Linda,
I was playing a course that has a telephone pole next to a
green. There is a local rule that states that if you hit the lines or the pole,
you must re-hit your shot. This is a par 5 and I was hitting a fairway wood
into the green. My shot went toward the pole, but we could not see if it hit
it. The angle of the shot was also taking it towards the out-of-bounds. As
such, I hit a provisional ball, thinking that my shot may be out-of-bounds.
When we got to my ball, it was out-of-bounds, however, a homeowner who lives
next to the green and saw my shot, stated that my ball hit the telephone pole
and then deflected out-of-bounds.
My question is, because my ball hit the pole, I needed to re-hit.
Can I use my provisional ball, which I hit thinking the ball may be
out-of-bounds? Or would I need to go back to the original spot and hit another
ball. I am assuming if that is the case, I would do so without penalty.
Thanks,
Lou from Utah
Dear Lou,
You would be required to return to the original spot and hit
another ball. You hit the provisional for a ball that may be out of bounds.
When you learn that the ball hit the pole, which requires a replay, your play
is now governed by the Local Rule, not the Provisional Ball rule.
There is no penalty when you return and re-hit.
Linda
Copyright © 2014 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
