Linda,
One of our members asked me whether she was required to
identify the ball that she potentially had hit out of bounds as well as the
ball that she was putting into play. This identification would be in addition
to announcing that this was a provisional ball.
Is a player required to identify both balls to their fellow
competitor(s) or marker?
Thanks,
Lulu from California
Dear Lulu,
The player should
announce the brand, number, and personal identification mark on her ball when
she begins her round. She should do the same whenever she puts a new ball in
play that is differently marked. When she has two balls potentially in play (an
original that may be out of bounds and a provisional), she should not only
identify her provisional, but also remind players how it differs from her
original. For example, she might say, “My original ball was a Brand X, #2, with
red and blue dots; my provisional is a #3.”
She has not violated a Rule if she fails to do so, but it is
good (and common) practice. It will help anyone who aids the player in her
search, and it will confirm which ball she is hitting when she plays her next
shot.
If a player has announced she will hit a provisional, and
she has not stated how the provisional differs from the original, you should
take the initiative to ask her to identify both balls.
Linda
Copyright © 2016 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
