9. Alternative to Stroke and Distance for Lost Ball or Ball Out of Bounds. Our league has voted on and adopted this local rule: Playing a provisional ball is prohibited. Significant issues with pace of play can result for a player needing to take stroke-and-distance relief for a ball that is out of bounds or cannot be found. When a player’s ball has not been found or is known or virtually certain to be out of bounds, the player may proceed as follows rather than proceeding under stroke and distance.For two penalty strokes, the player may drop within two club lengths from the edge of the fairway on the hole being played, no nearer the hole.