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 into deep rough, fellow players quickly start searching while the player involved walks leisurely behind. So, when does the clock actually start? The golf rules are clear: the search time only begins once the player or their caddie actively starts looking. According to Rule 18.2a, it doesn’t count when others start searching — the three minutes start when the player initiates the search themselves.
Since 2019, the allowed search time is three minutes, reduced from five to speed up play. If the ball isn’t found within this timeframe, it is considered lost, and the player must return to the previous spot with a penalty stroke.
Who Dawdles, Loses – How Golf Rules Enforce This
Some golfers like to take their time, but the rules answer this too. If a player deliberately delays to let their group do the groundwork, they can’t claim a later start time. The clock runs from when the player could have reasonably begun searching without delay, keeping play fair and fluid.
Found Isn’t Always Identified
If the ball is found in time, the search ends by the time limit. But what if it’s unclear whether it’s the player’s ball? No problem: the rules allow a “reasonable time” to identify the ball. It can be lifted, marked, and lightly cleaned as long as the spot is marked. The crucial point: the find must occur within the three minutes; extra time can be spent to verify ownership.
When two identical balls lie in the search area, confusion arises. Here the rules also help: if the original ball cannot be positively identified, the player can decide which ball counts as provisional and remove the other from play.
Ball Moved? No Drama – But Remember to Replace
Especially in thick rough or sand, a ball may be accidentally moved during search. The rules state this is without penalty as long as it occurs during normal searching. The ball must simply be replaced to its original spot—whether under branches or partially buried. The golf rules leave no room for interpretation: those searching must act correctly.