Declaring a ball lost

[Foxholer]

this raises another point, I didn't think you could declare the search over and tell fc's not to look.

Once you have played your Provisional ball from past the point where the Original is likely to be, then the Original ball is deemed lost and the Provisional ball is now the ball in play.

If a FC (or opponent) suggests I don't bother looking, then I will accede to his wish. It has cost him 2 shots after all!

 

[Foxholer]

That's interesting Duncan.
I actually would play Ball A, back on the tee, but used the term C to differentiate between provisional B and original A where it landed in the clag. So I was right by accident!

You also had a couple of other options under Rule 28 - 2 Club lengths nnth and as far back as you want on the pin/ball line. But ther are certainly occasions where neither of those are much use! I can certainly remember 1 occasion when back up a big hill was the only sensible option. The comment from the guys waiting on the (10th) tee was 'someone must have a good score going!' and they were right!

 

[Val]

That's interesting Duncan.
I actually would play Ball A, back on the tee, but used the term C to differentiate between provisional B and original A where it landed in the clag. So I was right by accident!

Which was kinda what I meant too ie play the original but glad to have the substitute ball theory clarified too

 

[HawkeyeMS]

this raises another point, I didn't think you could declare the search over and tell fc's not to look.

Nothing stopping you telling them not to bother, but equally nothing stopping them from continuing to look. Generally, if someone tells me to abandon the search, I will abandon it.

 

[North Mimms]

You also had a couple of other options under Rule 28 - 2 Club lengths nnth and as far back as you want on the pin/ball line. But ther are certainly occasions where neither of those are much use! I can certainly remember 1 occasion when back up a big hill was the only sensible option. The comment from the guys waiting on the (10th) tee was 'someone must have a good score going!' and they were right!

I was thinking of the rough where I got "stuck" as per post#12.
If you hoick one into the knee high rough on our course at the moment, droppping options are a tad limited.
It looks like a wheat field!

 

[rulefan]

If I had a quid for every person I have had to tell this year that there is no such thing as declaring a ball lost I would have about, well, er, £23 It seems to be every week I have to explain it to someone but two incidents stick out.

Does anyone else find themselves repeating this rule or is it just the fine folk at RAGC who struggle with the concept?

Don't be too harsh on them. Prior to 1964 you could declare the ball lost.

 

[USER1999]

If the time to search for a lost ball is five minutes, and it starts when the first person starts looking, then if your playing opponents are in a buggy, they can get there minutes before you. If they deliberately look in the wrong place, you're stuffed.

Equally, do spectators count?

 

[Deleted member 15344]

I thought the time started when you yourself started looking ?

 

[Foxholer]

I thought the time started when you yourself started looking ?

That would be daft! You could let others search forever if that was the case!

Don't be too harsh on them. Prior to 1964 you could declare the ball lost.

But only for the 8 years from 1956!

 

[CMAC]

I thought the time started when you yourself started looking ?

another urban myth that grows legs when a cat1 announces it to higher handicaps.

 

[Colin L]

I thought the time started when you yourself started looking ?

You are quite right. It is 5 minutes from when the player, the side or the caddie begins the search. If spectators or whoever have started searching before the player or caddie arrives, it's just a bonus.

Homework for Foxholer: read Definition of a lost ball and Rule 6-7 on the subject of undue delay.

.... and CMAC

 

[Val]

I thought the time started when you yourself started looking ?

Can you find the ruling that says that? I was certain its from when the search was started regardless of who it was.

 

[the hammer]

We have a guy at our place who declares himself "the 8th top golfing referee in the country", by way of examination etc etc.

He insists that a ball can be declared lost by the player at any time. Ive challenged him on this, and he got irate, to say the least.

He says a ball in the middle of the fairway can be declared lost.

For example, my PP topped a tee shot into a gorse bush,"just declare it lost, hit another," when I asked if my PP was in a position to do that, the reply was , as above.

 

[Colin L]

Can you find the ruling that says that? I was certain its from when the search was started regardless of who it was.

As hinted above, it's in the Definition of a lost ball:

Lost Ball
A ball is deemed “lost” if:
a. It is not found or identified as his by the player within five minutes after the player’s side or his or their caddies have begun to search for it;

 

[Val]

We have a guy at our place who declares himself "the 8th top golfing referee in the country", by way of examination etc etc.

He insists that a ball can be declared lost by the player at any time. Ive challenged him on this, and he got irate, to say the least.

He says a ball in the middle of the fairway can be declared lost.

For example, my PP topped a tee shot into a gorse bush,"just declare it lost, hit another," when I asked if my PP was in a position to do that, the reply was , as above.

The guy is a clown then , self professed top referee no doubt, this is a question he gets wrong regularly I take it.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

You are quite right. It is 5 minutes from when the player, the side or the caddie begins the search. If spectators or whoever have started searching before the player or caddie arrives, it's just a bonus.

Homework for Foxholer: read Definition of a lost ball and Rule 6-7 on the subject of undue delay.

.... and CMAC

I remember watching The Open and a young Japanese guy put a drive into a thick bush and Westwood started looking quickly whilst the player was walking towards it and they mentioned it was to give the player extra chance of finding it ?

 

[rosecott]

We have a guy at our place who declares himself "the 8th top golfing referee in the country", by way of examination etc etc.

He insists that a ball can be declared lost by the player at any time. Ive challenged him on this, and he got irate, to say the least.

He says a ball in the middle of the fairway can be declared lost.

For example, my PP topped a tee shot into a gorse bush,"just declare it lost, hit another," when I asked if my PP was in a position to do that, the reply was , as above.

Maybe you could steer him towards the forum so that he could spread his expertise to a wider audience.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Can you find the ruling that says that? I was certain its from when the search was started regardless of who it was.

What if the tee is raised up highly and the players needed a buggy to get there and it could take the player about 2-3 mins to get to the ball - and a spectator starts looking - does that mean the player only has two mins to find it ?

 

[atticusfinch]

Can you find the ruling that says that? I was certain its from when the search was started regardless of who it was.

Definition of lost.

It is not found or identified as his by the player within five minutes after the player’s side or his or their caddies have begun to search for it;

 

[Val]

What if the tee is raised up highly and the players needed a buggy to get there and it could take the player about 2-3 mins to get to the ball - and a spectator starts looking - does that mean the player only has two mins to find it ?

I've already had the answer