Quote:
Originally Posted by
dreaded_snowman
No, I don't have to play my original as it lies. I can declare it unplayable, pick it up and walk back to the tee. Or drop within 2 club lenghts, or back up on line between pin and ball. So if I go back to the tee (or wherever I hit it from last), it's effectively just like my provvy, the only difference is that I've changed balls if I use the provvy.
If I can hit the original at all, the provvy is never nicer, because it represents a drop for 3 (I've been penalized for the pleasure).
The whole issue here is that I can't use my provvy to play the stroke and distance rule, but as per byerxa above, I will continue to do so since pace of play will not allow otherwise, rules or no rules.
I'm not stressed about this, but clarifying will pound it into my brain forever more.
I agree with that line of thinking. We use that exact scenario in our NCGT events to help keep the pace. Again, it's not an official rule, just a local rule that we use that applies to our tour only. But, I would like to see it considered as a modification to the Unplayable Ball rule. :thumbsup
Here's how we show it...
Provisional ball played, Original ball found but unplayable:
If the player deems his ball to be unplayable, he must, under penalty of one stroke:
a. Play a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played (Rule 20-5); or
b. Drop a ball behind the point where the ball lay, keeping that point directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped, with no limit to how far behind that point the ball may be dropped; or
c. Drop a ball within two club-lengths of the spot where the ball lay, but not nearer the hole.
NCGT Local Rule alternative to option "a": In consideration of Pace of Play, if a player declares his ball unplayable, and has already played a provisional ball, and wishes to proceed under option “a” of the rule, he may declare his provisional to be in play and proceed from that point, applying the appropriate stroke(s) and distance penalty as prescribed by the rules, instead of returning to the spot of the previous stroke.