Local Rule 13 Explanation

𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Sometimes it is not always clear whether a ball may have come to rest in a Penalty Area or cleared it thereby remaining in play. 

To help maintain the pace of play, the player should declare a Provisional at the point where the ball is believed to have initially entered the Penalty Area. 

The player plays the provisional from the point of relief they would have chosen if the ball is in the Penalty Area but after playing the Provisional ball can move forward to try to locate the original ball. If the original is found the player continues with the original ball active. If the original is not found the player continues to use the provisional ball with its accompanying penalty.

For example, on Doon 18, when playing Hole 11 a ball often flies over the Penalty Area as it approaches the green. Sometimes it is not possible to see whether it cleared the area or not. So as the player moves forward from the tee box, they can declare and drop a provisional ball at the point where the ball began to fly over the Penalty Area and having played the provisional, then move forward. If the original ball is found in play, then the player may play that ball without penalty. If on the other hand the provisional is used, then one penalty stroke is counted as well as the shot with the provisional ball.

Another example is on Hole 12. A ball hit along the line of the righthand penalty area may have landed safely, but it cannot always been observed. So a player can declare and hit a provisional ball at the point where it entered the Penalty Area. As they move forward they may find their original ball in play and can continue to use it (discarding the provisional ball). It is possible that they may find their ball in the penalty area, but in a position where it is clear that it cleared the penalty area and then re-entered it. At that re-entry point they can determine that they need to count a penalty stroke and take relief but the point of entry into the penalty area is further along the fairway that may have been realised at first.