Know the Rules: Lost Ball and Out of Bounds

In friendly games, if the ball sails OB or looks like it could be lost, most players will drop another one right there and play on as if nothing had happened. Or, they go to where they think the ball went, can't find it, then drop another and play on as if nothing had happened. Let's get this right.

If you think you hit the ball out of bounds or that it might be lost, this is what you do. Inform your playing companions that you will play a provisional ball, using just those words. Saying, "I'm going to tee up another one," or "Let's try that again," or the like doesn't count. You must also play the provisional ball before you go looking for the original ball.


So now you've hit the provisional ball and all is well with it. What you would do next is look for the original ball. If you find it and it is not out of bounds, then it is the ball in play and you must pick up the provisional ball. If the original ball is found out of bounds, or you cannot find the ball after having searched for five minutes, the provisional ball is in play. You do not have to look for your ball, but if it is found by anyone before you make a stoke with the provisional ball, the original ball is in play.

You may play the provisional ball without obligation until it reaches or passes the point where the original ball is likely to be. If you make a stroke with the provisional ball with it lying at or nearer to the hole than that point, the provisional ball is in play and the original ball is lost.

The penalty for a ball lost or out of bounds is stroke and distance. Say you hit your tee shot out of bounds. That's one stroke, the penalty stroke is two, and hitting the provisional is three. When you get to the provisional ball, you will be hitting your fourth shot with it.

This is Rule 27.

Out of bounds is generally marked by white stakes.

Tip: when you play a provisional ball, make sure it is one you can distinguish from the original ball. If the provisional ball ends up near the original ball and you cannot tell them apart, then both balls are lost and you have to go back to the original spot and hit again, under a second stroke-and-distance penalty.

Deep Rules: A player may, at any time, play another ball from where the original ball was last played under a penalty of one stroke. That ball is not provisional, but is the ball now in play.

If the ball is lost in an immovable obstruction, in an abnormal ground condition, or has been moved by an outside agency, the player must proceed under the rules governing those cases.

If you think your ball might be out of bounds or lost, but might also have came to rest in a water hazard, you may play a provisional ball. If you find the ball in the water hazard, you must abandon the provisional ball.

The friendly game scenario where a player drops a ball where the ball was lost or OB and plays from there? The player must go back and play properly under stroke and distance and take an additional two-stroke penalty for breaking the rule.


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