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3 minutes to find ball

I don't have a stop watch, but I have the time on my gps device - so all of our timings are approximately 3mins so clearly to some we'll have been doing this incorrectly and have broken the rules. For example, look at device, 11.20am so in theory search should stop at 11.23; except I can't be sure it was 11.20am and 00 secs, so we call the search at some point after 11.23am. This could mean the search took more than 3 minutes; or conversely less than 3 minutes. Many will disagree, but there are some rules in golf that lack a little common sense - for example, find the ball after 3mins and 10 secs means the ball is lost (according to the interpretation of the rules), so rather than be sensible and agree it's reasonable to play the ball, some will insist you trudge back to the tee and play your next shot - adding on minutes. Whilst it has been said that the rule doesn't include the word 'approximately', maybe it should.
 
I don't have a stop watch, but I have the time on my gps device - so all of our timings are approximately 3mins so clearly to some we'll have been doing this incorrectly and have broken the rules. For example, look at device, 11.20am so in theory search should stop at 11.23; except I can't be sure it was 11.20am and 00 secs, so we call the search at some point after 11.23am. This could mean the search took more than 3 minutes; or conversely less than 3 minutes. Many will disagree, but there are some rules in golf that lack a little common sense - for example, find the ball after 3mins and 10 secs means the ball is lost (according to the interpretation of the rules), so rather than be sensible and agree it's reasonable to play the ball, some will insist you trudge back to the tee and play your next shot - adding on minutes. Whilst it has been said that the rule doesn't include the word 'approximately', maybe it should.

I think this is the common sense approach that just about all take.
 
It seems there is some casualness around about the regard for this rule in competitions (it matters not what happens in social golf) which I hope is not extended to other rules as in "Oops, I accidentally knocked my ball forwards with my foot, but no matter, it was only a few centimetres so I'll ignore it".

If I were being really fussy, I would point out that the satisfaction of a group that a ball can be considered in play after 3 minutes of search time is in effect an agreement amongst the players to disregard a rule of golf - a DQ breach for all of them. [1.3b(1)] But fair enough, the conversation hasn't reached the level of seeing conspiracies.

I think what is uncomfortable about the casualness is that the player who doesn't wear a watch, who is content to estimate 3 minutes, who is content to be generous in deciding when time is up puts himself or herself in the position of gaining 2 strokes over another player who is more rigorous about timing. Is that not the same as ignoring that you've kicked your ball because it only move a few centimetres?
 
It seems there is some casualness around about the regard for this rule in competitions (it matters not what happens in social golf) which I hope is not extended to other rules as in "Oops, I accidentally knocked my ball forwards with my foot, but no matter, it was only a few centimetres so I'll ignore it".

If I were being really fussy, I would point out that the satisfaction of a group that a ball can be considered in play after 3 minutes of search time is in effect an agreement amongst the players to disregard a rule of golf - a DQ breach for all of them. [1.3b(1)] But fair enough, the conversation hasn't reached the level of seeing conspiracies.

I think what is uncomfortable about the casualness is that the player who doesn't wear a watch, who is content to estimate 3 minutes, who is content to be generous in deciding when time is up puts himself or herself in the position of gaining 2 strokes over another player who is more rigorous about timing. Is that not the same as ignoring that you've kicked your ball because it only move a few centimetres?
Yeah that's totally the same man. No different at all. :ROFLMAO:

The rule barons really love a bit of reductio absurdum don't they? It reminds me of that IT Crowd episode where they're watching the anti-piracy ad - "you wouldn't steal a car... you wouldn't steal a policeman's helmet, and go to the toilet in it..."
 
It seems there is some casualness around about the regard for this rule in competitions (it matters not what happens in social golf) which I hope is not extended to other rules as in "Oops, I accidentally knocked my ball forwards with my foot, but no matter, it was only a few centimetres so I'll ignore it".

