Fall Leaves / Lost Golf Ball Question

[Kalipari]

So you hit a decent shot in an area with several leaves on the ground. You are positive you are in bounds but when you get to the area you tracked your ball to you can't find it. You look for a time and decide you don't want to hold your group up any longer and drop a golf ball in the area you are certain you landed. Would you take a penalty stroke for this or not? You aren't in a tournament round just a round with friends where you are keeping your score to track your handicap.

[kpaulhus]

If you plan on posting it, you better be taking the penalty stroke plus distance . The ball never entered a hazard so you have to go back.

[shankalots]

I hate when this happens. You hit a tee shot so good that you go ahead and grab your tee. Competely smashed down the center, you see the ball one hop and stop in the fairway. You get down there and its gone, disappeared. THE most frustrating thing for me!

[walk18]

So you hit a decent shot in an area with several leaves on the ground. You are positive you are in bounds but when you get to the area you tracked your ball to you can't find it. You look for a time and decide you don't want to hold your group up any longer and drop a golf ball in the area you are certain you landed. Would you take a penalty stroke for this or not? You aren't in a tournament round just a round with friends where you are keeping your score to track your handicap.

Dropping and taking a penalty isn't an option under the rules. I guess you have to decide if it's an official round or just practice.

[enis750]

i hate stupid leaves.............
next year im getting a memby at a course w little trees
ill golf in the wind all day if it means i dont lose balls cause of friggen leaves [rant/]

[alo1984]

Well, if I intended to post the score to my handicap then I would have to go back to the tee and take the necessary penalty.

[2bGood]

We have a local rule this time of year that allows us to drop without penalty in this situation not sure if the USGA allows this, but the RCGA does. See the video link below for details.

If you don't have a rule like this and you have lots of leaves, you may want to talk to your committee.

http://scoregolf.com/videos/swing-sc...ule/4necc2uizc

[Fourputt]

Well, if I intended to post the score to my handicap then I would have to go back to the tee and take the necessary penalty.

One possible option is to drop with

two penalty strokes to simulate the stroke and distance penalty. It still isn't right but it's closer to what you would score if you managed to put the next ball in play from the tee.

[zeg]

One possible option is to drop with

..and the round is still 100% postable for handicap, as long as you don't do this (or similar) on more than 5 holes, since you are permitted to estimate your score for a hole you did not complete according to the RoG.

[glk23]

I am fully aware of what the rule says. But am wondering how many people would be able to hit a drive they knew stayed in, go look for it and then go all the way back to hit another one, unless the course was very slow.

[James_Black]

play with a yellow golf ball.

[alf174]

play with a yellow golf ball.

Usually the color doesn't matter, the leaves cover everything up. Often you accidentally kick or step on your ball looking for it.

[soloredd]

I am fully aware of what the rule says. But am wondering how many people would be able to hit a drive they knew stayed in, go look for it and then go all the way back to hit another one, unless the course was very slow.

Yeah, I've wondered about this as well. When something like this happens, I'll take a 2 stroke penalty and drop at the closest point to where my ball was lost, and I always confirm with my playing partners that they agree. I think this is fair. Unless it's a tournament, I can't imagine going back to the tee and re-hitting unless the group behind me is just teeing off on the previous hole.

[Fourputt]

I am fully aware of what the rule says. But am wondering how many people would be able to hit a drive they knew stayed in, go look for it and then go all the way back to hit another one, unless the course was very slow.

Which is why I suggested dropping and taking a 2 stroke penalty instead. Seems like most guys who post online have a phobia against going back and rehitting even if the course isn't crowded, so the best alternative is the two stroke penalty to give you a more representative score while still keeping the course moving.

[James_Black]

Usually the color doesn't matter, the leaves cover everything up. Often you accidentally kick or step on your ball looking for it.

That's only if you smack it into the trees though.

If your in the rough you should be able to find the ball unless you've got a load of trees in your area

[$2 Nassau]

This time of year I typically don't post my rounds for that exact reason. Same with early spring because sometimes I lift and clean when in the rough or just move the ball to a part of the fairway that isn't as wet, etc.

The conditions in New England can make golf very unenjoyable certain times of the year, even if it is "nice out".

[plugged]

If you are going to keep score, you should follow the rules as much as practical, i.e., take a two-stroke penalty. If you have time to go back to the tee box, do that.

OTOH, nothing says you have to keep score.

[sean_miller]

That's only if you smack it into the trees though.

Something tells me they don't have a lot of trees in Ireland. In some parts of NE US (and SE Canada) a strong gust of wind can bury an entire foursome, including their power cart.