Three minutes are allowed to search for a lost ball – but when exactly does the countdown start according to golf rules?
We’ve all seen it: a ball disappears into the tall rough, and fellow players immediately start searching while the player lags behind. The question arises: when does the clock actually start? Golf rules are clear: the search time begins only when the player or their caddie actively starts searching. According to Rule 18.2a, it doesn’t count when other players or spectators begin searching – the three minutes start only when the player begins their own search.
Since 2019, the permitted search time is three minutes, reduced from five minutes to speed up play. If the ball isn’t found within this time, it’s deemed lost, and the player must return to the previous spot with a penalty stroke.
Slow Players Lose: How Golf Rules Enforce the Search Time
Still, some golfers take their time. The rules address this: if a player deliberately delays to let others search first, they cannot claim the search time starts later. The clock runs from when the player could have reasonably started searching without delay, ensuring fairness and pace.
Identifying the Ball and Handling Movement During the Search
Finding the ball within three minutes ends the search time, but identification may take longer. Rules allow a reasonable period to identify the ball, including lifting, marking, and cleaning it if the spot is marked. If two identical balls lie in the search area and the original ball can’t be identified, the player may choose which ball to treat as provisional, with the other out of play.
Accidentally moving the ball during search is also addressed: no penalty applies if it happens during a normal search, provided the ball is replaced to its original spot, whether under branches or partially buried in sand. The rules leave no room for interpretation—searchers must act correctly.