How should I announce playing a provisional ball?
Everyone knows you’re supposed to say you’re playing a provisional ball, but what exactly does that mean? Our expert looks under the bonnet of Rule 18.3b
It should be one of the simplest things you can say: “I’m going to play a provisional ball.” But whether it’s because we’re flustered we might have fired one straight out of bounds, or just because we’re not precise on the wording we should use, I’ve seen plenty of instances where players get confused about what exactly constitutes announcing the play of a provisional.
Occasionally, it still happens at the very top level. Let’s go back to the 2020 ANA Inspiration. Sei Young Kim was reported to have hit a wayward drive on the 13th at Mission Hills and then failed to clearly declare her provisional.
Is there a correct procedure to follow? Let this be a one-stop guide for anyone who’s ever had a query. You’ll never accidentally take stroke-and-distance again…
What do the Rules of Golf say about announcing the play of a provisional ball?
Rule 18.3b states “before the stroke is made, the player must announce to someone that they are going to play a provisional ball.”
It adds: “It is not enough for the player only to say that they are playing another ball or are playing again.
“The player must use the word ‘provisional’ or otherwise clearly indicate that they are playing the ball provisionally under Rule 18.3.
“If the player does not announce this (even if they intended to play a provisional ball) and plays a ball from where the previous stroke was made, that ball is the player’s ball in play under penalty of stroke and distance.”
What if there is no one around? Don’t panic. The rule says you can play a provisional and tell someone you’ve done it when it’s “possible to do so”.
All seems pretty clear, right? So where does the confusion arise? Perhaps where things are open to debate comes in the bit that says “otherwise clearly indicate”.
What does that mean? Thankfully, if you’ve got the larger Official Guide to the Rules of Golf at hand, the answer lies within.
How do you ‘clearly indicate’ a provisional ball is being played?
Well, it’s obvious. A clarification to Rule 18.3b reveals “it is best if the player uses the word ‘provisional’ in their announcement”.
But it also says other statements that make the player’s intent to play a provisional ball clear are also acceptable.
Helpfully, they list some examples. These are good…
“I’m playing a ball under Rule 18.3.”
“I’m going to play another just in case”.
The following, however, are bad. Repeating these next two phrases are examples of announcements that “do not clearly indicate the player is playing a provisional ball and mean that the player would be putting a ball into play under stroke and distance”.
“I’m going to reload.”
“I’m going to play another.”
Got a question for our expert?
Despite the changes to the Rules of Golf in 2019 and 2023, there are still some that leave us scratching our heads. I’ll try to help by featuring the best of your queries in this column.
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Steve Carroll
A journalist for 25 years, Steve has been immersed in club golf for almost as long. A former club captain, he has passed the Level 3 Rules of Golf exam with distinction having attended the R&A's prestigious Tournament Administrators and Referees Seminar.
Steve has officiated at a host of high-profile tournaments, including Open Regional Qualifying, PGA Fourball Championship, English Men's Senior Amateur, and the North of England Amateur Championship. In 2023, he made his international debut as part of the team that refereed England vs Switzerland U16 girls.
A part of NCG's Top 100s panel, Steve has a particular love of links golf and is frantically trying to restore his single-figure handicap. He currently floats at around 11.
Steve plays at Close House, in Newcastle, and York GC, where he is a member of the club's matches and competitions committee and referees the annual 36-hole scratch York Rose Bowl.
Having studied history at Newcastle University, he became a journalist having passed his NTCJ exams at Darlington College of Technology.
What's in Steve's bag: TaylorMade Stealth 2 driver, 3-wood, and hybrids; TaylorMade Stealth 2 irons; TaylorMade Hi-Toe, Ping ChipR, Sik Putter.
