27-2c/1.5
Whether Provisional Ball Becomes Ball in
Play If Original Ball Lost in Ground Under Repair
Q. A
player hits his tee shot into an area of tall rough and, since the ball may be
lost, he plays a provisional ball. During search for the original ball, the
player discovers that the Committee has marked a large area of the rough as
ground under repair. It is established that there is virtual certainty that the
original ball is in the ground under repair. Does the provisional ball
automatically become the ball in play since the original ball, which has not
been found, was outside a water hazard?
A. No. The
player may continue play with the provisional ball under Rule 27-2b or he may proceed under Rule
25-1c(i) as it is virtually certain that his ball is in ground under repair —
see Exception to Rule 27-2b.
Since when has a player had the choice of which ball to
play (other than the ‘special circumstances’ described in Appendix 1, Part B,
1)
And what are the good and substantial reasons, or
exceptional circumstances, to support a choice being available in this situation.
The reality is that there are none of
either!
This player strikes the ball towards an area where (in
the player’s judgement) it may be lost.
The player puts a provisional ball into play.
When s/he reaches the area where the ball is thought to
have come to rest, it is duly established to be virtually certain that the ball is in GUR; and it cannot be found.
But in terms of Rule of Rule 25-1c the ball has been virtually found and is deemed
to lie at the point where it last crossed the margin
of the GUR.
So, what to do?
Simple answer: proceed in accordance with Rule 25-1c.
To suggest that the provisional ball should remain ‘live’
while the player decides on his/her preferable option is just nonsense.
This decision has no basis in rationality, nor is it
supported by any cogent reasoning or explanation. It is dodgy in the extreme.
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