisional ball
A provisional ball is played when a golfer believes their original ball might be lost or out of bounds. Playing a provisional ball saves the golfer from having to walk back to the spot of their previous stroke.
- Announce your intention to play a provisional ball: This must be done clearly and explicitly to your opponent in match play or your fellow competitor/marker in stroke play. You must use the words "provisional ball" or reference Rule 27-2a when announcing your intention.
- Play the provisional ball before searching for the original: You must play the provisional ball before you have gone forward to search for the original ball. If you have walked forward to search for the original ball (usually 50 yards or more), you cannot turn around and play a provisional.
- Play the provisional ball from an appropriate spot: The provisional ball must be played from a spot that is the same distance or farther from the hole than where your original ball is estimated to be.
- Continue playing the provisional ball until you reach the estimated location of the original ball: You can keep playing the provisional ball until you reach the same distance from the hole as where your original ball is likely to be.
- Abandon the provisional ball if the original is found outside a penalty area: If your original ball is found outside a penalty area or water hazard before the end of the three-minute search time, you must abandon the provisional ball and continue playing with the original.
- Provisional ball becomes the ball in play with a penalty: If your original ball is not found or is out of bounds, your provisional ball becomes the ball in play, and you add one penalty stroke.
It is important to note that the rules regarding provisional balls may vary slightly depending on the specific golf course and tournament organizers.
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Announcing the use of a provisional ball
When announcing the use of a provisional ball, it is important to follow the rules and procedures outlined by golfing authorities. Here are some key points to consider:
- Announcing Your Intentions: Before playing a provisional ball, you must clearly announce your intentions. This can be done by explicitly stating that you are playing a "provisional ball" or by referencing the specific rule, such as "Rule 18.3" or "Rule 27-2a". Statements like "I'm going to reload" or "I'll hit another" do not satisfy this requirement. This announcement should be made to your opponent in match play or to your fellow competitor or marker in stroke play.
- Understanding Rule 18: Rule 18 covers situations where your ball is lost outside a penalty area or comes to rest out of bounds. In these cases, you must resume playing from where the previous stroke was made. Rule 18.3 specifically addresses the use of a provisional ball and allows you to play another ball provisionally under penalty of stroke and distance.
- Playing the Provisional Ball: If you believe your original ball may be lost or out of bounds, you can play a provisional ball to save time. You can continue playing the provisional ball until you reach the estimated location of your original ball. If you find your original ball during the three-minute search time, you must resume playing with it, even if you had declared it lost.
- Provisional Ball as the Ball in Play: If your original ball is not found or is out of bounds, your provisional ball becomes the ball in play, and you add a penalty stroke. This means your next stroke will be the fourth on the hole.
- Teeing Area and Dropping Procedures: If the shot you believe to be lost or out of bounds was a tee shot, you should tee up again or place the ball in the teeing area. If the original shot was played from elsewhere on the course, you should drop a ball within one club length of where the original shot was hit, ensuring it is no closer to the hole.
- Continuing with the Provisional Ball: If you have already hit a provisional ball and then find your original ball, your original ball is back in play, and the provisional is forgotten. However, you may request that others not search for your original ball if you prefer to continue playing with the provisional.
In summary, announcing the use of a provisional ball in golf requires a clear statement of intention, followed by adherence to the rules and procedures outlined by golfing authorities. This process helps maintain the integrity of the game and ensures that players can efficiently manage situations where a ball may be lost or out of bounds.
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Provisional balls and water hazards
A provisional ball is played when a player's original ball is lost or out of bounds. If a player's ball is lost in a water hazard, they cannot play a provisional ball. However, if there is a chance that the ball is lost in an area outside the water hazard, such as in trees or long grass, they can play a provisional ball. In this case, if the original ball is found to be in the water hazard, the player must abandon the provisional ball and either play the original ball or take relief under the water hazard relief options.
When a player hits a provisional ball, they can continue playing it until they reach the place where the original ball is likely to be. For example, if a player hits their original ball 250 yards from the tee but only hits the provisional ball 100 yards, they can keep playing the provisional until they are the same distance from the hole as the likely position of the original ball.
If the original ball is out of bounds or cannot be found, the provisional ball becomes the ball in play, and the player adds one penalty stroke, making the next stroke the fourth on the hole. The player is not obliged to look for their original ball after hitting a provisional in play, but their playing partners can search for it. If the original ball is found before the next shot is taken, the player must play that ball as long as it is not out of bounds.
If a player's ball lands in a water hazard, they have several options. If the hazard is marked by yellow sticks or lines, they can: play the ball as it lies with no penalty; take a one-shot penalty and play from where the original stroke was made; or take a drop from where the ball crossed the hazard, moving back in a straight line as far as they wish, with a one-shot penalty. If the hazard is marked by red sticks or lines, the player can: play the ball as it lies with no penalty; take a one-shot penalty and play from where the original stroke was made; or take the point where the ball last crossed into the hazard and drop within two club lengths of this point, not closer to the hole.
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Provisional balls and original balls found
A provisional ball is played when a golfer believes their original ball may be lost or out of bounds. If a golfer hits a provisional ball and then finds their original ball, the original ball is no longer in play and the golfer must continue with the provisional ball, taking a one-stroke penalty. This is true even if the original ball is found within three minutes, as long as the provisional ball has already been put into play.
If a golfer hits a provisional ball and then finds their original ball within three minutes, and neither ball has been put into play, the golfer must continue with the original ball.
If a golfer hits a provisional ball and then finds their original ball after three minutes, the original ball is no longer in play and is considered a "wrong ball" that must not be played. The golfer must continue with the provisional ball, taking a one-stroke penalty.
If a golfer hits a provisional ball and then finds their original ball, but cannot distinguish between the two because they are identical, the golfer must choose one of the balls to be treated as the provisional ball, now in play, and the other ball is treated as the original ball, which is no longer in play and must not be played.
It is important to note that a golfer cannot play a provisional ball if they think their original ball might be lost in a water hazard. If there is a chance that the original ball is lost in a water hazard, the golfer must play their next shot from the original ball's location or take relief under the water hazard relief options.
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Frequently asked questions
A provisional ball is a ball that a golfer can choose to play with if they believe their original ball is either lost on the course or out of bounds.
You can play with a provisional ball if you believe your original ball is lost on the course (not in a penalty area) or out of bounds. If there is a chance that your original ball is lost in a water hazard, you cannot play with a provisional ball.
If you intend to play with a provisional ball, you must announce to someone that you are doing so. You can either tee up again or place the ball in the teeing area if the shot you believe is lost or out of bounds was a tee shot. If the original shot was played elsewhere on the course, you should drop the provisional ball within one club length of where the original shot was hit, no closer to the hole. You can continue to play with the provisional ball until you reach the place where the original ball is likely to be. If you find your original ball, you must continue playing with it.
