Provisionals and unplayable lies

[Slab]

Nothing at all to do with the rules, but my daughter is back on longhaul and there's a decent chance I might end up in Mauritius for a few days. Anything on offer?

In terms of golf then its play year round in near idyllic conditions on superb courses.

For accommodation, its not the cheapest (residents have to show our proof of residency at check-in to get the cheaper rates) and most of the time the golf is thrown in for free if hotel has a course

Back to golf, if coming out covers a weekend then I'd invite anyone on the forum to come along to the regular society meets, if that's not on then happy to meet up for a round. Le Touessrok, Bel Mare Links or Heritage Bel Ombre would be my recommendations

you will lose a ball or three on the first course
you will state that its not a links on the second course
you will have multiple three putts on the third course

You will love it all the same

drop a PM if it looks like you will come out

sorry for the off-topic

 

[Ian_S]

A player cannot just declare a ball lost.

Or, perhaps more correctly, a ball cannot be declared lost. There are specific rules that define whether a ball is, or is not, lost and they are not subject to interpretation by any player.

If you would prefer your ball to be lost, then you must make it lost as per the rules of golf.

 

[Ian_S]

Ok - that's what I thought - I was just getting confused (must keep up). I am aware that if I see it disappearing into Badlands I can decide it is lost at thyat point and put another ball into play (not a provisional). Then it matters not whether original is found - I play the second ball.

Correct (in a manner of speaking). Technically you have no say in whether your original ball is lost or not. The rules of golf define that. However, the act of playing another ball from spot of the previous shot, be it from the tee or elsewhere, and not declaring it as a provisional puts your original ball into a lost state.

I think the point is that, while you can choose to act in a way that makes your original ball 'lost', you cannot ever declare a ball to be lost. The ball becomes 'lost' as a consequence of actions you take.

 

[Canfordhacker]

If you would prefer your ball to be lost, then you must make it lost as per the rules of golf.

Excellent thread.

People declaring balls lost is an old bug bear and I love this way of looking at it

 

[Colin L]

Being able to declare your ball lost made its last appearance in the 1960-64 Rules. It's certainly a survivor in the popular imagination.