Three minutes are allowed to search for a lost ball – but when exactly does the countdown start according to golf rules?
Everyone knows the scene: a ball disappears in thick rough, fellow players immediately start searching – while the player casually follows behind. The question arises: when exactly does the clock start? The golf rules are clear: the search time starts only when the player or their caddie actively begins searching. According to Rule 18.2a, it doesn’t matter when others start searching – the three-minute countdown starts only when the player begins their own search.
Since 2019, the allowed search time is limited to three minutes, reduced from five minutes to speed up play. If the ball is not found within this time, it is deemed lost. The player must then take a penalty stroke and return to the previous spot to play another ball.
Delay Means Loss – How the Golf Rules Enforce the Search Time
Nonetheless, some golfers take their time. The rules address this: if a player deliberately delays to let their group do the searching first, they cannot claim a later start for the search time. The clock runs from when the player could have started searching without delay. This keeps play fair and flowing smoothly.
Found but Not Identified – What the Rules Say
When the ball is found in time, the search ends in terms of the clock. But what if it’s unclear whether it’s the player’s ball? The rules allow a “reasonable time” to identify it. The ball can be lifted, marked, and lightly cleaned if the spot is marked first. The key is the discovery must happen within three minutes; after that, extra time can be taken to confirm the ball’s identity.
If two identical balls are found in the search area, it can be confusing. The rules say if the original ball cannot be uniquely identified, the player may decide which ball to deem provisional. The other ball is then out of play.
Ball Moved During Search? No Penalty, But Replace It
It can happen that a ball gets accidentally moved during the search in thick rough or sand. The rules state this is not penalized as long as it occurs during a normal search. The ball must be replaced on its original spot—whether under branches or half-buried in sand. The rules are clear: those who search must also act correctly.