a) Procedure with penalty stroke and loss of distance
A player may at any time play a ball with a penalty stroke as close as possible to the place from which the original ball was last played (see Rule 20-5), i.e. proceed under penalty stroke and loss of distance.
If a player makes a stroke after a ball from the place where the original ball was last played, he is deemed to have made a penalty stroke and lost distance, unless the rules permit otherwise.
b) Ball out of bounds
If a ball is out of bounds, the player with a penalty stroke must play a ball as close as possible to the spot from which the original ball was last played (see Rule 20-5).
c) Ball not found within five minutes
If a ball is lost because it has not been found or identified by the player as his within five minutes after the player's party or one of their caddies has started searching for it, the player must play a penalty stroke to play a ball as close as possible to the spot from which the original ball was last played (see Rule 20-5).
Exceptions:
(1) If it is known or virtually certain that the original ball that was not found is in a hazard (Rule 24-3) or in unusual ground (Rule 25-1c), the player may proceed under the applicable rule.
2. if it is known or virtually certain that the original ball that was not found has been moved by something not in play (Rule 18-1) or is in a water hazard (Rule 26-1), the player shall proceed under the applicable rule.
PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE 27-1:
Hole play - Hole loss; Counting play - Two strokes.
Status: 2018