Obscured Ball

A golf ball that is difficult to see or locate due to its position behind obstacles, in tall grass, or in shadows, but is not necessarily lost according to the rules. Obscured balls require careful searching and may be subject to specific relief procedures depending on the circumstances. Players have three minutes to search for obscured balls before they are considered lost. Understanding procedures for obscured balls helps golfers handle search situations properly and avoid unnecessary penalty strokes. Proper ball marking and awareness of ball position can help prevent obscured ball situations.