Rules Crew -

QUESTION: I hit my tee shot towards a palm tree and my entire group thought it was in the tree but none of us saw it go in a specific location in the tree. We went up to search for it and found a ball in the palm tree but I could not identify it as mine.  What do I do?

-Dale, Victorville

ANSWER:

 Dale, that is quite the predicament. Unfortunately, you do need to identify that ball within three minutes as yours to proceed with it. You can try to identify it with binoculars or a distance measuring device. If you cannot do so and the three-minute search period has elapsed, you will have to proceed under stroke and distance and return to the teeing area to play your third stroke. 

SHORT VERSION: To proceed with playing your next stroke with your ball, you need to clearly identify it as yours. If you can’t, then you have to proceed under stroke and distance.