Believing their tee shot might be lost, the player plays a provisional ball. The player finds a ball that they believe is the original ball, makes a stroke at it, picks up the provisional ball, and then discovers that the ball they played was not the original ball, but a wrong ball. The player resumes search for the original ball but cannot find it within the three-minute search time. The player replaces their provisional ball and takes 3 more strokes to complete the hole. What is the player's score for the hole?

A.      6

B.       7

C.       8

D.      9

When is a ball lost, what happens if a player plays a stray ball, when is the provisional ball in play, and what do we do when we have lifted our provisional ball and it becomes the ball in play. Wow, we have a lot going on here with this not so bizarre ruling. As I have stated on many occasions to understand the rules you must have a complete knowledge of the definitions.

Lost Ball – Lost only if not found in the three minute time period after the player or their caddie begins to search for it.

Wrong Ball – A ball other than the players ball in play, provisional ball, or second ball in stroke play under Rule 14.7b or 20.1c.

Provisional Ball – Another ball played in case the ball just played by the ball may be Out of Bounds, or lost outside of a penalty area. A provisional ball is not the player’s ball in play unless it becomes the ball in play under Rule 18.3c.

Having played from the teeing area our player believes that their original ball might be lost outside of a penalty area. Knowing this they then proceed to play a provisional ball as allowed under Rule 18.3. and upon arriving at the area of the original ball, the player makes a stroke at a wrong ball without first identifying it as their own ball and lifts the provisional. When arriving at the location of the ball played the player becomes aware that this is not their original ball. Woops, as a player we are thinking what have we done here? Looking for a ruling we are thinking “Now what”?

Clarification 18.3c(2)/4 speaks to this directly situation.

Clarification 18.3c(2)/4 Provisional Ball Lifted by Player Subsequently Becomes the Ball in Play

If a player lifts their provisional ball when not allowed to do so under the Rules, and the provisional ball subsequently becomes the ball in play, the player must add one penalty stroke under Rule 9.4b (Penalty for Lifting or Moving Ball) and must replace the ball.

For example, in stroke play, believing their tee shot might be lost, the player plays a provisional ball. The player finds a ball that they believe is the original ball, makes a stroke at it, picks up the provisional ball, and then discovers that the ball they played was not the original ball, but a wrong ball. The player resumes search for the original ball but cannot find it within the three-minute search time.

Since the provisional ball became the ball in play under penalty of stroke and distance, the player is required to replace that ball and gets one penalty stroke under Rule 9.4b. The player also gets two penalty strokes for playing a wrong ball (Rule 6.3c).The players next stroke is their seventh.

Based upon this information we can now determine that the player took 5 talent strokes and 4 penalty strokes.

1 Stroke for the playing of the provisional under stroke and distance.

1 stroke for lifting the provisional.

2 strokes for the playing of a wrong ball

Based upon this we know that the answer to this week’s question is “D”.

Do you have a rules question that you have often wondered about? If so, please send it to dmiller@mvgolf.org for an answer and who knows it could very well be our next “Rules Question of the Week”.