Are You Required to Search for Your Ball? Here’s What the Rules Say
Golfers are not required to search for their original ball after deciding to continue with a provisional ball. But if another player finds a ball that may be theirs, they must identify it.
- The Rules of Golf do not require a player to search for that ball.
- This material was first published in Golf Journal, a quarterly print publication for USGA members.
You are playing a challenging par 3 in a close match. Nerves set in, and your tee shot goes into the trees left of the green. Even if you find your original ball, your next shot will likely be difficult, so you decide to play a provisional ball. Are you required to search for the original?
No. The Rules of Golf do not require a player to search for that ball. When it is your turn to play, you may continue with the provisional ball.
There is one important qualification: if another player finds a ball that might be yours, you are required to go and identify it. If it is yours, you must continue play with that ball.
If you do decide to search for the original ball, you have no more than three minutes to find it before it is officially lost.
The search clock starts when you or your caddie begins looking. In a partner format, your partner or the partner’s caddie may also start the clock.
If you search for one minute, find the ball in long rough, go back to your bag for a club, and then cannot locate the ball again, you have two minutes of search time remaining.
This material was first published in Golf Journal, a quarterly print publication for USGA members. The article was written by Jamie Wallace of the USGA.
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