Additional Rules to Assist You in Your Game
How and When to Play a Provisional Ball (Rule 18)
Playing a provisional ball is a great way to speed up play when you think your original ball might be lost. You may play a provisional ball:
- When your original ball is lost – or may be lost – outside a penalty area.
- When your ball might be lost in a penalty area but also might be lost somewhere else on the course or out of bounds.
- When your original ball is out of bounds or is believed to be out of bounds.
Good Things to Know:
- Always declare to your playing partners that you are hitting a provisional ball. Use the words “I am playing a provisional ball.” Failure to declare puts your new ball in play.
- You may continue to hit your provisional ball until it crosses the line where your original ball might be lost or might have crossed out of bounds.
- Your provisional ball becomes your ball in play if your original ball is not found within the 3-minute search limit, or if it is virtually certain your original ball is out of bounds.
- If you play a provisional ball when your original ball is out of bounds, you may not take advantage of Local Rule 5E.
- If you play a provisional ball and your original ball is found in a penalty area, you must abandon your provisional ball and hit the original ball as it lies, OR you may take Penalty Relief Options (A: All-The-Way-Back, B: Back-On-The-Line, C: 2 Club Lengths Lateral Relief) for 1-stroke penalty. You may not use the provisional ball as Option A.)
Stroke-and-Distance Relief – The “Anywhere” Option (Rule 18)
You can take Stroke-and-Distance Relief – hitting another ball from the spot you hit the previous ball (The “All The Way Back” Option) – anywhere on the course and at any time. That’s right! If you don’t like where your ball lands for any reason, you can re-load and hit again under a 1-Stroke Penalty Relief. Don’t forget to add the stroke of that first ball!
Ball Unplayable (Rule 19)
You can declare your ball “unplayable” anywhere on the course - except in a penalty area. There are 3 options available under 1-Stroke Penalty Relief – the same A-B-C options available when your ball crosses into a penalty area.
- All The Way Back (Stroke-and-Distance)
- Back on the Line
- 2 Club Length (Lateral Relief)
Note: If you choose 2 Club-Length Lateral Relief and don’t like the lie of your new position, you can declare the ball – in its new position - unplayable again. For another 1-stroke penalty, you can apply 1 of the 3 Options. There is no limit on the number of times you can do this. But you must add 1 stroke for each time you declare the ball unplayable. (Plus the original stroke!)
Here are graphic detailing Relief Options for Unplayable Ball in both the General Area and in the Bunker.
Prompt Pace of Play (Rule 5.6)
We are going to end this Rules Series on a subject that is important to all golfers - Pace Of Play. Did you know there is a rule about Prompt Pace of Play? As outlined in Rule 5.6, penalties can be assigned for unreasonable delays. Really.
There are some excuses for short delays, such as when a player seeks help from a referee or the Committee, injury or illness of a player and when another good reason is demonstrated. (Keep in mind, the limit to search for a lost ball is 3 minutes.)
If there are no allowable excuses, here are the penalties:
- First breach: 1 penalty stroke
- Second breach: General Penalty (Loss of Hole in Match Play, 2 Stroke Penalty in stroke play)
- Third Breach: Disqualification
While these penalties would most often only be assigned during a competition, they can be assigned by the on-course Marshall during regular play. During regular play, the Marshall may also ask that a slow group pick up their balls and move on to the next hole.
Here are some Pace of Play recommendations as detailed in Rule 5.6b. A player should play at a prompt pace throughout the round, including the time taken to:
- Prepare for and make each stroke.
- Move from one place to another between strokes and between holes.
Whenever possible, please play “Ready Golf”.
We hope that you have found some interesting and enlightening information through our Spring Rules Newsletter Series. If you have any questions, we are here to help. Click to contact us.
Don't forget the Rules Clinic coming up in June. Complete details, including date, time and how to register, will be shared shortly.
Your Rules & Handicap Committee
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