Three minutes are allowed to search for a lost ball – but when exactly does the countdown start according to golf rules?
Almost every golfer knows the scenario: A ball disappears in thick rough, fellow players immediately start searching – while the player involved strolls behind. The question arises: When does the clock start? Golf rules are clear: The search time starts only when the player or caddie actively begins searching. According to Rule 18.2a, it doesn’t matter when others start searching – the three minutes begin once the player starts the search themselves.
Whoever delays, loses – golf rules enforce fair play
Since 2019, the allowed search time is limited to three minutes, reduced from five to speed up play. If the ball is not found in this time, it is considered lost, and the player must return with a penalty stroke to the previous spot.
Some golfers may dawdle, but rules address this: If a player delays intentionally, the timer starts from when the player could have reasonably begun searching. This keeps the game fair and fluent.
Found doesn’t always mean identified
When the ball is discovered within time, the search ends at least regarding the clock. But if it’s unclear whether it’s the player’s ball, the rules permit a reasonable time to identify it. The ball may be lifted, marked, and gently cleaned if the spot is marked. The key is the find must occur within three minutes; afterward, identification time is allowed.
If two identical balls are found, causing confusion, rules help: If the original ball can’t be identified definitively, the player chooses which ball to treat as provisional; the other is out of play.
Ball moved? No problem – just replace it
When searching in thick rough or sand, the ball may be accidentally moved. According to the rules, this is allowed without penalty during a proper search. The ball must only be replaced to its original spot, whether under branches or partly buried. The rules are clear: searching must be done responsibly.