Three minutes are allowed to search for a lost ball – but when does the countdown officially begin according to golf rules?
We all know the scene: a ball disappears in thick rough, playing partners rush to search, while the player casually strolls. The question arises: when exactly does the timer start? Golf rules are clear: the three-minute search time starts only when the player or caddie actively begins searching. Rule 18.2a confirms this. It doesn’t matter when others start searching; the official countdown begins only with the player’s own search.
Since 2019, the allowed search time is limited to three minutes, reduced from the previous 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 original spot with a penalty stroke.
Delaying costs you – how golf rules enforce pace of play
Yet some players take their time. Golf rules address this clearly: intentional delay to let others search first doesn’t reset the clock. The timer starts from when the player could have reasonably begun searching without delay, ensuring fair and fluid gameplay.
Found but not identified: clarifying the ball’s identity
If the ball is found within time, the search ends per the rules. But what if it’s unclear if it’s the player’s ball? The rules permit a reasonable time to identify it. The ball may be lifted, marked, and lightly cleaned if the spot is marked. The key is the initial find must be within three minutes; identification can take longer.
If two identical balls lie nearby, causing confusion, the player may decide which is provisional, and the other is out of play.
Ball moved during search? No penalty but remember to replace
In dense rough or sand, accidental ball movement during a search is unpenalized, provided the ball is replaced to its original spot. The rules leave no room for interpretation: those searching must act properly.