I hate the "Leaving the flag in" rule

[davep043]

I just don'd understand the problems, maybe I just play with smarter or more communicative golfers. Its simple to say, while a putt is still rolling, "John, in or out for you?" and have the flagstick in John's desired location as soon as the ball stops rolling. I just haven't seen the "nightmare" described by others.

[bladehunter]

> @davep043 said:

> I just don'd understand the problems, maybe I just play with smarter or more communicative golfers. Its simple to say, while a putt is still rolling, "John, in or out for you?" and have the flagstick in John's desired location as soon as the ball stops rolling. I just haven't seen the "nightmare" described by others.

 

Nightmare is pretty strong. But it’s an issue we have to discuss every round now.

 

Not sure how your scenario works unless someone is attending the flag ? In my groups each guy is in place with his mark or ball ready for his turn. After his turn he’s out of everyone else’s line of sight and still. Having a guy standing by the pin isn’t going to work.

[nsxguy]

**FIRST WORLD PROBLEMS** LMAO

 


 

[OrangeGravy]

> @Roadking2003 said:

> > @Z1ggy16 said:

> > I guess if you're the player who's already gotten 35 rounds in by April 1, then saving 10 minutes a round will add up over the course of a year. To me, I never really felt like this pin topic was about saving time really. Prior to 2019 (in my rounds at least), usually the guy who was away was lining up his putt while one of the closer guys would pull. Then, last guy in puts the flag back in while the others are walking away... It's more about how the pin being there affects how I put rather than a couple minutes I get back.

> I agree. It's not about saving time. For me, it's a better aiming point. Saving time is just a bonus.

>

>

 

This is the biggest advantage I've seen so far. For me it has helped tremendously on putts from a reasonable make range, say 15ft and in. It seems to have alleviated my astigmatism to a degree!

[Swisstrader98]

The funny part for me this weekend was playing with caddies who weren’t up to date on the rule changes, so they were pulling the flag each time. We had to gently tell him new rule, you can keep the flag in. He initially thought we were just messing with him and still kept pulling it.

 

Then same deal when one of the guys in our group grounds his club in the hazard. Caddie has this look of shock and dismay.

 

I love our caddies but after the round I talked to the pro about all caddies getting a quick tutorial on the new rules.

[bladehunter]

> @nsxguy said:

> **FIRST WORLD PROBLEMS** LMAO

>

> 

>

 

Obviously ?.... the whole game is a first world issue.

[Imp]

> @"sui generis" said:

> > @Sawgrass said:

> > I suspect the "agreement" Sui is discussing is best described as, "Unless we say otherwise, let's always leave the flagstick in."

> >

> > And not, "We are agreeing to never take the flagstick out" which would be a problem.

>

> You suspect correctly.

> Often it starts, if no one else has commented, with, "Everyone good with the flagstick in?"

> "Fine by me," is the usual response. Though, of course, there's the odd, "Okay, but I might like it out once in awhile."

> I see that "agreement" as somewhat equivalent in stroke play, of asking on the 1st tee, "Ready golf today, gentlemen?"

Ahh, it came off as a "we all agree to one preference before we tee off." Roger that!

 

--kC

[davep043]

> @bladehunter said:

> > @davep043 said:

> > I just don'd understand the problems, maybe I just play with smarter or more communicative golfers. Its simple to say, while a putt is still rolling, "John, in or out for you?" and have the flagstick in John's desired location as soon as the ball stops rolling. I just haven't seen the "nightmare" described by others.

>

> Nightmare is pretty strong. But it’s an issue we have to discuss every round now.

>

> Not sure how your scenario works unless someone is attending the flag ? In my groups each guy is in place with his mark or ball ready for his turn. After his turn he’s out of everyone else’s line of sight and still. Having a guy standing by the pin isn’t going to work.

 

Generally speaking, the player whose ball is closest takes responsibility for the flagstick. He doesn't have to be standing next to the flag, 2 or 3 steps away is close enough. When Player A hits his putt, Player D (closest, therefore last to play) can step to the flag and pull it (or replace it, if appropriate) as soon as A's putt stops rolling. Its really pretty simple, if each player communicates with the others. In your scenario, with 4 players each concentrating on his own putt and nothing else, I can see the difficulty. That's just not the way I play golf, either with my buddies or with strangers.

[taporsnap17]

I like it. I'm not fussed either way tbh though.

 

The biggest pro for me thus far with flag in for a POP perspective is actually from the fairway. If the flag is in, when I get to my ball and am waiting for the group ahead to putt out, if the flag is in, I can get the range and start club selection way earlier.

