What action is required if a player’s ball is lost?

When a player's ball is lost, the appropriate action is to play from the location of the previous stroke, which is an established rule in golf. According to the Rules of Golf, if a player's ball is considered lost, they must return to the spot from which they last played and hit another shot. This ensures that the player continues the round while adhering to the regulations.

The other options, while relevant to specific scenarios in the game, do not apply when a ball is lost. Using a provisional ball is only appropriate when a player suspects their ball might be lost or out of bounds, and it allows the player to continue play without returning to the previous stroke if they find their original ball. Dropping a new ball without penalty does not adhere to the rules governing lost balls; such action typically incurs a one-stroke penalty if the ball is lost outside of the search time limits. Searching for the ball for three minutes is a guideline established for a maximum search time, but does not eliminate the necessity of returning to the last stroke location if the ball can't be found.