Speeding up play?

**DrvFrShow** · February 7, 2015

I was joking with someone while looking for a third ball during a round about if they could put a chip in a ball that we could find using our cell phones it would probably speed up play. You know you tap the ball on something like a "Game Golf" device or hold it near your cell phone so it picks up the code in it. Then when you hit the ball it activates a weak transmitter.

You hit your drive into the woods. Okay there goes 5 minutes looking for the ball and not finding it. Add a rules violation because someone talked you into thinking you could find it and you end up dropping a ball and taking a two stroke penalty because you don't feel like walking back 200 plus yards to the tee. But that little beeping would find your ball easily. Here it is! Just a little microchip. Tiny thing and they make things so small these days it probably wouldn't even affect ball flight.

Then I saw this....

Quote:

Q.A radio-frequency identification chip has been embedded in a golf ball. When used with a special radio receiver, a player may find such a ball readily because the receiver emits a signal that grows louder as the person holding the receiver moves closer to the ball. Is the use of such a ball and receiver permissible?

A.No. Use of such a ball in conjunction with the receiver is a breach of Rule 14-3 .

However, use of such a ball without the receiver is permissible, provided the ball conforms to the Rules, the embedded chip has no capability other than identifying the ball and its use is in accordance with any conditions of competition that may have been adopted (e.g., the List of Conforming Golf Balls Condition).

They want you to spend the five minutes and aggravate the foursome behind you. What good is the chip if you can't use it?

We know only the weekend golfers and high handicappers would use it.

I think it would speed up play.

**Zeph** · February 8, 2015

It's not permissible today, but golf rules don't change that quickly. I hope chip technology will be implemented and become the norm at some point. Between not playing by the rules and having to spend time looking for balls, I think I'd take the former most of the time. My main concern is that looking for and losing balls is a part of the game and won't be thrown away that easily. One of the penalties for hitting a ball into deep grass is that you might lose it, not just having a hard time getting it out. Still, most players don't keep a handicap and might not be following the rules anyways. I think many would use it if available. They might be more expensive, but unless you play on a course with water everywhere, it might be worth it in the long run. Anyone know of companies that are testing this?

**Shindig** · February 8, 2015

You hit your drive into the woods. Okay there goes 5 minutes looking for the ball and not finding it. Add a rules violation because someone talked you into thinking you could find it and you end up dropping a ball and taking a two stroke penalty because you don't feel like walking back 200 plus yards to the tee.

Just because someone says they think you can find it doesn't mean you can't hit a provisional. There are a handful of circumstances where you can't hit a provisional, but that isn't one of them.

**DrvFrShow** · February 8, 2015

The point is, how many people actually hit a provisional? On Saturday? Not the people who play in front of me.

**billchao** · February 8, 2015

The point is, how many people actually hit a provisional? On Saturday? Not the people who play in front of me.

Those kinds of people don't care enough about the rules of golf to care that the receiver is illegal. I also want to point out that just because you can find your ball doesn't mean you can play it, which may result in dropping from the original spot of the shot anyway. Provisional ball is still the better course of action.

**sjduffers** · February 8, 2015

Those kinds of people don't care enough about the rules of golf to care that the receiver is illegal.

I also want to point out that just because you can find your ball doesn't mean you can play it, which may result in dropping from the original spot of the shot anyway. Provisional ball is still the better course of action.

If you find the original and you can't play it, it's too bad, but you can't play the provisional ball either. You may take an unplayable (1 penalty stroke) and if you have to use the "re-hit from the previous spot" option, back to the tee you go (effectively costing you 2 strokes)!

**sjduffers** · February 8, 2015

I am sure that there would be a great price premium put on those balls, to the tune of perhaps $10 per ball or more. So, anyone foolish enough to play those balls would fear losing them even more than regular ones, and as there would undoubtedly be a range limitation, they would cause even more time being lost looking for them! Not to mention, lots of course (most of them?) have water hazards...

All in all, a really bad idea, even if it sounds appealing at first blush, IMHO.

**billchao** · February 8, 2015

If you find the original and you can't play it, it's too bad, but you can't play the provisional ball either. You may take an unplayable (1 penalty stroke) and if you have to use the "re-hit from the previous spot" option, back to the tee you go (effectively costing you 2 strokes)!

If I hit a good provisional, I'm not likely to look very hard for my ball, especially if there's a chance the original is lying in some gnarly stuff or deep in the woods. If it's good enough, I won't look for it at all, and you bet some random playing partners I just met that morning aren't going to, either.

**sjduffers** · February 8, 2015

If I hit a good provisional, I'm not likely to look very hard for my ball, especially if there's a chance the original is lying in some gnarly stuff or deep in the woods.

If it's good enough, I won't look for it at all, and you bet some random playing partners I just met that morning aren't going to, either.

True that. But the way you phrased your initial comment about finding the ball in a bad spot (saying a provisional is still better) implied that you could use the provisional instead. You can't. Yes, you and your playing partners have to make an effort to not find the potentially lost ball. However, in competition, sometimes the fellow competitors will make an extra effort to find the ball, to "help" you avoid the lost ball penalty...

**billchao** · February 8, 2015

True that. But the way you phrased your initial comment about finding the ball in a bad spot (saying a provisional is still better) implied that you could use the provisional instead. You can't.

