We're playing a long par 4 today and all four players saw one player's ball splash in the greenside bunker. When we arrived at the bunker, no ball to be found. Looked everywhere, nothing. What is the proper way to proceed?

We guessed that it was "lost ball" and go from there. Just didn't know if there was any additional considerations since we were fairly sure that it should have been in the bunker.

And...Another question...

On a par 3, player hits the ball over and to the side of the green into the bushes but not in a hazard. Ball can be plainly seen once we got closer, but it makes for a difficult play. Obviously the choice is to play it or take an unplayable. However, my question is…if the player, while on the tee, thought it would be a lousy lie, could she have abandoned that ball immediately and played again from the tee before going to find out where the first ball was? This would have been a better result than either playing Ball 1 where it was or taking an unplayable.

Les' Answer 

First you can "probe" a bunker with rake or club searching for the ball. Once found and if moved, the ball must be replaced and then covered with sand. The player is allowed to remove enough sand so the ball is visible. This all can be done at no penalty. If after searching for 5 minutes the ball can not be found, then it is a lost ball and the player must return to where the last shot was made (stroke and distance).

For your second question. The rules specify that you can't "abandon" a ball but it is when you hit a provisional. You can't hit a provisional and then "abandon" the first ball. However, you can always do the stroke and distance which is essentially the same thing. Meaning, you are lying in the middle of the fairway and your second shot ends in a bunker. You can drop 3 and hit your fourth on the green. You can hit a provisional ball when it is suspected the ball is lost (not in a hazard) or is out of bounds. In this case, if the player determines the ball is unplayable from the tee (a ball can be declared unplayable anywhere), then stroke and distance rule applies. Or, if upon reaching the ball it is determined to be unplayable, one of the options is to return under stroke and distance and re-play. This often is the best option since 2 club lengths doesn't always help and moving away from the green while keeping the point where the ball is unplayable between you and the flag is not possible.

A little confusing, I'm sure.

So probe with a rake and if not found it is "lost ball".

Declare the ball unplayable at the tee or at the point where it's unplayable and reload.