[dpb5031]

I do not like the rule change and I do not believe the flagstick increases the odds of holing a putt, though I'll acknowledge that some perceive it helps with depth perception and alignment.

 

I've played over 50 rounds since the change. I'd agree that if there were full consensus either way it'd be quicker and less aggravating. In most cases though, it's a cluster-muck. This guy wants it in, next guy out, then back in, "I'll go while it's still out...even though I'm hitting out of turn," "out for me," "can you put it back in for my 4 footer," and so on... PITA!

 

I also have not noticed a significant influence on pace of play one way or the other as long as players are aware, courteous, and attentive, but then again guys who are aware, courteous, and attentive typically dont play slowly anyway.

[Sawgrass]

> @dpb5031 said:

 

> I've played over 50 rounds since the change. I'd agree that if there were full consensus either way it'd be quicker and less aggravating. In most cases though, it's a cluster-muck. This guy wants it in, next guy out, then back in, "I'll go while it's still out...even though I'm hitting out of turn," "out for me," "can you put it back in for my 4 footer," and so on... PITA!

>

Okay, but I can't say all that's really that much of a problem.

 

On the other hand, I've sometimes seen a lot of fussing with the person attending the flagstick. "I'd rather have you stand on the other side of the pin." "Can you move your shadow? No, that way!" "Mind holding the flag with your hand so it doesn't flap?" "No, pull it and rest it angled in the cup so it doesn't jam."

 

Either way, I'm happy to be standing on a green.

[sprcoop]

Initially I loved it. My regular partner and I were pretty much leave it in guys and any randoms we played with mostly were also. Last 9 of last round my regular decides he likes it out. Cr@p! Let the flag in/out merry go round begin.

[Deceptively Short]

The major difference that I have seen since the rule change, is that no one that I have played with has the flag attended anymore. This means that everyone is able to concentrate on their own game/putt and this definitely speeds the game up.

[Sawgrass]

> @sprcoop said:

> Initially I loved it. My regular partner and I were pretty much leave it in guys and any randoms we played with mostly were also. Last 9 of last round my regular decides he likes it out. Cr@p! Let the flag in/out merry go round begin.

 

The next exciting new feature in high-end golf watches will be a Tinder-like function in which you can swipe your way to a flagstick-compatible foursome near the first tee.

[deadsolid...shank]

We played yesterday with an older guy (at least older than me!) who was a high end amateur years ago. He asked on the first hole people’s preferences, and said he likes it out (not surprising). I said I don’t care either way, the 3rd guy didn’t really respond. We played about 12 holes with it out. Along about there the 3rd guy was about to putt (think we had chipped on) and the stick was in, said you can just leave it in for me. On the next hole the older guy asked the 3rd guy, “you like it in dont you”(which he did). Rest of the round it was in or out depending on who was putting. It really wasn’t a big deal at all. Jim likes it out, John likes it in.

It was just so much ado about nothing, so easy to adjust it for whomever was up. If John had said initially he liked it in, it would have been for him all along, and really wouldn’t have created any issues.

[The Real Pacman]

I just don't see how leaving the flag in speeds rounds up at all. How many seconds does it take to walk to the flag, and take it out? That's all the time you're really saving, because once you putt out, and eventually hole the putt, you're now right beside where the flag is laying and you simply pick it back up and put it back in. If you're taking the time to properly read your putt, a lot of people are going to talk around the pin anyway. I just don't see how this speeds up play at all.

[nsxguy]

> @"The Real Pacman" said:

> I just don't see how leaving the flag in speeds rounds up at all. How many seconds does it take to walk to the flag, and take it out? That's all the time you're really saving, because once you putt out, and eventually hole the putt, you're now right beside where the flag is laying and you simply pick it back up and put it back in. If you're taking the time to properly read your putt, a lot of people are going to talk around the pin anyway. I just don't see how this speeds up play at all.

 

Have you tried it yet ?

 

It's been explained any number of times how it "works", especially "early" in the greens portion of a hole when people can just go on and hit a long putt instead of waiting for the pin to be tended or pulled. @davep043 has explained it rather well several times himself.

 

Some who have used it many times already, myself included, have suggested it saves roughly 10 minutes a round. Not a great timesaver in and of itself,,,,,,,,,, but it wasn't introduced to make a 5 hour round into a 3 hour one.

