Three minutes are allowed to search for a lost ball – but when exactly does the countdown start according to golf rules?
Everyone knows the situation: a ball disappears in the thick rough, playing partners immediately start searching while the player lags behind. So when does the clock actually start? The golf rules are clear: the search time begins only when the player or the caddie actively starts searching. This is stated in Rule 18.2a. It does not matter when other players or spectators start looking—the three minutes start only when the player themselves begin the search.
Since 2019, the allowed search time has been limited to three minutes. Previously, it was five minutes, but the rules were changed to speed up play. If the ball is not found within this time, it is considered lost. The player must then return to the previous spot with a penalty stroke.
Slow players lose – how golf rules enforce fair play
Still, some golfers take their time. However, the rules address this: If a player deliberately delays to let others do the hard work, they cannot claim a later start to the search time. The clock starts when the player could have started searching without delay. This keeps the game fair and flowing.
Found is not always identified
If the ball is found in time, the search ends per the timer. But what if it is unclear whether it is the player’s ball? The rules allow a “reasonable time” for identification. The ball may be lifted, marked, and lightly cleaned with the spot marked. The important part is the find must happen within three minutes. Afterward, more time can be taken to verify the ball’s identity.
If two identical balls lie in the search area and the original ball cannot be definitively identified, the player may decide which ball is provisional. The other ball is then out of play.
Ball moved? No problem—just remember to replace it
In thick rough or sand, the ball may be accidentally moved during the search. The rules say this is not a penalty as long as it happens during the search. The ball must be replaced to its original position, whether under branches or partly buried in sand. The golf rules leave no room for interpretation: who searches must also act correctly.