What rule/decision covers the abandoning of a lost ball?

[xxio]

Need to cite the specific ruling.

 

Also can a player state that his caddy will look for the ball for the balance of the 5minutes while he heads back to the tee mound?

[SNIPERBBB]

27/5.5

 

Original Ball Found Within Five-Minute Search Period Not Identified Until After Period Has Elapsed

 

 

Q.A player plays a second shot, searches for his ball for just over four minutes and then starts to walk back down the fairway to play another ball under Rule 27-1. A ball is then found within the five-minute search period, but as the player is now a considerable distance away, he is unable to identify the ball as his before the search period has elapsed. What is the ruling?

 

A.As a ball was found within five minutes of beginning search, the player is allowed enough time to reach the area in order to identify it. If the player identifies the ball as his, it is not a "lost ball" even though the identification takes place after the five-minute search period has elapsed.

 

27-1/2

 

Original Ball Found Within Five-Minute Search Period After Another Ball Dropped

 

 

Q.A player plays his second shot, searches for his ball briefly and then goes back and drops another ball under Rule 27-1. Before he plays the dropped ball, and within the five-minute search period, the original ball is found. Is the player required to continue with the dropped ball?

 

A.Yes. When the player put the substituted ball into play at the spot of the previous stroke with the intent to play a ball under penalty of stroke and distance (Rule 27-1), the original ball was lost (see Definition of "Lost Ball"). Therefore, Rule 20-6 does not apply, and he must continue with the substituted ball.

 

15/5

 

Original Ball Found and Played After Another Ball Put into Play

 

 

Q.A player unable to find his ball after a brief search drops another ball (Ball B) under Rule 27-1 and plays it. His original ball is then found within five minutes after search for it began. The player lifted Ball B and continued to play with the original ball. Was this correct?

 

A.No. When the player put the substituted ball into play at the spot of the previous stroke with the intent to play a ball under Rule 27-1, he proceeded under an applicable Rule. Therefore, Rule 20-6 does not apply, and he must continue with the substituted ball (see Decision 27-1/2). The original ball was lost when Ball B was dropped under Rule 27-1 (see Definition of "Lost Ball").

 

When the player lifted Ball B, he incurred a penalty of one stroke under Rule 18-2. When he made a stroke with the original ball after it was out of play, he played a wrong ball (see Definitions of "Ball in Play" and "Wrong Ball") and incurred a penalty of loss of hole in match play or an additional penalty of two strokes in stroke play (Rule 15-3). In stroke play, the player would be disqualified if, before playing from the next teeing ground, he did not correct his error (Rule 15-3b).

[xxio]

When a player stops searching and heads back to teemound is he deemed to have abandoned his ball, and declared it lost?

[sui generis]

Nowhere in the Definition (or anywhere else) is there a mechanism for "declaring" the ball lost. Take a look at the Definition for the ways in which a ball may become lost. :)

[davep043]

As has been noted, the original ball becomes "lost" when a player puts another ball in play (not as a provisional) or the 5 minute period is over. Remember Mickelson at Torrey Pines a few years ago, hit one deep into the barranca, it might have been left of 17. He then hit a Provisional. Walking down the fairway, he tried to declare his original "lost", but a spectator found it, and he had to play it. If I remember right, he ended up going back to the tee to hit #3, as his provisional was out of play once his original ball was found.

[SNIPERBBB]

As a note...if you went to look for the ball then decide to do the walk of shame, you no longer can hit the provisional, it will be the ball in play once you make a stroke with it(teed ball) or drop a ball if you hit the ball out on your second(or more) shot.

[Newby]

Need to cite the specific ruling.

 

Also can a player state that his caddy will look for the ball for the balance of the 5minutes while he heads back to the tee mound?

 

If it's not in the definition it is not lost.

 

Lost Ball

 

A ball is deemed lost" if:

a.

It is not found or identified as his by the player within five minutes after the player's side or his or their caddies have begun to search for it; or

b.

The player has made a stroke at a provisional ball from the place where the original ball is likely to be or from a point nearer the hole than that place (see Rule 27-2b); or

c.

The player has put another ball into play under penalty of stroke and distance under Rule 26-1a, 27-1 or 28a; or

d.

The player has put another ball into play because it is known or virtually certain that the ball, which has not been found, has been moved by an outside agency (see Rule 18-1), is in an obstruction (see Rule 24-3), is in an abnormal ground condition (see Rule 25-1c) or is in a water hazard (see Rule 26-1b or c); or

e.

The player has made a stroke at a substituted ball.

 

Time spent in playing a wrong ball is not counted in the five-minute period allowed for search.

[LeoLeo99]

Yes, you can head back to the tee/spot here you last hit from while your caddy or anyone else looks for your ball. If they find it within 5 minutes and before you rehit, the ball is not lost. If it's after 5 minutes or after you rehit, the original ball is deemed lost.

 

That's the rule as quoted above. There is no abandoning the ball by walking back to the tee or saying you're giving up before the end of 5 minutes search time.

[Newby]

Yes, you can head back to the tee/spot here you last hit from while your caddy or anyone else looks for your ball. If they find it within 5 minutes and before you rehit, the ball is not lost. If it's after 5 minutes or after you rehit, the original ball is deemed lost.

 

 

Not quite.

 

If they find it within 5 minutes and before you put another ball into play, the ball is not lost. If it's after 5 minutes or after you put another ball into play, the original ball is deemed lost.

 

This means when you make a stroke at another ball when going back to the tee or simply dropping another ball when not playing again from the tee.