How long can you look for a golf ball?
I · Intermediate · The ball in play · 6 of 16A player has three minutes to find the ball, counted from when the player or caddie starts to search. Reasonable searching, such as bending grass or moving sand, is allowed. If the ball is moved by accident during the search there is no penalty, and it is put back.
How it works
- Fair search: the player may move sand and water, and move or bend grass, bushes and branches. Breaking them is allowed only as a result of other reasonable searching.
- If a fair search happens to improve the lie or stance, there is no penalty. Going beyond what is reasonable is the general penalty.
- Ball moved in the search, by the player, the opponent or anyone else: no penalty, and the ball is replaced on its spot, estimated if need be.
- Sand moved in the search: the original lie must be re-created.
- Identifying the ball: by seeing it come to rest, by the player's identifying mark or by finding a ball of the same brand, model, number and condition where the ball is expected to be. The Rules say a player should put an identifying mark on the ball.
- Lifting to identify: allowed if the ball cannot be identified as it lies. The spot must be marked first and the ball cleaned no more than is needed to identify it. Getting this wrong costs one penalty stroke.
- A ball found inside the three minutes may be identified after they have run out, within a reasonable time.
- If the search is interrupted for a good reason, such as play being suspended, the clock stops.
Tricky cases
Can a player declare a ball lost?
No. A ball "does not become lost as a result of the player declaring it to be lost". It is lost only when the three minutes run out.
A player trod on the ball while looking for it. Is there a penalty?
No. The ball is replaced where it was.
The ball was found after four minutes. Can it be played?
No. It became lost at three minutes and is out of play.
Why the rule exists
Three minutes balances fairness to the player against the wait for everyone behind. The no-penalty rule for a ball moved in the search stops players being too nervous to look properly.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Rules of Golf | As above | G 7; G 18.2a |
From the rule book
The R&A and USGA Rules of Golf, Rules 6.3a, 7 and 18.2a, and the Definition of lost. Effective January 2023. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: Rules of Golf (PDF).