Continue a Provisional Ball

[RichB]

Rule or decision exist? can't find it

Hey gang.

Simply a curiosity, no rules have been broken. :)

I seem to remember a decision change (addition?) within the past few years
regarding continuing a provisional ball - continue to play your provisional, as a provisional -
until reaching the point where the original ball is likely to be.
As part of this decision was the requirement to inform opponent, marker, etc...
just as you do for a provisional, that you are "continuing my provisional"...
before taking the next shot.

Does such a decision exist? And, if so, could some kind soul please point me to it,
as I can't find it, and it came up in conversation recently.

The real question in our curiosity is the need to *announce* the intent to continue the provisional.

The player may play a provisional ball until he reaches the
place where the original ball is likely to be.

As I read this quote from the rules/decisions...it seems that no announcement is necessary.
But, that's not the way I remember it, or how we play it... always inform our intent to continue.
(even if not necessary, it hurts nothing, so no harm done)

Anybody got a clue, or did the mush between my ears just imagine this? :crazy:

Thanks all.

Rich

[mark m]

See Rule 27: http://www.usga.org/Rule-Books/Rules-of-Golf/Rule-27/

 

see 'b' below...this should cover it.....(not sure about the decision you are refering to)

 

 

 

27-2. Provisional Ball

a. Procedure

 

If a ball may be lost outside a water hazard or may be out of bounds, to save time the player may play another ball provisionally in accordance with Rule 27-1. The player must inform his opponent in match play or his marker or a fellow-competitor in stroke play that he intends to play a provisional ball, and he must play it before he or his partner goes forward to search for the original ball.

 

If he fails to do so and plays another ball, that ball is not a provisional ball and becomes the ball in playunder penalty of stroke and distance (Rule 27-1); the original ball is lost.

 

(Order of play from teeing ground - see Rule 10-3.)

 

Note: If a provisional ball played under Rule 27-2a might be lost outside a water hazard or out of bounds, the player may play another provisional ball. If another provisional ball is played, it bears the same relationship to the previous provisional ball as the first provisional ball bears to the original ball.

 

b. When Provisional Ball Becomes Ball in Play

 

The player may play a provisional ball until he reaches the place where the original ball is likely to be. If he makes a stroke with the provisional ball from the place where the original ball is likely to be or from a point nearer the hole than that place, the original ball is lost and the provisional ball becomes the ball in playunder penalty of stroke and distance (Rule 27-1).

 

If the original ball is lost outside a water hazard or is out of bounds, the provisional ball becomes the ball in play, under penalty of stroke and distance (Rule 27-1).

 

If it is known or virtually certain that the original ball is in a water hazard, the player must proceed in accordance with Rule 26-1.

 

Exception: If it is known or virtually certain that the original ball is in an obstruction (Rule 24-3) or an abnormal ground condition (Rule 25-1c), the player may proceed under the applicable Rule.

 

c. When Provisional Ball to Be Abandoned

 

If the original ball is neither lost nor out of bounds, the player must abandon the provisional ball and continue playing the original ball. If he makes any further strokes at the provisional ball, he is playing a wrong ball and the provisions of Rule 15-3 apply.

 

Note: If a player plays a provisional ball under Rule 27-2a, the strokes made after this Rule has been invoked with a provisional ball subsequently abandoned under Rule 27-2c and penalty strokes incurred solely by playing that ball are disregarded.

 

 

[Newby]

There is no requirement to announce that you are continuing with the provisional.

[OpusX20]

[quote name='Newby' date='31 May 2010 - 02:34 AM' timestamp='1275291274' post='2477407']
There is no requirement to announce that you are continuing with the provisional.
[/quote]


Newby is absolutely right. There is no such requirement.

When playing in competition, I have gotten in the habit of making similar announcements to my fellow competitors even though it is not required. I want to make sure there is no confusion about what I am doing or where the original ball "is likely to be". It also helps clarify when the 5 minutes should start when looking for the original ball. I had one tournament experience around this rule where I did not make the announcement and it lead to some confusion/conflict over the procedure.

[jjj912]

Just for clarification, do not confuse continuing to play a provisional ball with putting a provisional ball in play. You must announce when you are putting a provisional ball in play.

[quote]
27-2
...
The player must inform his opponent in match play or his marker or a fellow-competitor in stroke play that he intends to play a provisional ball, and he must play it before he or his partner goes forward to search for the original ball.
...
[/quote]

[RichB]

Thanks guys.

Don't know where I got the idea it was part of the rule,
but at least no rules were/are inadvertently broken when doing so.

Opus (again ) said it better than I could, which is probably why I
thought it was written, as opposed to just good sense.
Thanks again for the confirmations.

Rich