When Provisional Ball Becomes Ball in Play

You are allowed to play the provisional ball all the way up to the estimated spot the original ball is likely to be.

After that, there are several ways the provisional ball becomes the ball in play and you have to continue playing it:

• If you find your ball out of bounds.
• If you do not find your ball within the three-minute search time.
• If you play the provisional ball from a spot closer to the hole than where you estimated the original to be, even if the three-minute search time has not elapsed.
• (Optional) A rare choice in the Rules of Golf, if you have not found the original ball but it is known or virtually certain that the original ball was moved by an outside influence, is in a movable obstruction or in an abnormal course condition, then you can either use one of those free relief Rules or continue with the provisional ball.

When you end up continuing with the provisional ball, that ball becomes the ball in play under penalty of stroke and distance. This means that even if you find the original ball on the course later, you must not play the original ball – it is a wrong ball.

When Provisional Ball Must Be Abandoned

Just as there are situations that require you to continue with the provisional ball, there are a couple situations that require you to abandon the provisional ball:

• If you find the original ball on the course within the three-minute search time (regardless of whether it is playable or not).
• You find your ball in, or it is known or virtually certain that your ball is in a penalty area. You can take penalty relief from the penalty area, but you cannot use the provisional ball.

In either of these two situations, the provisional ball becomes a wrong ball and must not be played anymore.