On Course ....... with Tom Casady - The Provisional

On Course with Tom Casady ......

It's your choice.


Tom Casady, Edmond, OK (April 21, 2010)     Have you been stumped by which rule to pick for a given situation? Don't feel you are alone. I've been reading the Rules of Golf since the 70's, and I still refer to the book. You can reunite annually with a new Rules of Golf book, but just in case you haven't done it this year, below is a little after winter test to see how sharp you still are on your golf's rules.

You've hit your ball into the rough on the right side of a fairway, past a water hazard, and are unable to find your ball. What would you chose as your best choice in this situation: 1) go to the hazard and drop a ball according to the rules regarding hazards and play out the hole; 2) go back to the tee and hit another ball; or 3) hit a provisional before your group leaves the tee box? One of these three choices will prevent delays. Do you know which you should pick?


1st choice – You are not allowed to declare your ball is lost in a hazard unless you are virtually certain it is lost in the hazard (see Rule 26-1 “In the absence of such knowledge or certainty, the player must proceed under Rule 27-1.”) This means you are headed back to the tee box.

2nd choice - Return to the tee after determining your ball is lost and not in a hazard and hit another ball (see Rule 27-1a “At any time, a player may, under penalty of one stroke, play a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played (see Rule 20-5)”.

3rd choice - Before leaving the tee box, chose to hit a provisional ball when you see there is a chance that your ball could be lost (see Rule 27-2a “If a ball may be lost outside a water hazard or may be out of bounds, to save time the player may play another ball provisionally...”).

Options 2 & 3 are a valid choice, but the third one speeds up the game for the sake of those with who you are playing, as well as all those behind your group, and is the preferred choice. If you find your ball, and it is playable, you are on your way with the original ball. If you do not find your ball (and it is not deemed to be lost in a hazard), you have another one ready to play. You are playing at the fastest pace possible, because you don't have to return to the tee box.

And one thing more about the provisional ball: it needs to be identifiable. You don't want to be looking for both balls and not know which is which. I always carry a second ball with a “2” written on it. I use this ball only as my second ball and always have it ready just for these kind of occasions. Again, it helps speed up the play for everyone, not just your group.

Make the right choice at home: learn the Rules of Golf so you can make the correct choice on the course. And help us all enjoy a fast speed of play.

……… On Course to Save you Strokes.

Tom Casady is the Oklahoma Tour Handicap Chairman, a member of the Tournament Committee and is a partner with Scott Chilcutt and Loyd Welch in the operation of the Oklahoma Tour. Tom can be reached @ TC3ofCnC@aol.com