lost ball

Apologies if this has been discussed before.

Can a pl;ayer deem his ball lost at any stage or must he/she make an effort to find it ? I've had a few games recently were a player has deemed his ball lost after hitting a decent provisional. I have been informed that the player himself can deen it lost at any stage but I've yet to see this happen on the TV.

Thanks in advance for any replies

Brendan  

Everyone knows its a ball so saying a provisional is good enough.

All I can say, Campbell, is that the guy is just being pedantic. I suppose if you did not add the word 'ball' he would ask you to play another one, would he.

When one is playing golf it is accepted, by normal golfers, that 'provisional' means 'provisional ball'.

I doubt he has many partners if that is the way he behaves.

Agreed, Jon T.

Is it possible to have a putt with a provisional, may stop me 4 putting so much