Linda, may someone who plays a poor shot from the tee
declare he is playing a provisional ball as it "may" be lost? I’m
talking about a ball that is known not
to be lost. The player is simply not happy with his shot and takes another just
for practice, calling the second shot a provisional.
Lou from Bodicote (near London)
Dear Lou,
Absolutely not. If there is no reasonable possibility that
the ball is lost, the player is not entitled to hit a provisional ball. In this
situation, the second ball the player hits will be his ball in play. It will be
his third shot on the hole [Decision 27-2a/3]. His original ball is lost,
regardless of whether he finds it [Definition of “Lost Ball”].
Linda
Copyright © 2016 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
