Playing a provisional ball is important when you’re unsure if your original ball is lost or out of bounds. You’ll need to mark the location of the original ball and keep track of the strokes taken with the provisional.
If the original ball is eventually found within 3 minutes, you must continue play with that ball. But if it’s deemed lost, you can continue with the provisional and the strokes taken with it will count.
Yes, that’s exactly right. Following the proper procedure is crucial to avoid penalties and confusion.
I’ve had to play a provisional a few times when my ball disappeared into the rough. It can be tricky to keep track of everything, but it’s better to be safe than sorry!
Wait, so if the original ball is found, you have to go back and continue play with it? That seems like a hassle. Can’t you just stick with the provisional?
Unfortunately no, the rules state you must continue with the original ball if it’s found within 3 minutes. The provisional is only for if the original is deemed lost.
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Yep, the rules can be a bit confusing, but it’s important to follow them to avoid any penalties. Playing a provisional is better than risking a lost ball and having to go back to the tee.
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I’d say the most important thing is to be really clear about marking the location of the original ball. That way there’s no confusion if it’s eventually found.
Absolutely! And don’t forget to keep a careful count of the strokes taken with the provisional. That will make the scoring process much smoother.
I’ve been playing golf for years and I still get mixed up about the provisional ball rules sometimes. It’s one of those tricky little details that’s easy to forget in the heat of the moment.