Ball in hazard - rules question

[trickymicky69]

I was playing yesterday on a par 3.

There was a hazard running the length of the hole marked by red posts.

I hit my first ball into the hazard, so I played second ball (provisional) from the tee. I did this incase there was any issue with finding the first ball (I know you don't have to find the first one, just be sure its in the hazard).

My playing partner said that if I play a second ball from the tee, then I cannot search for the other ball in the hazard and go through the normal drop/back on the original line of sight routine.

What is right?

[Shorty]

Originally Posted by trickymicky69

I was playing yesterday on a par 3.

There was a hazard running the length of the hole marked by red posts.

I hit my first ball into the hazard, so I played second ball (provisional) from the tee. I did this incase there was any issue with finding the first ball (I know you don't have to find the first one, just be sure its in the hazard).

My playing partner said that if I play a second ball from the tee, then I cannot search for the other ball in the hazard and go through the normal drop/back on the original line of sight routine.

What is right?

You can't play a provisional if you think a ball is in a lateral hazard.

Just say you find your first ball and it's lying within the hazard, but is playable, too bad.  Your other ball is the one in play.

You are playing three.

Your partner was right.

The point of this rule is that you are never allowed to be in the position of having a choice between two balls -

For example - one is in the hazard,but playable, and the other one is down the fairway, albeit lying three.

Or - your provisional is down the fairway and you think that taking a drop from the hazard might be a better option than hitting your provisional, (which it frequently would).

It is not a "provisional", it is your third shot that you hit from the tee. But - if you find your first one and it is NOT in the hazard, you may play it.

[trickymicky69]

thanks for clearing that up.

So if I got down there and the ball is not in the hazard, its only my second.

If it is, then my second tee shot is the one in play