Searching for the full 5 minutes

[Slab]

Rarely do I use my full 5 minutes to search for my ball (mainly for pace and continuity reasons) and I didn't really think it was affecting my score, however during the last two rounds I played I had the situation where my ball was found on three separate occasions after I'd stopped looking but before the 5 minutes elapsed

Twice I had already dropped a replacement less than 5 seconds before the find and once the shout came in time to stop me dropping

I think I need to spend a little longer looking next time...

 

[Foxholer]

Or stay out of the junk in the first place!

 

[Slab]

Or stay out of the junk in the first place!

Pretty dam radical idea that!!

One step at a time I think

 

[JustOne]

Unfortunately (because some time ago I thought I'd come up with an original idea) you can buy a little clock thing that you attach to your bag that will count down your 5 minutes for you. Get one of those, makes it so simple as I don't know a single person who ever used a watch for accurate 'looking time'.

 

[NST]

Had a situation yesterday, tee shot in semi, so hit provisional into rough 30 yards short of first ball. We lookd for the provisional and after a couple of minutes FC found provisional ball. I played provisional, took 3 to get out of rough than hit five wood up fairway. FC's both walked up the fairway played there balls. I walked up to where my original ball was found it and played it. A discussion followed, they said I couldn't do that as I can't have two balls in play. I explained that I can hit provisional as many times as I want until I get to the point of the original ball.

They disputed this, then said oh we'll it's over five minutes since you started to look for it. I replied that we had been looking for the provisional ball and as they were 20 yards apart, We couldn't look for both at the same time, so I actually had five minutes to look for each. They wouldn't have this, so I walked off.

Was I right?

 

[Slab]

Had a situation yesterday, tee shot in semi, so hit provisional into rough 30 yards short of first ball. We lookd for the provisional and after a couple of minutes FC found provisional ball. I played provisional, took 3 to get out of rough than hit five wood up fairway. FC's both walked up the fairway played there balls. I walked up to where my original ball was found it and played it. A discussion followed, they said I couldn't do that as I can't have two balls in play. I explained that I can hit provisional as many times as I want until I get to the point of the original ball.

They disputed this, then said oh we'll it's over five minutes since you started to look for it. I replied that we had been looking for the provisional ball and as they were 20 yards apart, We couldn't look for both at the same time, so I actually had five minutes to look for each. They wouldn't have this, so I walked off.

Was I right?

Sounds like it but I'd like to think I'd take the precaution of stating which ball I was looking for to my FC's so they knew I wasn't looking for both at the same time/the other one

Edit to add: just re-read your post and while i stand by my initial reply, no I don't think you were right to walk off. Process exists to allow you to play out the round and clear up the rules confusion afterwards

 

[palindromicbob]

Had a situation yesterday, tee shot in semi, so hit provisional into rough 30 yards short of first ball. We lookd for the provisional and after a couple of minutes FC found provisional ball. I played provisional, took 3 to get out of rough than hit five wood up fairway. FC's both walked up the fairway played there balls. I walked up to where my original ball was found it and played it. A discussion followed, they said I couldn't do that as I can't have two balls in play. I explained that I can hit provisional as many times as I want until I get to the point of the original ball.

They disputed this, then said oh we'll it's over five minutes since you started to look for it. I replied that we had been looking for the provisional ball and as they were 20 yards apart, We couldn't look for both at the same time, so I actually had five minutes to look for each. They wouldn't have this, so I walked off.

Was I right?

Yes.

 

[duncan mackie]

Had a situation yesterday, tee shot in semi, so hit provisional into rough 30 yards short of first ball. We lookd for the provisional and after a couple of minutes FC found provisional ball. I played provisional, took 3 to get out of rough than hit five wood up fairway. FC's both walked up the fairway played there balls. I walked up to where my original ball was found it and played it. A discussion followed, they said I couldn't do that as I can't have two balls in play. I explained that I can hit provisional as many times as I want until I get to the point of the original ball.

They disputed this, then said oh we'll it's over five minutes since you started to look for it. I replied that we had been looking for the provisional ball and as they were 20 yards apart, We couldn't look for both at the same time, so I actually had five minutes to look for each. They wouldn't have this, so I walked off.

Was I right?

yes but

for the sake of 30 yds and given that the OB was in the semi and the Provisional in the rough I would have looked for the OB first!

the provisional is designed to save time not add it

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Roll up game and it's a quick look and move on. In a comp with a good card then I'll use my full five minutes and let the group behind through at the earliest opportunity. If its a comp and I'm hacking I'll hit a provisional, have a reasonable rummage and move on without affecting the group behind

 

[Wayman]

to be honest ive never seen anyone looking at the watch for the time we have been looking