Lost ball

Yes, we are all concerned with pace of play and sure, it seems unfair that a ball might be lost in "plain site" but.......are you allowed to just "drop one" and take a penalty stroke if you can't find your ball? No, no, no, you may not! As shown in the extract from the Rules of Golf, the penalty is "stroke and distance" so hope in the cart, on your pony or whatever and go back to where you hit the previous shot from to rehit. BTW - if there was any question about whether the ball would be found, you should have hit a provisional ball to keep you from having to go back. The exception to this rule is shown below the main rule as an "exception".

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Ball Not Found Within Five Minutes

If a ball is lost as a result of not being found or identified as his by the player within five minutes after the player's side or his or their caddies have begun to search for it, the player must play a ball, under penalty of one stroke, as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played (see Rule 20-5).

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StartFragmentException: If it is known or virtually certain that the original ball, that has not been found, has been moved by an outside agency (Rule 18-1), is in an obstruction (Rule 24-3), is in an abnormal ground condition (Rule 25-1) or is in a water hazard (Rule 26-1), the player may proceed under the applicable Rule. EndFragment

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