Three-minute search
Over the past couple of years, we’ve often referred to players searching for their ball within these pages but have not yet specifically addressed the three-minute search period. So, this month we’re looking to clarify this by putting the spotlight on how the search time is covered under the Rules.
The first thing to say is the reduction from five to three minutes when the Rules were last revised was one of the easiest changes for golfers to remember, and was appreciated by many as a helpful part of the drive to keep the game moving quickly.
But when does the three-minute search start? Well, it only begins when you or your caddie, or your partner or their caddie in pairs golf, reach the area where you believe the ball is likely to be. If anyone else gets there first and starts searching, that doesn’t count towards the time allowed, so if a passer-by or someone on an adjacent hole who saw roughly where your ball went starts searching before you get down there, that is an added bonus. That said, you may not deliberately delay getting to the search area if you see such activity going on.
If you’ve hit your ball into an area where you may not find it, a provisional ball is, of course, always advisable, and that brings in a couple more elements. What if you also send that ball into an undesirable spot? How long do you get to search then? That answer will depend on how close the two search areas are to each other.
If your miscues are consistent and both balls were despatched to the same area and can be searched for simultaneously, you will only be allowed three minutes in total. If they’re in significantly different areas (e.g. opposite sides of the fairway), you are allowed separate three-minute search periods. It’s also worth noting that you are allowed reasonable time to identify a ball that has been found as yours, even if that takes you beyond three minutes.
Continuing on the provisional theme, if you have played one and then find your original ball within three minutes, that provisional ball becomes irrelevant and you may not play it. You will have to continue with the original ball, even if it’s in a terrible spot and requires you to proceed under one of the unplayable ball options. You never get a choice between balls in golf!
“IF YOU FIND YOUR ORIGINAL BALL, THE PROVISIONAL BECOMES IRRELEVANT”