RULES 101
over to the opposite margin of the
penalty area. This was permitted in
the old rules. When a penalty area
is not marked, it is assumed to be a
red penalty area. This is for obvious
reasons: it could be a lake or ocean!
Whatever the situation a player
experiences e.g. interference by
an abnormal course condition,
embedded or unplayable ball in the
penalty area, the player’s option is to
take a penalty under Rule 17.
However, there may be a situation
when a dangerous animal in a
penalty area such as an alligator,
crocodile, hippo or a snake may pose
danger to a player when a ball lies
on or near the animal such that the
player is prevented from playing
the ball or risks death or injury if he
attempted. In such a situation, the
player is entitled to a free relief (ball
to be dropped in the same penalty
area) to escape from danger (Rule
17.3). The player still has the right
to take a penalty outside the penalty
area under Rule 17.
No 2: That you cannot
play a provisional ball for
a ball likely to be lost in a
penalty area. You can.
In the new rules, there has been a
deliberate effort to improve the pace
of play. Not only has ball search time
been reduced from five to three
minutes, but to avoid the walk back
time under the stroke and distance
rule (which is mandatory under
Rule 18.2), if a ball is likely to be
lost outside or inside a penalty area
but there is no certainty where that
could be, the rule on provisional ball
has been made flexible. A player is
now allowed to play a provisional
ball which is abandoned wherever
the original ball is found. If the
original ball is not found and there
is no virtual certainty that it is lost
in a penalty area, the original ball is
deemed lost outside a penalty area
and the provisional ball becomes the
ball in play (Rule 18.3a). If the original
ball is found in the penalty area, or
evidence emerges to show that the
ball was lost in the penalty area, the
provisional ball must be abandoned
as is when the original ball is found.
The player may continue playing the
provisional ball without it losing its
provisional ball status. It, however,
becomes the ball in play when
the original ball is lost i.e. it is not
found within three minutes after
the beginning or the search for the
ball or it has been played from a
spot where the original ball is, or
from nearer the hole than where the
original ball is found.
However, a provisional ball is not
permitted if the only area of the
course where the ball is likely to be
lost is only a penalty area. Such a
ball, if played, instantly becomes the
ball in play under penalty of stroke
and distance (18.2). Otherwise, the
original ball is a wrong ball.
No 3: That you can drop
a ball at or near a point
where the ball is lost or
ended out bounds. Don’t!
This was a proposal for a model
local rule to be used in non-elite
golf. There is NO Club that I know
of that has adopted such as a local
rule. Indeed it has been opposed or
ignored across the globe. If such a
rule were adopted by any club, the
results of a competition cannot be
used for handicapping purposes.
Before contemplating such an action,
you are advised to carefully read
the club’s local rules or you will be
disqualified. Some players have
already met this fate. Rule 18.2 is
categorical that “stroke and distance
must be taken”.