Dear Linda,
My opponent in match play hit a ball off the tee and thought it might be lost, so she hit a provisional. She did not announce what ball she was using for her provisional, and I assumed that her second ball would be different from the first (different number or brand). When we reached the area where she hit both balls, she found one and claimed it was her first ball. We found another ball identical to that one a little deeper in the woods. I thought the deeper ball was her first ball; she claimed the other ball was her first ball. Both balls were identical – same brand and same number. How do you resolve this?
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
The situation you describe involves a player who hit an unmarked ball into an area where it might be lost, and then hit an identical ball for her provisional (same brand, same number). Yikes!
Sure enough, Murphy’s Law comes into play (“anything that can go wrong, will”), and she hits both balls into the same area. She claims the ball in the better position to be her original ball; you claim the ball deeper in trouble to be her original ball.
There is no need to pull out the boxing gloves to settle this dispute; it is directly addressed in a very interesting Decision that you might want to read in its entirety sometime [Decision 27/11: Provisional Ball Not Distinguishable from Original Ball].
Technically, since the player cannot identify her ball, both balls are “lost.” However, this is a case where it would be unfair to require the player to return to the tee to hit another ball (that would be her fifth stroke) when it is clear that one of the two balls must be hers.
The ruling is that the player may choose to play either of the two balls. The ball she selects to play must be assumed to be her provisional ball. What this means for her score is that her next stroke will be her fourth shot on this hole (count 1 stroke for the tee shot, 1 stroke for the lost ball penalty, 1 stroke for the provisional which has now become her official ball in play).
Have you seen the TV commercial that shows the golf pros marking their balls in unique, personal ways? I believe the catch phrase is: “How do you mark your Titleist?” The ad is trying to sell a particular brand, but it is also a subtle reminder to all golfers to mark their golf balls.
I cannot emphasize enough that players need to put a unique identifying mark on their balls. I will never understand the resistance I often get (sometimes from highly skilled players) to this simple, easy-to-do task. Why would anyone want to run the risk of incurring a penalty because his ball is not personally identifiable? You have an opportunity to avoid a penalty by tapping your innermost artist and designing your own personal logo. Why skip the fun? Why put yourself in jeopardy?
There are enough penalties in golf that are unavoidable. Invest in an indelible pen and save yourself from this heartbreaking pitfall.
Linda
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