[ThinkingPlus]

> @"deadsolid...shank" said:

> We played yesterday with an older guy (at least older than me!) who was a high end amateur years ago. He asked on the first hole people’s preferences, and said he likes it out (not surprising). I said I don’t care either way, the 3rd guy didn’t really respond. We played about 12 holes with it out. Along about there the 3rd guy was about to putt (think we had chipped on) and the stick was in, said you can just leave it in for me. On the next hole the older guy asked the 3rd guy, “you like it in dont you”(which he did). Rest of the round it was in or out depending on who was putting. It really wasn’t a big deal at all. Jim likes it out, John likes it in.

> It was just so much ado about nothing, so easy to adjust it for whomever was up. If John had said initially he liked it in, it would have been for him all along, and really wouldn’t have created any issues.

 

If you have a situation like that then it isn't a big deal. Not faster really, but noy an issue. What I have seen so far is that circumstances dictate in/out as much as a full time preference. We have all in, all out, and some in/some out depending upon distance or uphill/downhill. There is also the leaning pin scenario to consider where you might have to walk up fairly close to the pin to see how it is leaning then make your choice. Can't wait to see how it goes in my first state tournaments this year. Should be interesting to compare the kids and the seniors to see who wants what and when.

[rogolf]

I don't understand the comments and concerns about "out, then back in" and "in, then out, then in". We've played several rounds in 2019 and have not had any issues with the flagstick. Some players want it in on certain putts (usually long putts and/or downhill putts); some want it out on shorter putts, some want it in all the time. But there are no issues or conflicts within the group - just kindly ask whether the player would like it in or out and then willingly oblige. The flagstick never needs to be put down on the green, just passed from player to player and put back in as needed. It's all about courtesy and respect of the other players in the group.

[nsxguy]

> @ThinkingPlus said:

> > @"deadsolid...shank" said:

> > We played yesterday with an older guy (at least older than me!) who was a high end amateur years ago. He asked on the first hole people’s preferences, and said he likes it out (not surprising). I said I don’t care either way, the 3rd guy didn’t really respond. We played about 12 holes with it out. Along about there the 3rd guy was about to putt (think we had chipped on) and the stick was in, said you can just leave it in for me. On the next hole the older guy asked the 3rd guy, “you like it in dont you”(which he did). Rest of the round it was in or out depending on who was putting. It really wasn’t a big deal at all. Jim likes it out, John likes it in.

> > It was just so much ado about nothing, so easy to adjust it for whomever was up. If John had said initially he liked it in, it would have been for him all along, and really wouldn’t have created any issues.

>

> If you have a situation like that then it isn't a big deal. Not faster really, but noy an issue. What I have seen so far is that circumstances dictate in/out as much as a full time preference. We have all in, all out, and some in/some out depending upon distance or uphill/downhill. There is also the leaning pin scenario to consider where you might have to walk up fairly close to the pin to see how it is leaning then make your choice. Can't wait to see how it goes in my first state tournaments this year. Should be interesting to compare the kids and the seniors to see who wants what and when.

 

I don't watch a whole lot of golf on TV; certainly not as much as some guys do. Except for maybe the Masters. While I'll probably go out a bit during the telecast I will certainly watch more of that than I do the average weekly tourney.

 

It does seem to me though that I see a few more pins being left in as the season progresses. Fact ? No idea but it seems that way to me.

 

Can't wait to see if more will leave the pin in at the Masters - I expect more will simply because of how slippery ANGC is. It'll be interesting.

[deadsolid...shank]

> @ThinkingPlus said:

> > @"deadsolid...shank" said:

> > We played yesterday with an older guy (at least older than me!) who was a high end amateur years ago. He asked on the first hole people’s preferences, and said he likes it out (not surprising). I said I don’t care either way, the 3rd guy didn’t really respond. We played about 12 holes with it out. Along about there the 3rd guy was about to putt (think we had chipped on) and the stick was in, said you can just leave it in for me. On the next hole the older guy asked the 3rd guy, “you like it in dont you”(which he did). Rest of the round it was in or out depending on who was putting. It really wasn’t a big deal at all. Jim likes it out, John likes it in.

> > It was just so much ado about nothing, so easy to adjust it for whomever was up. If John had said initially he liked it in, it would have been for him all along, and really wouldn’t have created any issues.

>

> If you have a situation like that then it isn't a big deal. Not faster really, but noy an issue. What I have seen so far is that circumstances dictate in/out as much as a full time preference. We have all in, all out, and some in/some out depending upon distance or uphill/downhill. There is also the leaning pin scenario to consider where you might have to walk up fairly close to the pin to see how it is leaning then make your choice. Can't wait to see how it goes in my first state tournaments this year. Should be interesting to compare the kids and the seniors to see who wants what and when.

