Hi Linda,
I'm having a senior moment with this ruling [Ask Linda #515- Original
ball found in hazard after player drops another]. I thought
that if you think your ball is lost, but it is found prior to hitting your
replacement ball, the original (lost) ball is the one that must be in play??
I seem to recall an email regarding the disadvantage of your competitor
continuing to search for your original, errant ball, as if it is found, you are
compelled to continue with it. Is the ruling on #515 because the original ball
is in a hazard, or am I just totally confused now??
Thanks for the clarification.
Best regards
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
The location of the ball is not relevant. The player’s ball
in Ask Linda #515 was known to be in the water hazard. The player correctly
dropped another ball. As soon as a
substituted ball is dropped correctly, it is in play [Rule 20-4].
The ruling would be the same if the ball were lost outside a
hazard. The player has five minutes to search. Let’s say she only searches for
two minutes, gives up, and returns to hit another ball under stroke and
distance. If someone finds her ball within the next three minutes, before she drops another ball, she must
return to play the original ball. However, once she drops another ball, that
substituted ball is now in play and the original is “lost” under the Definition
of Lost Ball.
Your “senior moment” stems from thinking the ball is not in
play until you hit it, whereas the ball is actually in play as soon as you drop
it.
Linda
Copyright © 2012 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
