Lost your ball? Here's what to do next

Watching your golf ball flying towards the rough is never fun, but it happens to absolutely every golfer - even the pros.

If you lose your ball, it's important to know exactly what the rules are or you could end up in even more trouble.

So keep your golfing woes to a minimum with our guide to losing your ball.

Five minute rule
A player has five minutes to look for a ball before it is deemed to be lost. Get looking...

Playing a provisional ball
If you're not sure where your ball has gone, hit another ball just in case.

Out of bounds
There is no coming back from here even if you find your ball - a ball played into it can't be played out.

Unplayable lie
A player may declare their ball to be unplayable at any time - except when it is in a water hazard.

How to drop a ball
A player may need to drop the ball in order to take relief for several reasons.

Etiquette
Etiquette plays a major role in golf. Avoid those tuts with our handy guide.