Three minutes, then normally stroke and distance.
The search begins when you or your caddie start looking. If the ball is not found in three minutes, add one penalty stroke and play again from where the previous stroke was made—unless another Rule is known or virtually certain to apply.
Your three-step procedure
- 1
Play a clearly announced provisional
If the ball might be lost outside a penalty area or might be out of bounds, tell another player you are playing a provisional, then play it before going forward. “I’ll hit another” is not clear enough.
- 2
Search for no more than three minutes
The clock starts when you or your caddie begin looking. If a possible ball is found in time, you may take a reasonable additional period to reach and identify it.
- 3
Continue with the correct ball
Find the original in bounds in time and abandon the provisional. If it is lost or out of bounds, continue with the provisional under stroke and distance.
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What else matters
- Penalty area
If it is known or virtually certain the ball is there, use Rule 17. A provisional is not available when that is its only possible location.
- Local Rule E-5
If adopted, it may provide a two-stroke alternative to returning. It is not the standard one-stroke procedure.
- Outside influence
If it is known or virtually certain somebody or something else moved the ball, another Rule may allow replacement without the lost-ball penalty.
A lost tee shot is stroke one, the penalty is stroke two, and the replay—or the correctly played provisional—is stroke three.
Rule 18 and Local Rule E-5
Independent summary. The current Rules and your course Local Rules apply.
Watch lost balls and provisionals explained
Watch the official explanation here without leaving the guide. The complete written guidance remains above for quick reference.
Would you make the right call?
One question from this guide, followed by the full six-situation challenge if you want the clubhouse bragging rights.