Three minutes are allowed to find 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 rush to search while the affected player is still strolling. The question arises: when does the clock actually start? Golf rules are clear: the search time only begins when the player or caddie actively starts searching. According to Rule 18.2a, it does not matter when others start looking—the three-minute countdown only begins when the player starts the search.
Since 2019, the allowed search time has been limited to three minutes. Previously, it was five minutes, but the rules changed 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.
Slow players lose – how golf rules enforce search times
Still, some golfers take their time. But the rules answer this clearly: if a player deliberately delays to let others search first, they cannot claim a later start time for the search. The clock runs from when the player could have started searching without delay, keeping play fair and flowing.
Found is not always identified
If the ball is found in time, the search time ends. But what if it’s unclear whether it’s the correct ball? The rules allow a reasonable time to identify it. The ball may be lifted, marked, and lightly cleaned as long as its position is marked. The crucial part is that the discovery happens within three minutes; after that, players may take more time to confirm the ball’s identity.
If two identical balls are in the search area, confusion can arise. The player may decide which ball to treat as provisional if the original ball cannot be identified; the other ball is out of play.
Ball moved? No problem – but remember to replace it
In thick rough or sand, the ball might be accidentally moved during the search. This is not penalized as long as it happens during a normal search. The ball must be replaced to its original spot regardless of location. The rules leave no room for interpretation: those who search must act correctly.