Lost ball in fairway

Question
A player drives a ball in the fairway.  The ball cannot be
located.  He and other players in the foursome determine
that the ball was, in fact, in the fairway.  Is this ball
ruled to be a lost ball subject to the penalty or can a ball be dropped in the area where it was thought to have
landed and played without a shot penalty?

Answer
Jim:  The rules of golf sometimes seem unfair and this is one of those times.  The ball would be deemed to be lost and the player must invoke the stroke and distance penalty.  
"Lost Ball: A ball is deemed "lost" if:

   a. It is not found or identified as his by the player within five minutes after the player's side or his or their caddies have begun to search for it; "

Thanks for your interest in the rules.

Fairways and Greens,

John
www.golfnutts.com