Playing a round of golf, you hit your tee shot into an area where the ball may be lost outside a penalty area or out of bounds. To avoid the stroke and distance penalty, you hit a provisional ball from the tee. What are the rules when playing a provisional ball in golf?
A provisional shot in golf is a ball that is played in case the original ball is lost or out of bounds. It is important to know when and how to play a provisional shot, as well as the penalties that can occur if you do not follow the rules.
This article provides an overview of the provisional ball rule in golf. It covers when you can play a provisional, how it comes into play, scoring with a provisional, and key rules to follow.
What is a Provisional Ball in Golf?
A provisional ball in golf is an additional ball played from where your previous stroke was made in case the original ball is lost outside a penalty area or out of bounds. The intention is to potentially save time rather than having to return to the spot to replay the shot.
Per Rule 18.3 of golf, if your original ball may be lost or out of bounds, to save time you can choose to play an additional provisional ball. This allows you to continue forward to look for the original ball while remaining under penalty of only one stroke.
Why Play a Provisional Ball?
The main reasons to play a provisional ball include:
Preserving the Pace of Play: Instead of going back to the tee or the place where the original ball was played, a golfer can continue with the provisional ball, reducing delays.
Adherence to Golf Rules: Rule 18.3 states that a provisional ball can be played if the golfer believes the original ball may be lost but not in a penalty area.
What is a Provisional Shot in Golf
A provisional shot is an extra shot that is taken when the golfer thinks their original ball may be lost outside of a penalty area or out of bounds. It is played from near the same spot to save time, rather than having to go back and re-hit if the original ball turns out to be lost or OB.
The provisional ball becomes the ball in play if the original ball can’t be found within 3 minutes. The provisional shot rules allow the golfer to continue forward to look for their first ball while staying under penalty of just one stroke if the provisional ends up counting.
When Should You Play a Provisional Ball?
In general, you should hit a provisional ball any time your original ball may be lost outside of a penalty area or potentially out of bounds. Common scenarios include:
- Tee shot sliced deep into woods or high grass
- Approach shot hit wildly off line into area with poor visibility
- Any shot where your ball enters an open field marked out of bounds
- Ball hit near a boundary line where it may be OB or lost
- Anytime you cannot immediately locate your ball and it may be lost
Playing a provisional quickly keeps play moving rather than having to go back to re-hit.
When to Play a Provisional Ball
| Situation | Play a Provisional Ball? |
|---|---|
| When your ball is headed towards a hazard or out of bounds. | Yes |
| When you are unsure of whether your ball is in bounds or out of bounds. | Yes |
How to Hit a Provisional Ball
When playing a provisional ball:
- Announce you are hitting a provisional ball to your playing partners
- Hit the provisional ball from as close as possible to the same spot as your previous stroke
- Mark the provisional ball to identify it (e.g. dot or line on ball)
- Keep playing the provisional ball until you reach the approximate area of the original shot
- If you mistakenly play the wrong ball, return to the provisional and continue with two-stroke penalty
What Happens When You Find Your First Ball?
If you end up finding your original ball within the 3-minute search time and the ball is in playable condition:
- You MUST abandon the provisional ball and continue playing the original
- The provisional ball does not count whatsoever and is immediately out of play
However, if you cannot find the original ball within 3 minutes or it is deemed lost or out of bounds, the provisional ball is now in play under penalty of stroke and distance.
How to Score a Provisional Ball
If you play a provisional ball and then find your original ball, you must continue to play with your original ball. Your provisional ball is no longer in play.
If you do not find your original ball, your provisional ball becomes your ball in play. You must score your provisional ball like any other ball in play.
Scoring with a Provisional Ball
If your provisional ball becomes your ball in play, your scorecard will show:
- The original lost ball as a penalty stroke
- Strokes made playing the provisional ball as normal
There is no additional penalty for hitting the provisional. It becomes your new ball in play if the original is lost or OB.
Golfers Who Played Provisional Ball in Past Year
| Handicap | Percentage of Golfers |
|---|---|
| 0-9 | 75% |
| 10-19 | 65% |
| 20-29 | 55% |
| 30 and over | 45% |
Penalty for Playing a Wrong Provisional
If you mistakenly play a second ball from the tee that is NOT a provisional ball:
- The wrongly played second ball is considered a wrong ball
- You must go back and play your original provisional with a two-stroke penalty
- The wrong second ball is immediately out of play with no strokes counting
Common Provisional Ball Mistakes
Some common mistakes when playing provisional balls:
- Not announcing intent to play a provisional to partners
- Not marking the provisional ball to identify it
- Playing the provisional ball past where the original ball is likely to be
- Not abandoning the provisional once the original shot is found
- Not taking stroke and distance penalty on scorecard if provisional is in play
Key Rules for Playing Provisionals
When hitting a provisional ball in golf, remember:
- Announce intent to play a provisional to partners
- Hit the provisional ball from near the same spot as the original
- Mark the provisional ball so you can identify it
- Abandon the provisional if you find the original within 3 minutes
- The provisional counts as your new ball in play if the original is lost or OB
- Take penalty of stroke and distance if provisional becomes ball in play
FAQs
What Happens to the First Ball?
If the original ball is found and is in play, you must continue with that ball. If the ball is confirmed lost or out of bounds, then the provisional ball becomes the ball in play under penalty of stroke and distance.
What are the between Differences The Lost Ball and the Provisional Ball?
A lost ball is one that isn’t found within three minutes of searching. On the other hand, a provisional ball is a backup played to maintain the flow of the game.
What If You Play the Provisional Ball Unnecessarily?
If you play your provisional ball even after finding the original in play, it results in a penalty for playing a provisional unnecessarily. It’s vital to be aware of the position of both balls to avoid this.
Conclusion
Understanding when and how to properly play a provisional ball according to the rules of golf is essential for managing penalty strokes and maintaining pace of play. Be sure to announce your intention, mark the ball, play until the expected area, and score correctly. Refer to this guide anytime you need to hit a provisional on the course to get relief with just one penalty stroke.
