How To Handle A Lost Ball & When to Play a Provisional Ball

Rule 18 (Rules of Golf) – How To Handle A Ball Presumed To Be Lost And When To Play a Provisional Ball

Ball Lost In The General Area

There are 3 options if your ball is lost or presumed to be lost in the general area of the course.

  • Option #1 – Play a provisional ball. See below
  • Option #2 – Stroke & Distance. Return to where you last hit your ball and play from there. 1 penalty stroke. 
  • Option #3 –Local Rule E-5. Alternative to Stroke & Distance. In effect for general play and select competitions. 2 penalty strokes.
    A) You may drop your ball, no closer to the hole, up to 2 club lengths from the line from the hole through where your ball is presumed to be lost.
    B) You may drop your ball, no closer to the hole, up to 2 club lengths into the fairway, on or behind the line from where your ball is presumed to be lost.
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Playing A Provisionnal Ball

You may play a provisional ball when your original ball might be lost outside a penalty area or might be lost out of bounds. A provisional ball may not be played if it is certain the original ball is lost in a penalty area or is out of bounds.

Always declare to your playing partners when you are playing a provisional ball. Failure to do so will cause the provisional ball to become your ball in play even if your original ball is located.  

You may continue to play the provisional ball until it becomes your ball in play or is abandoned. The provisional ball will not lose its status 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. 

 

If your original ball is:

  • Found outside of a penalty area – Play the original ball as it lies. Your provisional ball is abandoned. No penalty.
  • Found in a penalty area –Play your original ball using one of the available penalty relief options. Your provisional ball is abandoned. 1 penalty stroke.
  • Determined to be Out of Bounds – Your provisional ball becomes your ball in play under Stroke & Distance Penalty Relief. Add 2 penalty strokes. Note: Local Rule E-5 may not be used once a provisional ball is hit and the original ball is determined to be out of bounds.
  • Not found and determined to be lost in a penalty area – Drop a new ball using one of the penalty relief options. Your provisional ball is abandoned. 1 stroke penalty.
  • Not found and not determined to be Out of Bounds– your provisional ball becomes your ball in play under Stroke & Distance Relief. Add 2 penalty strokes.

 

Remember: A ball is deemed to be lost if it is not found in 3 minutes after the player (or their caddie) begins to search for it. Other players may also assist in the search for the ball. If another player finds the ball after the 3-minute time frame, the ball is still considered lost. You cannot declare your ball lost even if it might be advantageous. You are not required to search for it but playing partners may search for 3 minutes.