Rule decision Penalty Area

It was known or almost certain for the player and his competitors that his ball came to rest in a penalty area.

The player searches for three minutes in the penalty area for his ball, which is not found within the three minutes. The player therefore claims relief from the penalty area in accordance with Law 17.1c and plays the newly placed ball. As it happens, the player then finds his original ball. Not knowing exactly what to do next, the player decides to play the original ball as a second ball. He holes out with both balls.

At the end of the round and before handing in the scorecard, the player contacts the competition management.

The question was also whether the player would incur a penalty for playing the original ball, as this ball was no longer in play.

The following decision was made by the match committee.

The ball played in accordance with Rule 17.1c became the ball in play and the result with this ball is the player's score for the hole. The score with the original ball could not count because the original ball was no longer in play. However, the player does not incur a penalty for playing the original ball as a second ball.

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