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[Fourputt]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Perfect Slicer

I was beginning to think that I was the only one who could hit a provisional worse than the original shot.

Nope. That's the reason I wound up playing my first ball from near a green two holes over; the provisional got pull hooked into the woods. The most public yet of my many humiliations.

Actually, the fact that you found the original ball didn't give you any choice under the rules, no matter where the two balls laid.

[dkolo]

Actually, the fact that you found the original ball didn't give you any choice under the rules, no matter where the two balls laid.

That's true but I don't think I'd have gone to look for it that far over if the provisional were in play. I basically hit it off the side of my driver on a real breakdown of concentration and the ball went screaming off almost laterally. I didn't think I'd find it off the tee. Here's the Game Golf for reference. I thought it went even farther. Must've clipped something and stopped decently.

[turtleback]

I was beginning to think that I was the only one who could hit a provisional worse than the original shot.

A sure sign that I am going to find my original ball is when I stripe my provisional right down the middle.  LOL

I'm still happy to find the original ball and save the penalty shots.  But I always wish I could have saved the good one for another hole so it isn't wasted.  I don't have that many good ones in me that I can afford to waste any.  It is like making a 30 footer on the practice green.  In my head I'm saying, "NO, not here, save it for the course!"

[bkuehn1952]

With the recent Rules change, we now have 3 minutes rather than 5.  I will definitely have my watch handy until everyone is used to the shorter time frame.  Many players are very sensible in when, where and how long they search. And those players typically have a provisional in play.  A few overly optimistic and/or stubborn players insist on looking, and looking, and looking, ... When I tell them their time is up, it needs to be based on a measurement and not an estimate if I want to avoid an argument.

[dennyjones]

7 hours ago, bkuehn1952 said:

With the recent Rules change, we now have 3 minutes rather than 5.  I will definitely have my watch handy until everyone is used to the shorter time frame.  Many players are very sensible in when, where and how long they search. And those players typically have a provisional in play.  A few overly optimistic and/or stubborn players insist on looking, and looking, and looking, ... When I tell them their time is up, it needs to be based on a measurement and not an estimate if I want to avoid an argument.

I could see an argument develop if somebody was anxious about the time.   OK the rule changes from 5 minutes to 3, what the penalty for taking longer than 3 minutes?   Who's going to enforce it in a local tournament when it may be his word / my word.   

I usually don't put more than 1 minute into looking for a ball.   If it's obviously gone, it's my bad for hitting it in the wrong place and I'll pay the price.  

[iacas]

20 minutes ago, dennyjones said:

I could see an argument develop if somebody was anxious about the time.   OK the rule changes from 5 minutes to 3, what the penalty for taking longer than 3 minutes?   Who's going to enforce it in a local tournament when it may be his word / my word.

The penalty is that you played from a wrong place, and often it's a serious breach, so it's a DQ.

After 3 minutes the ball is deemed lost, regardless of whether you actually find it. You have to replay under stroke and distance, unless that Local Rule is in effect (which may save the "serious breach" part if that Local Rule is in effect).

Who would enforce it? The Committee, if not the players in the group. Just announce the time remaining at a few intervals.

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I wish someone made a little attachment that just had two separate 3:00 timers that would announce the times audibly when the timer was started and at 2:00, 1:00, 0:30, and count down from 10.

I think high school teams and others might like those.