Lost ball query

[Duckstrumb]

Hi All,
This is my first visit and I hope someone would be kind enough to clarify a little query;

Player searching for a lost ball, before 5 minutes search completed decides to go back and play another under "stroke and distance penalty". Before he has played the second ball and still within the 5 minutes, his playing partner finds his ball. Can he now resume playing his original ball, or must he continue to proceed putting a second ball in play and abandon his original ball?

Help will be most appreciated.

Duckstrumb

 

[ColchesterFC]

Hi All,
This is my first visit and I hope someone would be kind enough to clarify a little query;

Player searching for a lost ball, before 5 minutes search completed decides to go back and play another under "stroke and distance penalty". Before he has played the second ball and still within the 5 minutes, his playing partner finds his ball. Can he now resume playing his original ball, or must he continue to proceed putting a second ball in play and abandon his original ball?

Help will be most appreciated.

Duckstrumb

Should probably be in the "Rules of Golf" section but the answer is yes. If the second ball had been hit then the player would have to continue with that ball but as long as the second ball hadn't been hit then the original ball can still be played.

Oh and welcome along to the forum. Join in, post questions and your opinions and prepare for at least one person to disagree with anything you post.

 

[Foxholer]

Hi All,
This is my first visit and I hope someone would be kind enough to clarify a little query;

Player searching for a lost ball, before 5 minutes search completed decides to go back and play another under "stroke and distance penalty". Before he has played the second ball and still within the 5 minutes, his playing partner finds his ball. Can he now resume playing his original ball, or must he continue to proceed putting a second ball in play and abandon his original ball?

Help will be most appreciated.

Duckstrumb

Yes he certainly can! Decision 27/16 http://www.usga.org/rules/rules-and-decisions.html#!decision-27,d27-16 refers (and see 27/5.5 too).

Anyone who states he has 'Declared his original ball Lost' so cannot play it is talking piffle!

 

[Duckstrumb]

Thanks folks, now, if more than 5 minutes have elapsed when the ball is found, but another ball has not yet been played?

 

[Spuddy]

Thanks folks, now, if more than 5 minutes have elapsed when the ball is found, but another ball has not yet been played?

Just to clear up what's already been said, if the 2nd ball had been dropped but not yet played then it's in play (as soon as its dropped). If he was going back to play a tee shot then it's not in play until he makes a stroke at it.

As for your second question. It's lost as soon as 5 minutes have elapsed so even if it's found after 5 mins and 1 second then it's still 'lost'.

 

[Duckstrumb]

Just to clear up what's already been said, if the 2nd ball had been dropped but not yet played then it's in play (as soon as its dropped). If he was going back to play a tee shot then it's not in play until he makes a stroke at it.

As for your second question. It's lost as soon as 5 minutes have elapsed so even if it's found after 5 mins and 1 second then it's still 'lost'.

Excellent information Spuddy & Co, Thank you very much.

 

[davemc1]

Should probably be in the "Rules of Golf" section but the answer is yes. If the second ball had been hit then the player would have to continue with that ball but as long as the second ball hadn't been hit then the original ball can still be played.

Oh and welcome along to the forum. Join in, post questions and your opinions and prepare for at least one person to disagree with anything you post.

I whole heartedly disagree, whom would disagree which such a post...?

 

[Skypilot]

....prepare for at least one person to disagree with anything you post.

Good advice.

This is a great forum but there are definitely one or two saddos hovering about looking for a chance to do their keyboard warrior thing.

There is an "ignore" option available though

 

[KJT123]

Just to clear up what's already been said, if the 2nd ball had been dropped but not yet played then it's in play (as soon as its dropped). If he was going back to play a tee shot then it's not in play until he makes a stroke at it.

As for your second question. It's lost as soon as 5 minutes have elapsed so even if it's found after 5 mins and 1 second then it's still 'lost'.

Is this true? Find that hard to believe.

 

[Duckstrumb]

I'm living in Spain and it would seem that the rules of golf are something to be studiously ignored in this neck of the woods, but I must say if the full 5 minutes were used for every ball hunt a game would last several hours longer than the current 5 hour 4 ball stableford - Medal - don't even go there!

 

[Farneyman]

I'm living in Spain and it would seem that the rules of golf are something to be studiously ignored in this neck of the woods, but I must say if the full 5 minutes were used for every ball hunt a game would last several hours longer than the current 5 hour 4 ball stableford - Medal - don't even go there!

Do they stop for a siesta mid round?

 

[Foxholer]

Is this true? Find that hard to believe.

Indeed true! In fact it's possible that 2 balls that have landed on the fairway and can be (marked and) picked up can both actually be 'Lost' according to the Rules of Golf (RoG). That's why it's important to check/know the Definitions of certain terms that are used in the RoG - and in that case to mark the ball(s) so they can actually be identified/distinguished as if they are the same brand/type/number, neither can be identified!

And thanks for clarifying the 'ball in play' state Spuddy. I realised a couple of hours after I originally posted that I had missed that info out!

As for ignoring rules...Spain is not the only place where Rules of Golf are ignored/made up or misinterpreted, old and out of date/superceded ones applied or simply myths - like the one the OP appears to have encountered! I'm always positively surprised how simple the RoG actually are for a game with so many possible circumstances! The key is to read them absolutely literally - no interpretation!! - and with reference, where appropriate, to the Definitions.

Given the heat in many parts of Spain, that 5 hour Stableford round doesn't seem excessive! Not something that would be appreciated on Scottish Links though!! Some parts of Asia, where 6-ball groups can be played, it's even longer, but caddies can provide beers, sun-brolly, lounger and (neck) massages along with normal caddie services - including the dreaded 'you no rissen' phrase!!

 

[Duckstrumb]

They are a nation who take their family holidays at the supermarket check-out, (always in front of me!), but it is Norwegians, (and we're knee deep in them), who clutter up the golf courses better than most.

 

[Backache]

I'm living in Spain and it would seem that the rules of golf are something to be studiously ignored in this neck of the woods, but I must say if the full 5 minutes were used for every ball hunt a game would last several hours longer than the current 5 hour 4 ball stableford - Medal - don't even go there!

Not necessarily outside the rules of golf though what is happening, 5 minutes is the maximum time you can hunt for a ball there is no minimum time. You can decide its lost after 5 seconds though without breaking the rules (unless someone finds it before you have put a new ball into play)

 

[CheltenhamHacker]

Not necessarily outside the rules of golf though what is happening, 5 minutes is the maximum time you can hunt for a ball there is no minimum time. You can decide its lost after 5 seconds though without breaking the rules (unless someone finds it before you have put a new ball into play)

I'd be careful about using the phrase "deciding it's lost". Can cause confusion and leads to the "declaring a ball lost" issue

 

[HawkeyeMS]

I'm living in Spain and it would seem that the rules of golf are something to be studiously ignored in this neck of the woods, but I must say if the full 5 minutes were used for every ball hunt a game would last several hours longer than the current 5 hour 4 ball stableford - Medal - don't even go there!

Don't worry, it's not just in Spain. I have had to explain this rule at least half a dozen times this year alone. The number of people who still think you can declare a ball lost is quite frankly astounding.