Oops, I guess I can see how it can be read like that. I simply meant you'll save yourself the 5 minutes if you hit the original somewhere that you're not likely to hit out of anyway. [quote name="sjduffers" url="/t/79899/speeding-up-play#post_1103433"] However, in competition, sometimes the fellow competitors will make an extra effort to find the ball, to "help" you avoid the lost ball penalty... :~( [/quote]Just run and play your next shot before they find it :-D Of course, by hitting the provisional, you've already elected to take the most penal course of action. The only advantage your competitors would gain by doing this is to make you hit another shot if you hit a really good provisional. This could also backfire on them if they find your ball in a good spot where you can advance it, too.

**DoubleEagle** · February 8, 2015

Being a high handicapper (19), I never hit a provisional...nor do I spend hardly any time at all looking for a ball that went into the woods...I am conscious of players behind me and I don't have anyone standing down the fairway to tell me the exact spot the ball went in or where it may be. I guess I just get as close to where it went in at, drop on and Hit 3...from that spot...Seriously asking because I do not know...What rules have I violated by doing that?

**saevel25** · February 8, 2015

Being a high handicapper (19), I never hit a provisional...nor do I spend hardly any time at all looking for a ball that went into the woods...I am conscious of players behind me and I don't have anyone standing down the fairway to tell me the exact spot the ball went in or where it may be. I guess I just get as close to where it went in at, drop on and Hit 3...from that spot...Seriously asking because I do not know...What rules have I violated by doing that?

Rules in section 27 of the USGA Rulebook.

27-1. Stroke And Distance; Ball Out Of Bounds; Ball Not Found Within Five Minutes
a. Proceeding Under Stroke and Distance
At any time, a player may, under penalty of one stroke, play a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played (see Rule20-5), i.e., proceed under penalty of stroke and distance.
Except as otherwise provided in the Rules, if a player makes a stroke at a ball from the spot at which the original ball was last played, he is deemed to have proceeded under penalty of stroke and distance.
b. Ball Out of Bounds
If a ball is out of bounds, the player must play a ball, under penalty of one stroke, as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played (see Rule 20-5).
c. Ball Not Found Within Five Minutes
If a ball is lost as a result of not being found or identified as his by the player within five minutes after the player’s side or his or their caddies have begun to search for it, the player must play a ball, under penalty of one stroke, as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played (see Rule 20-5).

Basically any time you drop the ball where you thought the ball would have been or would have went OB you violated these rules.

The concept of a provisional is to save time. If you are not sure if your ball will be found or will be OB then hit a provisional.

Really, what happens if you hit a provisional and hit another ball OB? What if you hit that 2nd ball into a hazard? You don't know, you just can't assume you would be near where your ball would lie 3.

**DrvFrShow** · February 9, 2015

The penalty for violating rule 27-1c goes to rule 20-5. Penalty for breach of rule 20-5 is two strokes or loss of hole in match play. But dropping a ball and playing that becomes a breach of 20-7 which is two strokes. They are not cumulative. If your are in a competition and fail to report your error you can be disqualified if a competitor saw you.

Some public courses have a drop + 2 stroke local rule. One course treats the woods similar lateral hazards, except you can ground your club - balls lost in the woods are played two club lengths toward middle of fairway no nearer the hole from point of entry - it's just too dangerous to attempt a knock down and if your ball goes in you won't find it. Even if you do, you can drop from point of entry. Penalty 1 stroke. It's worth it. I nearly killed myself trying to hit out of there last year. I know how to play that course now - nothing longer than a 4H even on the par 5s.

**Divotmaker77** · February 9, 2015

Golf ball manufacturers won't let it happen (having a chip in the ball). If man can land on the moon I can promise you the technology to add a chip is easy and has already been created. Golf ball sales would take a big hit if everyone was able to locate them (except anything in the water).

I was joking with someone while looking for a third ball during a round about if they could put a chip in a ball that we could find using our cell phones it would probably speed up play. You know you tap the ball on something like a "Game Golf" device or hold it near your cell phone so it picks up the code in it. Then when you hit the ball it activates a weak transmitter.

You hit your drive into the woods. Okay there goes 5 minutes looking for the ball and not finding it. Add a rules violation because someone talked you into thinking you could find it and you end up dropping a ball and taking a two stroke penalty because you don't feel like walking back 200 plus yards to the tee. But that little beeping would find your ball easily. Here it is! Just a little microchip. Tiny thing and they make things so small these days it probably wouldn't even affect ball flight.

Then I saw this....

They want you to spend the five minutes and aggravate the foursome behind you. What good is the chip if you can't use it?

We know only the weekend golfers and high handicappers would use it.

I think it would speed up play.

**dkolo** · February 9, 2015

Golf ball manufacturers won't let it happen (having a chip in the ball). If man can land on the moon I can promise you the technology to add a chip is easy and has already been created. Golf ball sales would take a big hit if everyone was able to locate them (except anything in the water).

If I recall correctly, that crazy 19th hole in Africa where you take a helicopter to the top of a mountain to tee off onto the green and costs like $1000 to play, they give you half a dozen balls with GPS chips in them so you can find them when you land.

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