If I were being really fussy, I would point out that the satisfaction of a group that a ball can be considered in play after 3 minutes of search time is in effect an agreement amongst the players to disregard a rule of golf - a DQ breach for all of them. [1.3b(1)] But fair enough, the conversation hasn't reached the level of seeing conspiracies.

I think what is uncomfortable about the casualness is that the player who doesn't wear a watch, who is content to estimate 3 minutes, who is content to be generous in deciding when time is up puts himself or herself in the position of gaining 2 strokes over another player who is more rigorous about timing. Is that not the same as ignoring that you've kicked your ball because it only move a few centimetres?

I think in a similar way Colin and worry more about the stigma that seems to be becoming attached to players who DO try and play to the rules.
 
It seems there is some casualness around about the regard for this rule in competitions (it matters not what happens in social golf) which I hope is not extended to other rules as in "Oops, I accidentally knocked my ball forwards with my foot, but no matter, it was only a few centimetres so I'll ignore it".

If I were being really fussy, I would point out that the satisfaction of a group that a ball can be considered in play after 3 minutes of search time is in effect an agreement amongst the players to disregard a rule of golf - a DQ breach for all of them. [1.3b(1)] But fair enough, the conversation hasn't reached the level of seeing conspiracies.

I think what is uncomfortable about the casualness is that the player who doesn't wear a watch, who is content to estimate 3 minutes, who is content to be generous in deciding when time is up puts himself or herself in the position of gaining 2 strokes over another player who is more rigorous about timing. Is that not the same as ignoring that you've kicked your ball because it only move a few centimetres?

We have a couple of guys where 30 mins isn't enough time for them, its like the ball has been in the family for 6 generations and they can't leave it... and that was when it was 5 min search.

seen them get left behind, when the other PP have given up after 5 mins and carried on, how would you handle those situations?
 
We have a couple of guys where 30 mins isn't enough time for them, its like the ball has been in the family for 6 generations and they can't leave it... and that was when it was 5 min search.

seen them get left behind, when the other PP have given up after 5 mins and carried on, how would you handle those situations?
Use 5.6a as a starting point.
 
We have a couple of guys where 30 mins isn't enough time for them, its like the ball has been in the family for 6 generations and they can't leave it... and that was when it was 5 min search.

seen them get left behind, when the other PP have given up after 5 mins and carried on, how would you handle those situations?

I've seen too, but always assumed they are out of the holes (as in matchplay) and continue to look until their fellow competitors have finished the hole, but wouldn't play it if found
 
I've seen too, but always assumed they are out of the holes (as in matchplay) and continue to look until their fellow competitors have finished the hole, but wouldn't play it if found
these buggers it stroke play... only played one of them in MP and that was a final so we had a match Referee who deemed the ball lost on the one hole he did hit a wayward shot
 
It sets out a simply, definitive, scale of penalties for simple delay of game breaches.
Ok so say for instance 3 ball.. two PP give up after 3 mins and cont on with their play yet the lost ball owner carries on, finds it after 6 mins playes the hole and catches the two PP on the tee and tells them (card marker)his score??
 
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Ok so say for instance 3 ball.. two PP give up after 3 mins and cont on with there play yet the lost ball owner carries on, finds it after 6 mins playes the hole and catches the two PP on the tee and tells them (card marker)his score??
He doesn’t have a score. He played a wrong ball and to complete the hole has to go back and play the right one - his provisional or if he hadn’t played one another ball under stroke and distance. He can do that provided he hasn’t started the next hole. There would still be the question of undue delay.
 
He doesn’t have a score. He played a wrong ball and to complete the hole has to go back and play the right one - his provisional or if he hadn’t played one another ball under stroke and distance.
doesn't play a prov, finds his ball after the allowed time and carries on.
 

Just an observation not abuse.

And I suppose everyone who doesn't wear a watch is a thief, rapist, murderer, speeder, no insurance, etc etc.

I mean if you can tell from someone not wearing a watch that they use a leather wedge and break every rule in golf then I assume you can tell everything about their character.
 
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