When a Provisional Ball Becomes the Ball in Play
Rules 18.c helps determine when a provisional ball becomes the ball in play, or is abandoned and therefore becomes a wrong ball
D
uring a recent Gateway PGA Junior Tour event at Stonewolf Golf Club in Fairview Heights, Illinois, a competitor played two provisional balls from the teeing area on the par-5 third hole. His original ball appeared to be out of bounds. He properly announced and played a provisional ball, which was struck into the same area as the original ball. The player then properly played a second provisional ball that landed in the fairway a little beyond where the first two balls were likely to be.
Rule 18.3a tells us when two provisional balls are played, the second provisional ball has the same relationship to the first provisional ball that the first provisional ball had to the original ball. Clarification 18.3a/3 reinforces this principle, stating “when a player plays balls from the same spot, each ball relates only to the previous ball played.”
One of our interns, Sydney Tucker, called on the radio with the following facts during the junior event. The original ball was found immediately, and it was out of bounds. This meant the first provisional ball would be the ball in play if it was found inbounds. After a brief search, definitely less than three minutes, the player assumed the first provisional ball was out of bounds as well and proceeded to make a stroke at the second provisional ball.
After making the stroke at the second provisional ball, he saw a ball in the rough approximately 30 yards beyond where the original ball and the first provisional were likely to have been. He identified the ball as the first provisional ball, which had apparently rolled down a cart path. The player wanted to know if he could play that ball since he had spent less than three minutes searching for it. Sydney told him she thought the second provisional ball was now the ball in play, but she wanted to confirm that ruling.
I confirmed the ruling over the radio. Rule 18.3c(2) says “the provisional ball becomes the ball in play when it is played from a spot nearer the hole than where the original ball is estimated to be. The original ball is no longer in play (even if it is found on the course before the end of the three-minute search time or is found nearer the hole than had been estimated) and is now a wrong ball that must not be played.”
If we adjust the language in Rule 18.3a and use the principle in Clarification 18.3a/3 the ruling, in this instance, is the second provisional ball becomes the ball in play when it is played from a spot nearer the hole than where the first provisional ball is estimated to be. The stroke played from the fairway with the second provisional ball was stroke number six.
Players are encouraged to play a provisional ball if their original ball may be lost outside of a penalty area or out of bounds. However, players should become familiar with Rule 18.3c. This Rule tells a player when the provisional ball becomes the ball in play and when the provisional ball must be abandoned. Knowing this Rule will prevent being penalized for making a stroke at a wrong ball.
PGA of America Master Professional Jesse Barge is a member of the PGA of America Rules Committee who is based in Murphysboro, Illinois.