Penalty Strokes

Question
Just taking up the game as a retirement activity and have questions about penalty shots in various situations.  Have looked at the USGA rule book, but just confused me.  Here's my questions.
1.  Hit tee shot on par 3 into deep rough.  Couldn't find ball.  Went back to tee box and hit another shot that holed out, yes a hole in one on second shot.  Would my score for the hole be a 3 or 4?
2.  Tee shot went out of bounds.  Do I drop a ball where my original ball went OB, or do I hit another ball from the original spot?  
3.  2nd shot went into lateral water hazard.  Local rules have a drop area for balls in hazard.  Would my dropped ball be lying 3 and I would be hitting 4?
4.  Whenever you hit a ball that you think will be lost, should you hit a provisional just in case your original ball is lost?
5.  Can you declare a ball lost without looking for it?  
Thanks for your help.

Answer
Hi John:

Kind of confusing isn't it?  Believe it or not, the rules are in place to help us, not hurt us and protect the integrity of the entire game for everyone.  But you're right, sometimes difficult to understand.  

1.  3

2.  MUST hit next shot (3rd shot) from where you hit the first one from (tee shot).

3.  You would be hitting 4.  Second shot in the hazard, a penalty to get out, then hitting four.  

4.  Yes, to speed up play.  Also, if you think it might be out of bounds.  

5.  Yes, you have control over your ball.  Then you proceed under the lost ball rule.  

Good questions.  Have fun and thank you for playing by the rules!

Eddie Kilthau
PGA Member