When is a hole in one, not...

[Kiwi]

Heard an interesting story today from my regular golf partner. He was playing at a local course. He was a single so he was paired up with a dad and his daughter. They all hit their tee shots on a par 3. The dad's went over the green while the other two, daughter and my buddy, went to a part of the green where they could not see the balls. He also said he could not see the hole, but could see the pin, from the tee box. The two went to the area where they thought their balls had landed but could not find any sign of their balls. My buddy said that when they hit their shots there had been 2-3 sea gulls cavorting in the area where they thought the balls landed. When they got there the balls and the gulls were gone. They both dropped new balls and continued play. The dad hit his ball and went to remove the pin from the hole and found my buddy's ball in the bottom of the cup. How did it get there? No one seems to know BUT since it was in the hole, on one shot, is it a hole in one? Does someone actually have to see it roll into the hole for it to be one? My buddy swears it was his ball in the cup, and I believe him.

[goochy]

I dont see why this wouldn't be a hole in one. You don't have to see the ball go in the hole. He hit his shot onto the green in the area where the hole was and then finds his ball in the bottom of the cup.

I don't see why that wouldn't be an ace. And, as once the ball is in the hole, the hole is over, I believe anything they did regarding placing another ball and playing on would be irrelevant as long as they didn't know the ball was in the hole. Unless.....it might count as practice during a round which is no no (unless it was matchplay). Maybe they should have checked in the hole before placing a replacement ball on the green assuming the gulls had taken it.

I am sure one of the rules experts will clarify this for us

[BC MIST]

And, as once the ball is in the hole, the hole is over,

True.

Challenge: A player's ball is hit on a par 3 and may be lost. He hits a provisional and it goes in the hole. What should the player do?

[nokids]

True.

Challenge: A player's ball is hit on a par 3 and may be lost. He hits a provisional and it goes in the hole. What should the player do?

Abandon the first ball, take the par and go to the next hole.

[goochy]

True.

Challenge: A player's ball is hit on a par 3 and may be lost. He hits a provisional and it goes in the hole. What should the player do?

I wouldn't look for my lost ball and play the provisional as a par. However, I guess there is nothing to stop my FCs looking for my first ball and if they find it I have to play it i guess

[Break68]

Buy the rules guy a beer, forget about the provisional and take the hole in 1.

[Kilroy]

I wouldn't look for my lost ball and play the provisional as a par. However, I guess there is nothing to stop my FCs looking for my first ball and if they find it I have to play it i guess

Once you've holed out... it's over.

[Ruskie]

Perhaps that should say "once you've holed out with ball in play"? Provisional wouldn't be considered in play until the original ball is deemed lost...

[Kilroy]

But if you can pick it out of the hole before the original is found by your FC's ... it's a par.

[justsomeguy]

True.

Challenge: A player's ball is hit on a par 3 and may be lost. He hits a provisional and it goes in the hole. What should the player do?

Run - don't walk - to the next hole and hit your tee shot.

[AAA]

Perhaps that should say "once you've holed out with ball in play"? Provisional wouldn't be considered in play until the original ball is deemed lost...

The provisional becomes the ball in play as soon as it is picked out of the hole providing the OB has not been found

http://www.usga.org/Rule-Books/Rules...on-27/#27-2b/2