Quote:
Originally Posted by JPsuff
Well, I'm a little cloudy on the rule itself, but I understand what you're saying and maybe that's what actually happened. I'm recalling this from memory as I read it about a year ago.
As far as the whole "announcement" thing goes, I suppose that in a "crossing "T's" and "Dotting "I's" sense it may have some merit. But since there's no other reason on earth to hit a second ball other than because you think the first one is either lost or OB, the whole idea of "announcing" it seems overly picky.
As far as which ball you play and what penalties (if any) are involved, that's a different story and I agree with you about the propriety of playing your first or second ball and it should matter which one you play. It's just the whole "Mother may I" aspect that seems silly.
-JP
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The way I understand the rule is that by announcing a provisional is going to be hit is an in case of out of bounds or lost but not in a water hazard allows a choice of play to either ball. Whichever ball is has the next stroke taken becomes the ball in play provided the first ball is not found or is found to be in play. Hitting without announcing provisional for an additional ball is placing that ball as the ball in play and a stoke and distance is acknowledged by doing so. I still would also like to know where the two stroke penalty came from? There had to be more to the story as well. Perhaps he was penalized for moving the ball when it was in play and then placed it back down and played out the hole. Just a guess.