Rules of Golf - Rule 12: Searching for and Identifying
Ball
12-1.
Searching for Ball; Seeing Ball
In searching for his ball anywhere on the course, the player may touch
or bend long grass, rushes, bushes, whins, heather or the like, but only
to the extent necessary to find and identify it, provided that this does
not improve the lie of the ball, the area of his intended stance or
swing or his line of play.
A player is not necessarily entitled to see his ball when making a
stroke.
In a hazard, if a ball is believed to be covered by loose impediments or
sand, the player may remove by probing or raking with a club or
otherwise, as many loose impediments or as much sand as will enable him
to see a part of the ball. If an excess is removed, there is no penalty
and the ball must be re-covered so that only a part of the ball is
visible. If the ball is moved during the removal, there is no penalty;
the ball must be replaced and, if necessary, re-covered. As to removal
of loose impediments outside a hazard, see Rule 23.
If a ball lying in an abnormal ground condition is accidentally moved
during search, there is no penalty; the ball must be replaced, unless
the player elects to proceed under Rule 25-1b. If the player replaces
the ball, he may still proceed under Rule 25-1b if applicable.
If a ball is believed to be lying in water in a water hazard, the player
may probe for it with a club or otherwise. If the ball is moved in
probing, it must be replaced, unless the player elects to proceed under
Rule 26-1. There is no penalty for causing the ball to move provided the
movement of the ball was directly attributable to the specific act of
probing. Otherwise, the player incurs a penalty stroke under Rule 18-2a.
Penalty for Breach of Rule 12-1:
Match play — Loss of hole; Stroke play — Two strokes.
12-2.
Identifying Ball
The responsibility for playing the proper ball rests with the player.
Each player should put an identification mark on his ball.
Except in a hazard, if a player has reason to believe a ball is his, he
may lift the ball without penalty to identify it.
Before lifting the ball, the player must announce his intention to his
opponent in match play or his marker or a fellow-competitor in stroke
play and mark the position of the ball. He may then lift the ball and
identify it provided that he gives his opponent, marker or
fellow-competitor an opportunity to observe the lifting and replacement.
The ball must not be cleaned beyond the extent necessary for
identification when lifted under Rule 12-2. If the player fails to
comply with all or any part of this procedure, or if he lifts his ball
for identification in a hazard, he incurs a penalty of one stroke.
If the lifted ball is the player’s ball he must replace it. If he fails
to do so, he incurs the general penalty for a breach of Rule 12-2, but
there is no additional penalty under this Rule.
*Penalty for Breach of Rule 12-2:
Match play — Loss of hole; Stroke play — Two strokes.
*If a player incurs the general penalty for a breach of Rule 12-2, there
is no additional penalty under this Rule.
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