Local Rule 14 – Alternative to Stroke and Distance for Lost ball or Ball Out of bounds.When a provisional ball has not been played, significant issues with pace of play can result for a player needing to take stroke-and-distance relief for a ball that is out of bounds or cannot be found. The purpose of this Local Rule is to provide an extra relief option that allows a player to play on without returning to the location of the previous stroke.
When a player’s ball has not been found or is known or virtually certain to be out of bounds, the player may proceed under this Local Rule for a penalty of two strokes, rather than proceeding under stroke and distance. This Local Rule is not available if the player has played another ball provisionally under penalty of stroke and distance (see Rule 14.3), eg player must play the provisional ball and cannot choose to use this local rule for the original ball to gain a more favourable outcome.
