Unplayable Lie - Options

[slowhand]

The following scenario has not happened to me, but I am curious as to whether the following is OK according to the rules:

Say I drive on a hole, and I think the ball my be lost, so I declare and play a provisional ball from the tee, that lands in the fairway. I then find my original ball, but it is unplayable. One of my options is to go back and replay my shot from the previous location. My question is, if this is the option I prefer, rather than 2 clubs length or anywhere back along the line, can I just use my provisional ball, or is that no longer an option after finding my original one, and I now have to walk back to the tee to play my 3rd shot?

 

[fundy]

The second you find your original ball then your provisional doesnt exist anymore as an option

 

[Val]

As above, provisional is no longer relevant, back to your previous location

 

[FairwayDodger]

FC had this at the weekend on a par 3. Provisional was safely on the green but original was located in a horrible spot. She ended up taking 8.....

 

[pbrown7582]

As frustrating as it maybe in this scenario it's the dreaded walk of shame....

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

and curiously (or not) playing three off the tee after a walk back your shot is rarely as good as your provisional.

 

[slowhand]

That's what I thought, but with all the talk of slow play it seems to be an ideal place to shave some time off a round

 

[FairwayDodger]

That's what I thought, but with all the talk of slow play it seems to be an ideal place to shave some time off a round

The problem is you'd base your decision on how good or bad the provisional had been rather than just the lie of the original.

 

[slowhand]

The problem is you'd base your decision on how good or bad the provisional had been rather than just the lie of the original.

Good point

 

[Tarkus1212]

You do of course always have the option not to even look for the first ball.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

You do of course always have the option not to even look for the first ball.

With your provisional creamed down the middle and better if opponent is in a wee bit of trouble off the tee - always good silver lining bit of mind games that - saying to your opponent 'ach - I don't think I'll bother with that one' (though of course you don't have to say a word) - just walk to your provisional and hit it - and if it's past where your original is likely to be lurking - job done - provisional ball in play.

 

[Norrin Radd]

If my opponent looks like he is going to not look for his ball I dam well make sure I look for it .

 

[Bunkermagnet]

If my opponent looks like he is going to not look for his ball I dam well make sure I look for it .

Not if they have declared it lost you can't.

 

[FairwayDodger]

Not if they have declared it lost you can't.

They can't simply declare a ball lost.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

you can if you consider it resting place to be unlikely to find it.

 

[FairwayDodger]

you can if you consider it resting place to be unlikely to find it.

Nope, you can't.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

You can.
I tee up a ball, and hit it into the boomshanks where I consider it unlikely to be found. I can declare it lost, and play 3 off the tee, or without stating "provisional" say I am going to play again, and then tee up another which is then 3 off the tee and my ball in play. Either way, I am 3 off the tee and the first ball forgotten.

 

[chellie]

You can.
I tee up a ball, and hit it into the boomshanks where I consider it unlikely to be found. I can declare it lost, and play 3 off the tee, or without stating "provisional" say I am going to play again, and then tee up another which is then 3 off the tee and my ball in play. Either way, I am 3 off the tee and the first ball forgotten.

You can't declare it lost. You can simply not saying anything and hit another ball. That is then your ball in play.

 

[FairwayDodger]

You can.
I tee up a ball, and hit it into the boomshanks where I consider it unlikely to be found. I can declare it lost, and play 3 off the tee, or without stating "provisional" say I am going to play again, and then tee up another which is then 3 off the tee and my ball in play. Either way, I am 3 off the tee and the first ball forgotten.

In the situation where you reload with declaring it a "provisional" that's fine, but not what this thread is about. But there's no such thing as "declaring it lost". It's the act of putting another ball in play that's significant.

 

[pogle]

You can.
I tee up a ball, and hit it into the boomshanks where I consider it unlikely to be found. I can declare it lost, and play 3 off the tee, or without stating "provisional" say I am going to play again, and then tee up another which is then 3 off the tee and my ball in play. Either way, I am 3 off the tee and the first ball forgotten.

I think you're confusing issues. Declaring a ball lost is meaningless. If you simply put another ball into play without declaring it a provisional then the second ball is in play. It is the act of playing the second ball that renders the first ball lost, not any words about declaring it lost.
If you declare your second ball a provisional, then your first ball remains the ball in play until you have played your provisional ball from a spot nearer the hole than where your original ball is likely to be, or you can't find and identify it within 5 minutes of starting to search. There are no words you can say to change this. If your ball is found (by you or anyone else) before you play your provisional ball then your provisional ball becomes redundant.

Edit : I must learn to type faster!