A situation occurred today that we never experienced before. One of the fellows that I was playing with, hit a low approach shot (approx. 185 yds out) to a green that had water along the left side. He was on the left side of fairway, while myself and another player were on the right side. We didn't see his shot (one of the dis-advantages of playing ready golf), and he himself lost site of it inflight. He couldn't find it anywhere on/around the greed, so he assumed it went in the lateral water hazard. He took a penalty shoot, dropped another ball where he guessed it went in, and played that ball several times more. When he got near the hole, he discovered his original ball was in the hole!!!!
The other player said since he declared his first ball lost, took a penalty stoke and played the second one several times more, that the original ball was no longer in play, and the eagle did not count! Was this the correct ruling? If so, seems to be a cruel rule.
Hope someone can shed more light on this situation, thanks
Sarge