Opening Day Team Red-Ball Stroke Play

USGA Rules govern play including posted local rules.

Tees:  All players play from the white tees. Eligible seniors may play from the yellow tees.

Format: On each hole one member of the team must play the Red-Ball, the other three members of the team will play their own ball.  All players will receive 80 % of their course handicap.  The team score on each hole will consist of the net score of the Red-Ball + the best net score of the remaining three players.  Each member of the team must play a minimum of four holes with the Red-Ball, and so mark on the scorecard. There does not have to be a set order to the rotation of the Red-Ball.  Once a player puts the Red-ball into play on a hole, that player must complete play of the hole. A second Red-Ball will be included in each teams entry.

Red-Ball Lost: The Red-ball is lost when:
1. It is not found or identified within 5 minutes after beginning search.
2. The player has put the second Red-Ball into play.
3. The player has played any stroke with a provisional Red-Ball from the place where the original Red-Ball is likely to be or from a point nearer the hole than that place, whereupon the provisional Red-Ball becomes the ball in play.
4. It comes to rest out of bounds.
(ONCE THE RED-BALL IS DEEMED LOST UNDER ANY OF THE ABOVE CONDITIONS IT MAY NOT BE PUT BACK INTO PLAY. EVEN IF IT IS FOUND!!!!)

Putting the 2nd Red-Ball into Play: The second Red-Ball may be put into play:
1. Without penalty, for a ball lost under any of the above conditions. It is to be dropped at the point nearest to where the original ball was last played. It may be re-teed if put into play for a ball hit from the tee box, or placed if on the putting green.
2. Under the rules with penalty, for a ball lost in a water hazard.

This gives you the option of dropping under the rules for a ball lost in a water hazard. 1 stroke penalty
Or
Without penalty from the spot where the last stroke was played.