Page 14 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 58

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Sports Energy Asks Our Local Club Pros

Greater Cornwall & Areas Community Sports Newspaper
I thought my ball was lost, so I put a second ball into play, hit it, walked 3 more
feet, and found my first ball. Can I hit my first ball and save the penalty?

Robyn Campbell Tristan Holder

Assistant Pro Shop PGA of Canada
Manager Head Golf Professional

ven though you eventually found your irst, prior to hitting the second
Egolf ball, you cannot play it and you F
Fball, it must be heard that you are
receive a one-stroke penalty for your
playing a “provisional ball”, which

initial lost ball. Had you found your first playing a “provisional ball”, which
ball before you had played your second simply means you are not sure if the
ball again you would have been able to original ball is lost or out of bounds
save yourself the penalty stroke. and will save you time from going
back to that point and re-hitting if
The reasoning for this is that if you back to that point and re-hitting if
lost or OB. After the provisional ball
believe a ball may be lost (possibly out lost or OB. After the provisional ball
of bounds or amongst a forested or fescue is hit, you may continue to play the
is hit, you may continue to play the
area, etc.), you may play a second ball as your provisional ball until you reach the point
provisional ball until you reach the point
provisional, meaning that your playing of this w here the original ball is likely to be. If you make
second golf ball is conditional upon your finding of your original a stroke at the provisional ball from a point nearer to the

ball. If you do find your original ball (without playing the
provisional first), then you may play your original without any hole than the original ball, the original ball is lost and the

penalty strokes; if you do not find your original ball, or it is found provisional ball becomes the ball in play under penalty of Upper Canada Golf Course 613-543-2003 uppercanada.com

Out-of-Bounds, then you may play your provisional ball while stroke and distance.
incurring a one-stroke penalty. If you think your ball may be lost, In this case, since the provisional ball was struck not nearer
taking a provisional is your best bet, as it helps with pace of play the hole than the original ball, you may continue to play the
and will keep you from running back to the tee! original ball with no penalty.

Carol Ann Campbell Allen McNairn

LPGA Class “A” Pro Shop Manager

Teaching Professional

O nce you have declared that you are T his is a question that not many
Oputting a second ball into play, which
subsequently means you are “declaring Tgolfers know the answer too.
subsequently means you are “declaring
fi rst ball is no longer
a lost ball” the
a lost ball” the first ball is no longer If you play a second ball you
If you play a second ball you
playable. Penalty stays. It should be
noted, however, that a lost ball is stroke must declare it a provisional ball.
PLUS distance so you must drop the You can play the provisional ball
second ball as near as possible to the until it reaches where you believe
second ball as near as possible to the

location you hit the fi rst ball.... you can’t
location you hit the first ball.... you can’t
the original ball to be. If you find

just drop the second ball around the spot the original ball to be. If you fi nd
just drop the second ball around the spot
the original ball and have n o
you think you lost your first one. If this was
you think you lost your fi rst one. If this was the original ball and have n o t t
a tee shot you return to the teeing ground. This is played a shot ahead where this ball lies,
why it’s always important to hit a “provisional” ball any time
you hit a shot that you think might be in jeopardy of being lost the original ball is now back in play. If you play your
or out of bounds. In this case, if you find your first ball, prior to provisional ball from here or ahead this ball is now

hitting any other ball, your provisional ball will not count and in play even if you find the original ball. Hope this

you will incur no penalty. If your first ball is indeed lost or out

of bounds it saves you the “walk of shame” back to your original helps you to understand this rule, and keep the peace
position. in your weekly game.

Cornwall Golf 613-931-1300 cornwallgolf.com