Rules of Golf explained: How should I announce playing a provisional ball?

Rules of Golf explained: 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

Club and Amateur

'We're all about the fun factor': Why Winged Foot isn't the golf club you think it is
'We're all about the fun factor': Why Winged Foot isn't the golf club you think it is

by Steve Carroll

Inside the golf club that spent more than £1 million during lockdown
Inside the golf club that spent more than £1 million during lockdown

by Steve Carroll

The NCG Podcast: Old Tom and the most remarkable golf pictures ever collected
The NCG Podcast: Old Tom and the most remarkable golf pictures ever collected

by Steve Carroll

How would YOU like to be associated with the PGA?
How would YOU like to be associated with the PGA?

by Steve Carroll

Quiz: 50 years of US Open champions
Quiz: 50 years of US Open champions

by Alex Perry

Rules of Golf explained: How should I announce playing a provisional ball?
Rules of Golf explained: How should I announce playing a provisional ball?

by Steve Carroll

US Open: A striking omen for McIlroy, Lefty's woe, and where's Fleetwood?
US Open: A striking omen for McIlroy, Lefty's woe, and where's Fleetwood?

by Alex Perry

Quiz: Multiple US Open champions
Quiz: Multiple US Open champions

by Alex Perry

What's in Hull's bag for 2020?
What's in Hull's bag for 2020?

by Hannah Holden



US Open: A striking omen for McIlroy, Lefty's woe, and where's Fleetwood?
US Open: A striking omen for McIlroy, Lefty's woe, and where's Fleetwood?

Rory McIlroy has a particularly promising statistic in his favour at Winged Foot. Alex Perry wraps up the best and worst from day one of the 2020 US Open

Tour


US Open

Quiz: 50 years of US Open champions
Quiz: 50 years of US Open champions

by Alex Perry

'I played the best golf of my life and couldn't shoot par': Six times the US Open got out of hand
'I played the best golf of my life and couldn't shoot par': Six times the US Open got out of hand

by Steve Carroll

Will we see another Massacre at Winged Foot?
Will we see another Massacre at Winged Foot?

by Steve Carroll

The secrets to winning the US Open
The secrets to winning the US Open

by Hale Irwin

'Hits it straight and putts brilliantly' – who is former World No 1 Woosnam backing for US Open glory?
'Hits it straight and putts brilliantly' – who is former World No 1 Woosnam backing for US Open glory?

by Steve Carroll

Callaway add Mack Daddy wedges to complement new Big Bertha line
Callaway add Mack Daddy wedges to complement new Big Bertha line

by Hannah Holden

Best golf shoes of 2020
Best golf shoes of 2020

by NCG contributors

Welcome to the Great Britain Value Top 100 ranking
Welcome to the Great Britain Value Top 100 ranking

by Dan Murphy

Quick 9: Weird and wonderful golf trophies
Quick 9: Weird and wonderful golf trophies

by Joe Hughes


Callaway add Mack Daddy wedges to complement new Big Bertha line
Callaway add Mack Daddy wedges to complement new Big Bertha line

Callaway has resurrected its Big Bertha brand with men's and women's super game improvement ranges. Hannah Holden takes a closer look

Equipment


Equipment

Can Callaway's latest Big Bertha range really cure your slice?
Can Callaway's latest Big Bertha range really cure your slice?

by Hannah Holden

Which tour stars have new clubs in play?
Which tour stars have new clubs in play?

by Hannah Holden

New limited edition Scotty? Say hello to the Justin Thomas Phantom X5.5
New limited edition Scotty? Say hello to the Justin Thomas Phantom X5.5

by Hannah Holden

'Diminishing the skill of the game': Course architects say it's time to rein in distance
'Diminishing the skill of the game': Course architects say it's time to rein in distance

by Steve Carroll

Lee wins maiden major as controversial 'wall' affects ANA finale
Lee wins maiden major as controversial 'wall' affects ANA finale

by Alex Perry

US Open preview: Tee times, live coverage and betting tips from Winged Foot
US Open preview: Tee times, live coverage and betting tips from Winged Foot

by Barry Plummer

What's in Lee's major winning bag?
What's in Lee's major winning bag?

by Hannah Holden

What's in Coetzee's bag for 2020?
What's in Coetzee's bag for 2020?

by Hannah Holden

Phil Mickelson 2021 schedule: Where will he play next?
Phil Mickelson 2021 schedule: Where will he play next?

by NCG info

Welcome to the Great Britain Value Top 100 ranking
Welcome to the Great Britain Value Top 100 ranking

Read our Value Top 100 and find out where the best-value golf courses in Great Britain are in our definitive rankings list. Which course comes out as the No 1?

