Three minutes are allowed to search for a lost ball – but when exactly does the countdown start according to golf rules?
Almost every golfer has experienced it: a ball disappears into thick rough, fellow players immediately begin searching while the player affected leisurely follows. So when exactly does the clock start? According to golf rules, the search time only begins when the player or caddie actively starts looking. Rule 18.2a states that it does not matter when other players or spectators start searching – the three minutes start only when the player themselves begins.
Since 2019, the allowed search time is limited to three minutes, reduced from five to speed up play. If the ball is not found within this time, it is considered lost and the player must return to the previous spot with a penalty stroke.
Delaying Costs You – How Golf Rules Enforce Fair Play
Still, some golfers like to take their time. Golf rules have a clear answer for deliberate delays: if a player intentionally procrastinates to let their flight do the initial searching, they cannot claim a later start time. The clock runs from when the player could have reasonably started searching without delay. This ensures the game remains fair and fast-paced.
Found vs. Identified: Understanding Ball Search Timing
If the ball is located within the three minutes, the search time ends, but what if it is uncertain whether it’s the correct ball? The rules allow a “reasonable time” to identify the ball. It may be lifted, marked, and cleaned lightly as long as the spot is marked and the ball was found within three minutes. After that, players may take extra time to confirm it is their ball.
If two identical balls lie in the search area causing confusion, and the original ball cannot be clearly identified, the player chooses which ball to treat as provisional. The other ball is then out of play.
Accidentally Moving the Ball During Search? No Penalty
In dense rough or sand, a ball may accidentally be moved during search. The rules permit this without penalty as long as it occurs during normal searching. The ball must simply be replaced at its original spot – no matter if it was under branches or half-buried in sand. The golf rules leave no ambiguity here: those searching must act properly.