Provisional or not?

[Kellfire]

If I’d walked all the way back to the tee and it would be incredibly slow to walk to check my ball only to have to return to play three off the tee I would play my provisional in case the found ball wasn’t my to keep the pace of play up. Everybody’s happy.

 

[chrisd]

This is getting very confusing because it is not to me clear what actually happened.

Did the player or did not he not identify the found ball as his original ball? My understanding was that he did not.
If not, did anyone else positively identify it as his and tell him so?

There is no question of his being allowed to choose between a provisional ball and a ball found and identified within the search period.

The player left the search to his fellow competitors to walk back to the tee and play a provisional ball within the 3 minutes. He tee'd up and there was a call that they had found a ball. He tee'd off what he had called a provisional in case the found ball wasn't his. It was his ball that they found and he identified it but felt, in the circumstances that the 2nd ball off the tee had become "the ball in play" . I was asked for an opinion when I met them in the clubhouse

 

[clubchamp98]

The player left the search to his fellow competitors to walk back to the tee and play a provisional ball within the 3 minutes. He tee'd up and there was a call that they had found a ball. He tee'd off what he had called a provisional in case the found ball wasn't his. It was his ball that they found and he identified it but felt, in the circumstances that the 2nd ball off the tee had become "the ball in play" . I was asked for an opinion when I met them in the clubhouse

All he has to do is go over and say “that’s not mine”. or” I am not sure it’s mine.”
Bit underhand but it would work.

 

[chrisd]

All he has to do is go over and say “that’s not mine”. or” I am not sure it’s mine.”
Bit underhand but it would work.

He's an honest 7 handicapper I dont feel he in anyway intended to do anything wrong. He asked my opinion immediately I walked into the clubhouse

 

[Kellfire]

He definitely played the wrong ball then.

 

[Colin L]

He's an honest 7 handicapper I dont feel he in anyway intended to do anything wrong. He asked my opinion immediately I walked into the clubhouse

Thanks. That’s very clear and not how I had understood it. It is very straightforward. As his original ball was found within 3 minutes and the player identified it, it was his ball in play. The provisional has to be abandoned and if played, is a wrong ball - as Kellfire said.

 

[robinthehood]

Thanks. That’s very clear and not how I had understood it. It is very straightforward. As his original ball was found within 3 minutes and the player identified it, it was his ball in play. The provisional has to be abandoned and if played, is a wrong ball - as Kellfire said.

Oof we had that down in post 3 🤣

 

[chrisd]

Thanks. That’s very clear and not how I had understood it. It is very straightforward. As his original ball was found within 3 minutes and the player identified it, it was his ball in play. The provisional has to be abandoned and if played, is a wrong ball - as Kellfire said.

Thanks again Colin

 

[SammmeBee]

Oof we had that down in post 3 🤣

You’re not in the ‘gang’ so even if you do post correct factual things it doesn’t matter.....

 

[chrisd]

You’re not in the ‘gang’ so even if you do post correct factual things it doesn’t matter.....

The gang Paddy is not in is the official rules referees one, and I'd rather have an answer from them as his post was not factually correct

 

[robinthehood]

You’re not in the ‘gang’ so even if you do post correct factual things it doesn’t matter.....

It's ok, the gang think I'm somebody else, doesn't bother be, I find it funny.

 

[Colin L]

You’re not in the ‘gang’ so even if you do post correct factual things it doesn’t matter.....

Don’t be daft. There isn’t a gang. Right answers come from anyone. Post #3 wasn’t quite right, however. A ball that is found has to be identified before a provisional ball becomes a wrong ball. The thought that this player had avoided identifying a ball that had been found messed things up a bit. Messed my brain up at least and I have an uncomfortable feeling I’ve got something wrong somewhere!

 

[chrisd]

Don’t be daft. There isn’t a gang. Right answers come from anyone. Post #3 wasn’t quite right, however. A ball that is found has to be identified before a provisional ball becomes a wrong ball. The thought that this player had avoided identifying a ball that had been found messed things up a bit. Messed my brain up at least and I have an uncomfortable feeling I’ve got something wrong somewhere!

My original post said that a ball was found inside the 3 minutes but before he played the provisional, but he continued with playing the provisional in case it wasn't his ball when he got there to check.

 

[clubchamp98]

He's an honest 7 handicapper I dont feel he in anyway intended to do anything wrong. He asked my opinion immediately I walked into the clubhouse

Yes that’s good.
The rules make it difficult sometimes they are complicated ,it’s very easy to get caught out.
Maybe he should have played both balls and let the committee sort it out!

 

[mikejohnchapman]

My original post said that a ball was found inside the 3 minutes but before he played the provisional, but he continued with playing the provisional in case it wasn't his ball when he got there to check.

I presume that if a ball was found within the 3 minutes but it took some time to identify it, even if it was verified outside the 3 minute window it was still in play?

 

[chrisd]

I presume that if a ball was found within the 3 minutes but it took some time to identify it, even if it was verified outside the 3 minute window it was still in play?

Yes, so long as there was no undue delay in identifying it (whatever undue delay is and how you time it )

 

[chrisd]

Yes that’s good.
The rules make it difficult sometimes they are complicated ,it’s very easy to get caught out.
Maybe he should have played both balls and let the committee sort it out!

It was one if our rare Stableford comps so I suspect it didnt matter in the scheme of things

 

[rulie]

Yes that’s good.
The rules make it difficult sometimes they are complicated ,it’s very easy to get caught out.
Maybe he should have played both balls and let the committee sort it out!

The Rules are actually quite straightforward; it becomes complicated when people are involved, particularly those who have only learned the "rules" from other players who learned them the same way! 😬

 

[clubchamp98]

It was one if our rare Stableford comps so I suspect it didnt matter in the scheme of things

In a scenario like this you are under pressure and sometimes make the wrong decision.
In stableford no harm done ,but a medal your comps over.

 

[Slab]

The Rules are actually quite straightforward; it becomes complicated when people are involved, particularly those who have only learned the "rules" from other players who learned them the same way! 😬

But the rules only exist for the people, the game does not use them

(At least the 2019 version were a big step forward)