Linda,
This is a situation that occurred twice this year.
A ball is struck off the tee and goes awry in the direction where there is a known water hazard but a hazard that is obstructed by trees.
The player announces that he will hit a provisional ball and does so. Going forward, he cannot find the first ball and plays the provisional.
Question 1: If the ball cannot be found, should it not be assumed that the ball is lost in the hazard? If so, should not the player abandon the provisional ball and follow the options as though it did in fact enter the water hazard although it wasn’t seen to go into it?
Question 2: Should a provisional ball ever be played in such a situation?
Lou
Dear Lou,
A player is permitted to hit a provisional ball for a ball that may be lost outside a water hazard [Rule 27-2a]. If he is unable to find the ball when he arrives at the hazard, then he must proceed as follows:
1. If there is dense undergrowth or serious rough such that a ball that is not found could be either lost somewhere in the vegetation or lost in the hazard, then the ball is officially lost and the player will continue play of the hole with the provisional ball.
2. If the land adjacent to the hazard is smooth (fairway, no dense undergrowth or rough), so that a ball not found can be assumed to be in the hazard, then the player must abandon his provisional. He must drop another ball under one of the relief options in Rule 26-1 for a ball that is in a water hazard.
Linda
Copyright © 2011 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
