When a player's ball has not been found, or it is a fact or virtually certain that it is out of bounds, the player may continue as follows rather than playing from the previous spot.
With a penalty of two strokes, the player may take relief by dropping the original ball or another ball in this relief area (see Rule 14.3):
Two estimated reference points:
Ball Reference Point: The point where the original ball is estimated to be:
To have come to lie still on the field, or
Most recently, the pitch crossed the outer boundary on its way out of bounds.
Fairway Reference Point: The point on the fairway of the hole being played that is closest to
the ball reference point, but no closer to the hole than this.
In this Local Rule, “fairway” means any area of grass in the general area that is mowed to fairway height or lower.
If a ball is deemed to be lost on the course, or last crossed the outer boundary of the course before the beginning of the fairway, the fairway reference point may be a grass path or teeing ground for the hole being played that is mowed to fairway height or lower.
Size of the relief area based on reference points:
Anywhere between:
A line from the hole through the ball reference point (and within two club-lengths outside that line), and
A line from the hole through the fairway reference point (and within two club lengths to the fairway side of that line).
However, with these restrictions, the limits for the location of the relief area:
Must be in the general area and
Must not be closer to the hole than the ball reference point.
Once the player has put his ball into play under this Local Rule, the original ball that was lost or out of bounds is no longer in play and must not be played.
This applies even if the ball is found on the course before the end of the three-minute search time (see Rule 6.3b).
But the player must not take this relief option for the original ball when:
It is a fact or virtually certain that the ball has come to rest in a penalty area, or
The player has played a provisional ball from a previous spot (see Rule 18.3), or
The player has declared the ball unplayable (see Rule 19).
A player may take this relief option for a provisional ball that has not been found or that is, as a matter of fact or virtually certain, out of bounds.
Penalty for playing a ball from a wrong place in breach of a local rule: General penalty under Rule 14.7a.
Note:
This local rule does not apply in tournaments unless stated in the conditions for the individual tournament, which are set by the Committee.