| As you are going to read, waiting for every shot | | | | back to where you hit the ball to play another, |
| stinks and it is no different when you golf in New | | | | but the provisional ball has done this for you. |
| Mexico either. And that is with the beautiful | | | | This is how the scoring would go: Count all the |
| sunsets and golf courses. | | | | strokes on the original ball that you lost. Then |
| Nobody wants to stand around for the better | | | | take your penalty. Now count all the shots you |
| part of five and a half hours, watching other | | | | took on the provisional ball.So, if your tee shot |
| people play golf up ahead, while you’re, well, | | | | was the one that went OB, you’d count that |
| just standing there. | | | | stroke, plus a penalty stroke, plus the stroke on |
| There was a rule put into place by the people | | | | the provisional. So you are lying 3 and hitting 4. |
| who write the rules of golf. This is the provisional | | | | OK, here is another scenario, you go up to where |
| ball rule. This rule is intended to speed up play. | | | | you thought the ball was lost and you find the ball |
| New golfers tend to equate a provisional ball with | | | | in bounds and you hit a provisional ball, what do |
| a “mulligan,” or a “do-over.” A | | | | you do? |
| provisional ball is not a mulligan or do-over. The | | | | Easy, the provisional ball is like it has never been |
| provisional ball is legal and within the rules of golf. | | | | played. Just go and pick up your provisional ball. |
| It will help to keep the pace of play better when | | | | Any shots that you played on the provisional ball |
| it is used correctly. | | | | you don't need to count. Now all you have to do |
| Use the provisional ball if you think you hit your | | | | is just continue to play the original ball. |
| ball out of bounds. Also use the provisional ball if | | | | Ok, you are on the tee and you bang out a fade |
| you think you lost your ball outside a hazard. | | | | of 300 yards and you think it went OB. Now you |
| It works this way: Now if there is doubt that | | | | are mad and you have lost your rhythm and you |
| your ball can be found or is even in bounds, you | | | | just top the ball 3 or 4 times down the fairway |
| make the announcement "provisional ball", and hit. | | | | until you reach the point of the original ball. There |
| You must actually utter the words “provisional | | | | is nothing finer than finding that original ball and, |
| ball,” not just “I’ll reload” or | | | | poof, all those topped shots on the provisional go |
| “I’ll hit again.” | | | | away because from a scoring standpoint, they |
| You then can play strokes on the provisional ball | | | | never happened. |
| up to the point where you believe your original ball | | | | Now you know how to use the provisional golf |
| to be. At that point, you commence the search | | | | ball, so when you decide to come and go golfing in |
| for the original ball and, if it’s not found within | | | | New Mexico, you are going to have a great |
| five minutes, the provisional ball becomes the ball | | | | time. One thing, when you do decide to come, |
| in play. | | | | make sure that you get a discounted tee time |
| What this does, it saves time. If you did not | | | | that will save you some money. |
| play the provisional ball, you would have to walk | | | | |