Par 3 - What next?

[3puttwizard]

Ok another scenario


Par 3 at Hankley common 7th hole if I remember rightly.

Short left or right you are knee deep in heather.

1st shot goes in the heather

Provisional or 3 off the tee?

[seagullsfan]

Never been there, but would assume 3 off the tee. If your need deep in heather won't it be unplayable?

[Stamford]

I'd take 3 off the tee, if its only a par 3, the liklehood of finding the green with your 3rd shot is good ( unless you duff it again !! ) and then you'll only be putting for bogey... Well thats what I'd do 

[Shotto]

Provisional always saves you a walk!  A good one and you don't go and look for the original! 

That hole is a toughy! 

[Stu-Pid]

Ok another scenario


Par 3 at Hankley common 7th hole if I remember rightly.

Short left or right you are knee deep in heather.

1st shot goes in the heather

Provisional or 3 off the tee?

Provisional.

If provisional ball goes onto green then don't look for 1st ball.

If provisional ball goes into heather, you now have 2 chances of finding a ball to finish the hole with.

Also, the answer depends slightly on the competition format.  At St Annes (stableford) I hit a crap shot onto a par 3 into the crap to the (far) right of the green.  I then hit a provisional through the back.  As I would have had to hole the chip for a point, it was worth me looking for my first ball as it was my best chance of scoring on the hole.

In the same scenario in a medal round I would have had a very quick look for the 1st ball and then played the 2nd ball if it wasn't easily findable.

[Longshot]

If provisional ball goes onto green then don't look for 1st ball.

Respectfully disagree unless the heather is knee high.

[Foxholer]

Provisional.

If provisional ball goes onto green then don't look for 1st ball.

If provisional ball goes into heather, you now have 2 chances of finding a ball to finish the hole with.

Snap!

Can remember this happening in a Matchplay involving Daly at St Andrews. 11th hole, Daly drove into evil bunker with no hope of getting to green. Opponent carved ball deep into gorse left. Played Provisional! Drove to 4 inches"! Daly didn't bother looking for the 1st ball and nearly sunk a great putt to halve!

Ross

[Stu-Pid]

Respectfully disagree unless the heather is knee high.

I was assuming that it was.   

If it isn't, or if the heather is ajoining the green (I was assuming it was some way back) then it would depend on the length of the putt.  If it's 30 feet then look for the 1st one.  If it's 4 feet then knock it in for a bogey and move on!   

[Foxholer]

Respectfully disagree unless the heather is knee high.

Or heather is like Walton Heath's (I believe it's nearly as bad!).

Ross

[3puttwizard]

3OTT for me.

Find the first one and you will not be able to get a club behind it.

[MisterS3]

I was assuming that it was.   

If it isn't, or if the heather is ajoining the green (I was assuming it was some way back) then it would depend on the length of the putt.  If it's 30 feet then look for the 1st one.  If it's 4 feet then knock it in for a bogey and move on!   

Is this not an 'abuse' of 'provisional' ?

Not saying it is..but kinda seems wrong to me.

i.e You don't look for your ball based on the result of your provisional. Even though you know its easily found albeit in a nasty place - all because you hit your provisional well?

Or could just be me.

[Shotto]

Not wrong...player can declare ball lost at any time.  Clear in rules... as for the moral arguement.....

[Whitey]

Is this not an 'abuse' of 'provisional' ?

Not saying it is..but kinda seems wrong to me.

i.e You don't look for your ball based on the result of your provisional. Even though you know its easily found albeit in a nasty place - all because you hit your provisional well?

Or could just be me.

I believe your opponent has the right to go look for your ball ? and if he finds it and can identify it as your ball you have to play it as it lies or take appopriate course of action....

[MisterS3]

I believe your opponent has the right to go look for your ball ? and if he finds it and can identify it as your ball you have to play it as it lies or take appopriate course of action....

Yeh i get that.
But i'm just saying that it seems to me that in a patch of gorse, where you are likely to find the ball quite quickly if you looked.....you just choose not to look (well you do to see if it came out the other side) for it. Seems a bit of an 'abuse' of the provisional ball rule too me. Or maybe just using rules to your advantage

[Whitey]

I was just doing some reading....bear this in mind the following......

You cannot deem a ball lost. It only becomes lost if you fail to find it within 5 mins , if it is definately in a water hazard or you hit play your provisional.

i..e if you declare it lost walk off towards provisional or head back to replay, then it is found, provided it is within the 5 mins then you can still play it, even if you have said "I deem it lost".


sometimes I wish the rules were a little clearer....