Playing wrong ball in stroke play.

[Sid Rixon IV]

Could someone please clarify the exact meaning of 15.3 please.
(Stroke Play)
"If a competitor makes a stroke or strokes at a wrong ball, he incurs a penalty of two strokes.
The competitor must correct his mistake by playing the correct ball or by proceeding under the Rules".

From the spot where the wrong ball was struck or where the error is discovered?

In a comp on Saturday my FC, playing his third shot from thickish grass struck a wrong ball.
He was about 100yds from the green but struck it wide.
He played the same ball two more times before finding the green and then realising whilst about to putt.
We were all three sure of the spot the original error had occurred so he walked back and found the correct ball.
He played the correct ball with a two stroke penalty and got close to the pin for 5.
So, is the penalty applied on the green for 7 shots (5+2) or back to the spot for 5 shots (3+2)?

 

[Duckster]

Back to the original ball and plays that, as it lies, with a 2 shot penalty for playing the wrong ball.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

...on grounds that the player is in breach the first time he plays the wrong ball abdn so subsequent strokes he plays with it are irrelevant?

 

[Foxholer]

Shots with the wrong ball are not counted in the score. It actually states that slightly further down the rule.

So only the 2 stroke penalty - ie: 3+2; he is playing his fifth with his own ball when located.

 

[Sid Rixon IV]

Thank you gentlemen.