When is a ball deemed lost during play?

A ball is deemed lost during play after a certain time limit has passed since it has been hit. According to the Rules of Golf, specifically Rule 18.2, if a player cannot find their ball within three minutes of searching for it, the ball is considered lost. This means that the player must take penalty strokes and proceed by playing another ball from the original spot or an appropriate location, depending on the circumstances of the hole.

The options involving throwing the ball, hitting it into a water hazard, or putting another ball into play do not relate to the defined circumstances under which a ball is considered lost. A player may throw the ball for various reasons without it being lost. Hitting into a water hazard (now referred to as a penalty area) does not automatically mean the ball is lost, as there are rules governing how to proceed in those situations. Finally, simply putting another ball into play does not indicate that the first ball is lost; it may still be in play until the criteria for a lost ball is met.