clarification on rule 27-provisional ball

[localhawaii]

So my buddies and I were playing today and I hit a ball that looked like it went OB. I hit another off the tee although I thought it was still in play. The second ball didnt go as far off the tee as the first one, so I ended up hitting it and it landing on the green. As we drove up to the green, i found the first ball that was believed to be OB. At that point in time I thought I could play my original ball and was happy to find my second hand Pro-V1 1 .

I pitched it onto the green and scooped up my provisional ball. Was I supposed to continue playing the provisional? Thanks.

[zeg]

You can continue hitting the provisional until you reach the approximate distance of your original ball. Then you get up to five minutes to find the original before the provisional must be played.

The only way you'd have been forced to take your provisional is if the original ball had been hit in the direction of water -- if you think it's lost in the area of a water hazard, then you're not entitled to a provisional, so the second ball would be in play as soon as you hit it.

Sounds to me like you were perfectly within your rights as played.

[klaymon]

You played correctly.

[flanagan]

I think there is one critical piece of information missing. Did you declare that you were playing a provisional, it is not implied, just ask Ken Venturi (!)? If not, the original ball was lost, I believe, and you did not play correctly. If so, I believe you played correctly.

[zeg]

I think there is one critical piece of information missing. Did you declare that you were playing a provisional, it is not implied, just ask Ken Venturi (!)? If not, the original ball was lost, I believe, and you did not play correctly. If so, I believe you played correctly.

This is correct. Gotta say the magic words.

[Jay-Bird]

You have to say it AND hit it immediately after the first one. You cannot hit it, pause to think about it and let someone else hit, then decide to hit a provisional.

[klaymon]

You have to say it AND hit it immediately after the first one. You cannot hit it, pause to think about it and let someone else hit, then decide to hit a provisional.

Incorrect:

10-3. Provisional Ball or Another Ball from Teeing Ground If a player plays a provisional ball or another ball from the teeing ground, he must do so after his opponent or fellow-competitor has made his first stroke . If more than one player elects to play a provisional ball or is required to play another ball from the teeing ground , the original order of play must be retained. If a player plays a provisional ball or another ball out of turn, Rule 10-1c Rule 10-2c applies

[zeg]

klaymon is correct. However, one element of Jay-Bird's post is on target-- you have to declare/hit your provisional *before* you look for your ball. If you look for the ball first, your only option is to go back and put another ball in play from the previous spot (without the option to return to the original ball).

[localhawaii]

Thanks for the clarification everyone! After hitting my first ball, I wasnt quite sure if it was OB or even if it could be found. I declared I was going to play a provisional and let everyone in the group rotate through tee shots before hitting my provisional. I was pretty sure I was in the right, but there was someone in the group who doesnt normally play golf that seemingly wanted my stroke count to be higher! Thanks again!

[iacas]

Oy.

http://thesandtrap.com/rules/the_san...z_number_three

That doesn't answer exactly the same question, but it's almost exactly the same circumstance and would at least have pointed the OP in the right direction.

[Jay-Bird]

Incorrect:

Thank you for the clarification! I can't believe I thought otherwise...