What are the odds that the golf ball manufacturers were in on this? 🙂 In my experience as a referee, many players are inclined to give up before my stopwatch hits five minutes, the 2018 limit.
2019 Rule: Under Rule 18.2, the time for a ball search (before the ball becomes lost) will be reduced from five (5) minutes to three (3) minutes.
Reasons for Change
- Limiting the search period to three minutes is more consistent with the underlying principle that golf is to be played in a prompt and continuous way, without long pauses in play.
- In most cases, if the ball is going to be found, it will be found within the first three minutes.
- Although this change may increase the number of lost balls, on average the overall impact should be to speed up play.
- Knowing that the search time is limited to three minutes should encourage players to play a provisional ball when they believe there is a chance their ball may not be found.
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