Lost and found golf ball?

Question

I was playing golf yesterday and my competition lost his ball and dropped a new one. While he was hitting his dropped ball, I found his original ball burried in the rough. We argued a bit and decided that the dropped ball was not in play anymore and he continued with his original ball, even though he already had hit his dropped ball. Does anybody know the exact rule here and stroke penalties if applicable. Thank you for resolving this disupute.

Answer 1

if he can not find his ball within 5 minutes and he drops another one and plays it, even if he finds the other one the second ball is the one in play - since he dropped a new ball, he already incurred a one stroke penalty - if he picks up his second ball to play the original one he found, he will take another stroke penalty - once you drop another ball, that is the ball in play

Answer 2

If he spent five minutes searching and didn't find it, the ball is "Lost".

As soon as he made a stroke at the dropped ball, the first ball was "Lost".

By lifting the substituted ball, he gets a one-stroke penatly.

By playing the original ball, he is playing a wrong ball and would get an additional two stroke penalty.

If he didn't correct his mistake, he would be disqualified.

Click the link below for decision 15/5. The rules of golf can be brutal at times.

Answer 3

Usually if you declare a ball lost it is not out of play until the moment the new ball is hit. So if he had hit his drop, then he has to continue with the drop and obviously take a stroke's penalty for the drop. If he hadn't hit his drop, then he could just pick it up and play his original at no penalty cost.

Answer 4

If your playing by tournament rules, it is the same as if he lost his ball. Once he finds his ball it doesn't matter. Technically he takes the stroke penalty an plays the replacement. When you commit to taking a drop, you incur the penalty. The first ball hit then becomes out of play. If your playing with you buddies on a weekend at the local country club, you can do whatever you want. Have fun

Answer 5

Q. A player unable to find his ball after a brief search drops another ball (Ball B) under Rule 27-1 and plays it. His original ball is then found within five minutes after search for it began. The player lifted Ball B and continued to play with the original ball. Was this correct?

A. No. When the player put the substituted ball into play at the spot of the previous stroke with the intent to play a ball under Rule 27-1, he proceeded under an applicable Rule. Therefore, Rule 20-6 does not apply, and he must continue with the substituted ball (see Decision 27-1/2). The original ball was lost when Ball B was played under Rule 27-1 (see Definition of “Lost Ball”).
When the player lifted Ball B, he incurred a penalty of one stroke under Rule 18-2a. When he made a stroke with the original ball after it was out of play, he played a wrong ball (see Definitions of “Ball in Play” and “Wrong Ball”) and incurred a penalty of loss of hole in match play or an additional penalty of two strokes in stroke play (Rule 15-3). In stroke play, the player would be disqualified if, before playing from the next teeing ground, he did not correct his error (Rule 15-3b). (Revised)

Answer 6

That was the correct thing to do according to the rules of golf. I mean you could keep your mouth shut and he has to go back to where he originally hit the ball, take a drop and hit another one. This means he lost both distant and stroke. But, the way you both played it was correct, and you're truly a gentleman golfer.

It's not about winning or loosing, it's how you play the game. Right?

Answer 7

Unless you are in a formal tournament most people would have let the player play his original ball. There are many mitigating circumstances in informal rounds. Sometimes you don't spend the allotted five minutes looking for a ball in the interest of keeping pace, for example. Was he playing 'stroke and distance', or did he just drop one in the vicinity of the lost ball? This is another informal move in a round that is accepted in most circumstances.

You refered to him as your 'competition'. Just what was riding on this match?

Answer 8

Your friend may be right

If your ball is lost or out of bounds, you must add a penalty stroke to your score and play another ball from where you played your last shot.

If you think your ball may be lost or out of bounds, you may play another ball (provisional ball) from the place where your first ball was played. You must tell your opponent or fellow-competitor that you are playing a provisional ball and play it before you look for the first ball. If you cannot find your first ball or if it is out of bounds, you must count the strokes with the first and provisional balls, add a penalty stroke and play out the hole with the provisional ball. If you find your first ball in bounds, continue play with it and pick up the provisional ball.

Answer 9

Even though he did play the new ball, he might still be able to play his old ball, the only reason I am saying this is because people can hit provisional shots without knowing exactly if their first shot is gone.

Answer 10

25 divided by 1.89 = 13.22 therefore he needs to sell 13 packages. 13 x 3 + 39 so he needs to collect 39 balls.