There is a general assumption at this time of the year, that there is a local rule to cover "Sucker Ball" in place.  This is brought about by the very soft conditions of parts of the course when a ball is embedded in the ground and cannot be found.  A decision by the R&A in Scotland has stated that such a local rule is not permitted.

 

If a ball embeds and cannot be found it is a lost ball and the player must proceed under the penalty of stroke and distance.

 

There is however the possibility that the ball can be declared as lost in abnormal ground conditions.  The definition of Abnormal Ground Condition states:

"An abnormal ground condition is any casual water, ground under repair or a hole, cast or runway on the course made be a burrowing animal, a reptile or a bird."

 

So, if a player's ball is seen to have landed in the ground and embedded, and when searching that area casual water is visible and the ball cannot be found, the player may proceed under Rule 25-1c (Ball in Abnormal Ground Condition Not Found).  It must be known or virtually certain that the ball is in this area otherwise the player must proceed under stroke and distance.  If there is casual water in the area where the ball has embedded, the player must determine where, not nearer the hole, the outermost limit of the casual water is and that point is his nearest point of relief.  Another ball must be dropped within one club length of that point without penalty.