Hi Linda,
Thanks for all your previous advice on the Rules of Golf.
In the light of the possible introduction at our club of the new Local Rule next year called Alternative to Stroke and Distance for Lost Ball or Ball Out of Bounds, my fellow golfers and I have been discussing provisional balls.
My question to you is: Is one allowed to change the status of a provisional ball, just declared a provisional and played, to a ball in play under penalty of stroke and distance, again by declaration? This might be wanted if the player, changing his mind, decides shortly after hitting the provisional that he does not want his fellow players or opponent to go and find his ball in a bad place.
Best wishes,
Lou from Tiverton, Devon, UK
Dear Lou,
As all my readers should be aware by now, I will not address any questions about the 2019 Rules until 2019. However, I will answer your question under 2018 Rules, adding that I cannot imagine that this will change in 2019.
The answer is “absolutely not.” A provisional ball is a ball played provisionally for a ball that might be lost outside a penalty area or out of bounds. You cannot change its status by calling it something else. If the original ball is found on the course the provisional must be abandoned. If the player is unable to play his original ball as it lies, and he decides to take the stroke-and-distance relief option, he must play again from where he hit his previous shot.
The player may ask that his fellow competitors or opponent not search for his original ball, but they are under no obligation to follow that directive.
Linda
Copyright © 2018 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
