Provisional Ball

“My ball might be hard to find in the long grass. I’ll play a provisional ball just in case.”

As a Rules Official during our Championships, and back in the office as the OGA’s Manager of Rules Education, a great number of Rules questions come from confusion relating to the playing of a provisional ball. A provisional ball is allowed in The Rules of Golf under Rule 27-2a. The Rule reads,

“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 (stroke and distance; ball out of bounds; ball not found within five minutes). 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 play under penalty of stroke and distance (Rule 27-1); the original ball is lost.”

Notice the many caveats that accompany the Rule. A provisional ball is not to be played for a ball that may be in a water hazard (except on certain courses that allow this by Local Rule). This misunderstanding is the most frequent question I field relating to the play of a provisional ball. If a player plays a provisional ball for a ball that may be in a water hazard, even if they have announced their intention to play a provisional, the ball is not a provisional but immediately becomes the ball in play under penalty of stroke and distance (i.e. you have hit 3 from the tee regardless of where your original ball may be).

The reason for this is based upon the additional options available under Rule 26 (Water Hazard) that do not exist if your ball is out of bounds or lost outside a water hazard. Remember a provisional ball is allowed for the sole purpose of saving time. If your ball lies out of bounds or is not found within 5 minutes your only option would be to proceed back to the tee causing great delay to your group and those soon to be waiting behind you. Rule 26 (Water Hazard and Lateral Water Hazard) provides relief options other than stroke and distance. In addition, rarely do you search a full 5 minutes for a ball in a water hazard before either finding it or attaining virtual certainty it lies within the hazard.

The second paragraph of Rule 27-2a, failing to announce your intentions, can also cause confusion. The Decisions to the Rules of Golf, include a decision (Dec 27-2a/1) that address what does and does not constitute a valid announcement. Most importantly, a player’s actions can never be sufficient without a verbal announcement.

“The player’s statement must specifically mention the words “provisional ball” or must make it clear that he is proceeding under Rule 27-2a. Therefore, a player who says nothing has put another ball into play (it is not a provisional ball).

The following are examples of statements that do not satisfy the requirement of announcing a provisional ball:

(a) “That might be lost. I am going to re-load.”

(b) “That might be out of here.”

(c) “I’d better hit another one.”

(d) “I will never find that one. I’ll play another.””

The Rule also restricts the play of a provisional ball once the player has “gone forward to search for the original ball.” Though this question is rarely asked, it is vitally important to the purpose of the Rule. There is not a specific definition of the meaning of “going forward” but, once again, the Rule is intended to save time. Should a player walk off the tee and soon after realize his ball may be lost outside a water hazard or out of bounds, it would still fall under the intent of the Rule as a provisional ball would still save time. On the other hand, if the player had walked a considerable distance from where the last stroke was played, the Rules would prohibit the player from returning to the tee to play a provisional. In this case, the player has forfeited the right to a provisional and could either search for 5 minutes or return immediately to the previous spot and play a ball under stroke and distance.