NCG Top 100s


NCG Top 100s

NCG Top 100 Golf Courses in GB&I
NCG Top 100 Golf Courses in GB&I

by NCG contributors

NCG Top 100 Golf Courses in England
NCG Top 100 Golf Courses in England

by Dan Murphy

NCG Top 100 Golf Courses in Scotland
NCG Top 100 Golf Courses in Scotland

by Dan Murphy

NCG Top 100 Golf Courses in Ireland
NCG Top 100 Golf Courses in Ireland

by Chris Bertram

World Golf Rankings: Men's and women's top 10
World Golf Rankings: Men's and women's top 10

by NCG info

2020 LPGA Tour schedule
2020 LPGA Tour schedule

by NCG info

2020 European Tour schedule
2020 European Tour schedule

by NCG info

What's in Spieth's bag for 2020?
What's in Spieth's bag for 2020?

by Hannah Holden

Which golf course have you never played and is top of your to-play list?
Which golf course have you never played and is top of your to-play list?

by Steve Carroll, Alex Perry, Dan Murphy & Hannah Holden


Which golf course have you never played and is top of your to-play list?
Which golf course have you never played and is top of your to-play list?

What's that one course that you are absolutely desperate to play?

19th hole


Golf courses

Behind the scorecard: The new 7th hole at Royal Dornoch
Behind the scorecard: The new 7th hole at Royal Dornoch

by Steve Carroll

What happened when we played the oldest New Course in the world?
What happened when we played the oldest New Course in the world?

by Steve Carroll

Why The Machrie is the course of my dreams
Why The Machrie is the course of my dreams

by Steve Carroll

Why I can't stop going back to Close House
Why I can't stop going back to Close House

by Steve Carroll

2020 Ladies European Tour schedule
2020 Ladies European Tour schedule

by NCG info

The Lost Art of Putting Masterclass: Become a master on the greens
The Lost Art of Putting Masterclass: Become a master on the greens

by Gary Nicol in association with Callaway and Odyssey

Rules of Golf explained: Can I get relief from a sprinkler head on the line of my putt?
Rules of Golf explained: Can I get relief from a sprinkler head on the line of my putt?

by Steve Carroll

'He's an absolute gem of a guy': Why Patrick Reed is just misunderstood
'He's an absolute gem of a guy': Why Patrick Reed is just misunderstood

by Alex Perry

Which TaylorMade P700 iron is right for your game?
Which TaylorMade P700 iron is right for your game?

by Hannah Holden



Get your competitive golf fix with the NCG Top 100s Tour
Get your competitive golf fix with the NCG Top 100s Tour

Play an NCG Top 100s course and have a chance to win some incredible prizes

Club and Amateur


Competitions

WIN: A fourball at Craigielaw
WIN: A fourball at Craigielaw

by NCG contributors

WIN: A fourball at The Oxfordshire
WIN: A fourball at The Oxfordshire

by NCG contributors

WIN: A golf break at a Macdonald Hotels & Resorts venue of your choice
WIN: A golf break at a Macdonald Hotels & Resorts venue of your choice

by NCG contributors

WIN: A golf break to the brand new Aroeira Lisbon Hotel
WIN: A golf break to the brand new Aroeira Lisbon Hotel

by NCG contributors

Brooks Koepka 2021 schedule: Where will he play next?
Brooks Koepka 2021 schedule: Where will he play next?

by NCG info

Is a Senior Ryder Cup on the horizon? McGinley's keen to open talks
Is a Senior Ryder Cup on the horizon? McGinley's keen to open talks

by Alex Perry

Safeway Open preview: TV times and betting tips
Safeway Open preview: TV times and betting tips

by Barry Plummer

New balls, please! What's in your pro shop in 2020?
New balls, please! What's in your pro shop in 2020?

by Hannah Holden

Rory McIlroy 2021 schedule: Where will he play next?
Rory McIlroy 2021 schedule: Where will he play next?

by NCG info