GOLF | RULES | LOCAL | Effective from 31 May 2026
Model Local Rule B-3 | Provisional Ball for Ball in a Penalty Area
SHORT VERSION
If a player does not know whether their ball is in the red penalty area on holes 2, 7 or 14, the player may play a provisional ball using any of the following relief options: stroke-and-distance, back-on-the-line or, the lateral relief option (see Rule 17.1d) or on holes 7 & 14, using the dropping zone available (see Model Local Rule E-1).
LONG VERSION
If a player does not know whether their ball is in the penalty area on holes 2, 7 or 14, the player may play a provisional ball under Rule 18.3 which is modified in this way:
In playing the provisional ball, the player may use the stroke-and-distance relief option (See Rule 17.1d(1)), the back-on-the-line relief option (See Rule 17.1d(2)) or, if it is a red penalty area, the lateral relief option (See Rule 17.1d(3)). If a dropping zone is available for this penalty area (see Model Local Rule E-1.1, the player may also use that relief option.
Once the player has played a provisional under this Local Rule, they may not use any further options under Rule 17.1 in relation to the original ball.
In deciding when that provisional ball becomes the player’s ball in play or if it must or may be abandoned, Rule 18.3c(2) and 18.3c(3) apply except that:
- When the Original is Found in Penalty Area within Three-Minute Search Time. The player may choose either to:
- Continue to play the original ball as it lies in the penalty area, in which case the provisional ball must not be played. All strokes with that provisional ball before it was abandoned (including strokes made and any penalty strokes solely from playing that ball) do not count, or
- Continue to play the provisional ball in which case the original ball must not be played.
- When Original is Not Found Within Three-Minute Search Time or is Known or Virtually Certain to be in Penalty Area. The provisional ball becomes the player’s ball in play.
Penalty for Breach of Local Rule: General Penalty