Provisional Ball - Part II

Scott R Chilcutt, Edmond, OK (November 30, 2012)  Now you have elected to play a provisional ball, what's next?

First be sure you are not playing out of turn:

10-3. Provisional Ball or Another Ball from Teeing Ground

If a player plays a provisional ball or another ball from the teeing ground, he must do so after his opponent or fellow-competitor has made his first stroke. If more than one player elects to play a provisional ball or is required to play another ball from the teeing ground, the original order of play must be retained. If a player plays a provisional ball or another ball out of turn, Rule 10-1c Rule 10-2c applies.

If you are not on the teeing ground this doesn't come into play.  Simply make sure that's it's safe to play your additional ball and go for it!

Second be sure to make it aware that you are electing to play a provisional. 

Simply saying, "I might be in the junk" doesn't work.  If you don't make the fact that you are playing a provisional ball aware to your marker / playing partners you are now putting that ball in play.

Third identify the difference in balls / markings.

While this is not a requirement it may save you strokes in the long run:

27/11  Provisional Ball Not Distinguishable from Original Ball

A player entitled to play a provisional ball from the tee plays it into the same area as his original ball. The balls have identical markings and the player cannot distinguish between them. Following are various situations and the solutions, which are based on equity (Rule 1-4), when the above circumstances exist and one or both of the balls are found within a search of five minutes:

Situation 1: One ball is found in a water hazard and the other ball is not found.

Solution 1: The ball that was found must be presumed to be the provisional ball.

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Situation 2:Both balls are found in a water hazard.

Solution 2: As the player's original ball is lost in the water hazard due to his inability to identify it (see analogous Decision 27/10), the player must proceed under Rule 26-1 with respect to the original ball (estimating the spot where the ball last crossed the margin of the hazard, if necessary — see Decision 26-1/17); his next stroke would be his third.

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Situation 3: One ball is found in bounds and the other ball is lost or is found out of bounds.

Solution 3: The ball in bounds must be presumed to be the provisional ball.

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Situation 4: Both balls are found in bounds, whether in a playable or an unplayable lie, and (1) one ball is in a water hazard and the other is not or (2) both balls lie through the green or in a bunker.

Solution 4: One could argue that both balls are lost. However, it would be inequitable to require the player to return to the tee, playing 5, when the player has found both balls but does not know which is the original and which the provisional. Accordingly, the player must select one of the balls, treat it as his provisional ball and abandon the other.  

Part III will speak to what happens when you find your original ball.



Next Up - Dallas Tour resumes play at the Grand Prairie Classic on February 18, 2012.  Hill Country Tour tees it up at the Winter Classic at Hyatt Hill Country on December 3rd.  Oklahoma Tour is off until 2012 at the ST. Patty's Day @ KickingBird event.  The first Major of the 2012 points year (another sell out) will be held at the Innisbrook Resort for the Winter Championship.  

For more information:


Scott R Chilcutt
Tour DirectorDallas / Fort Worth - Hill Country - Oklahoma
Golf Channel Amateur Tour
405.513.1467 - 972.201.9478schilcutt@gcamtour.com
www.gcamtour.com

Visit the Tour Blogs:

Dallas - gcatdallas.blogspot.com - Hill Country - gcatsanantonio.blogspot.com

Oklahoma - gcatoklahoma.blogspot.com