 

I think a lot of the time differences it will make in a round are much like any other variable. How efficient the particular players are. Players who are normally doing things, reading the green, fixing ball marks, etc while others are doing the same are going to be addressing the flag issue like this older gentleman was, right from the beginning, and then if people want it differently, they’re pulling it/putting it in right away depending on the next putters preference.

 

It will be the group/players that are seldom ready, or don’t anticipate that this will cause an issue for. Even though it was a small sample size of the six holes, just observing yesterday, the three us seemed to find a kind of rhythm with dealing with the stick and it never caused any issues. It will be interesting to see this year as I should be playing with more and different players as opposed to my one or two groups.

 

 

[Pepperturbo]

When putting leaving the flag in is somewhat of a distraction for me, so I pull it. However, I can see some people with poor speed control may benefit from leaving the pin in. They'd be 10' past otherwise.

[deadsolid...shank]

> @nsxguy said:

> > @ThinkingPlus said:

> > > @"deadsolid...shank" said:

> > > We played yesterday with an older guy (at least older than me!) who was a high end amateur years ago. He asked on the first hole people’s preferences, and said he likes it out (not surprising). I said I don’t care either way, the 3rd guy didn’t really respond. We played about 12 holes with it out. Along about there the 3rd guy was about to putt (think we had chipped on) and the stick was in, said you can just leave it in for me. On the next hole the older guy asked the 3rd guy, “you like it in dont you”(which he did). Rest of the round it was in or out depending on who was putting. It really wasn’t a big deal at all. Jim likes it out, John likes it in.

> > > It was just so much ado about nothing, so easy to adjust it for whomever was up. If John had said initially he liked it in, it would have been for him all along, and really wouldn’t have created any issues.

> >

> > If you have a situation like that then it isn't a big deal. Not faster really, but noy an issue. What I have seen so far is that circumstances dictate in/out as much as a full time preference. We have all in, all out, and some in/some out depending upon distance or uphill/downhill. There is also the leaning pin scenario to consider where you might have to walk up fairly close to the pin to see how it is leaning then make your choice. Can't wait to see how it goes in my first state tournaments this year. Should be interesting to compare the kids and the seniors to see who wants what and when.

>

> I don't watch a whole lot of golf on TV; certainly not as much as some guys do. Except for maybe the Masters. While I'll probably go out a bit during the telecast I will certainly watch more of that than I do the average weekly tourney.

>

> It does seem to me though that I see a few more pins being left in as the season progresses. Fact ? No idea but it seems that way to me.

>

> Can't wait to see if more will leave the pin in at the Masters - I expect more will simply because of how slippery ANGC is. It'll be interesting.

 

I agree with that. I think each week I see more pins left in.

 

 

[bladehunter]

> @"The Real Pacman" said:

> I just don't see how leaving the flag in speeds rounds up at all. How many seconds does it take to walk to the flag, and take it out? That's all the time you're really saving, because once you putt out, and eventually hole the putt, you're now right beside where the flag is laying and you simply pick it back up and put it back in. If you're taking the time to properly read your putt, a lot of people are going to talk around the pin anyway. I just don't see how this speeds up play at all.

 

Agree. 10 minute savings sometimes is akin to the guy who will drive 25 miles to buy 2.99 gas when the station beside his house has it for 3.03. ( my father in law). I’d venture we spend over 10 min talking about it each round for an even wash.

 

Edit. It’s only beneficial if there’s a 100% accord amongst the group

[nsxguy]

> @bladehunter said:

> > @"The Real Pacman" said:

> > I just don't see how leaving the flag in speeds rounds up at all. How many seconds does it take to walk to the flag, and take it out? That's all the time you're really saving, because once you putt out, and eventually hole the putt, you're now right beside where the flag is laying and you simply pick it back up and put it back in. If you're taking the time to properly read your putt, a lot of people are going to talk around the pin anyway. I just don't see how this speeds up play at all.

>

> Agree. 10 minute savings sometimes is akin to the guy who will drive 25 miles to buy 2.99 gas when the station beside his house has it for 3.03. ( my father in law). I’d venture we spend over 10 min talking about it each round for an even wash.

>

> Edit. It’s only beneficial if there’s a 100% accord amongst the group

 

Get out your calculator and show your FIL how much $$$ he saves by taking the drive just to get the gas.

 

(Hint - answer is it costs him MORE $$$ driving to get the "cheaper" gas) LOL

[bladehunter]

> @nsxguy said:

> > @bladehunter said:

> > > @"The Real Pacman" said:

> > > I just don't see how leaving the flag in speeds rounds up at all. How many seconds does it take to walk to the flag, and take it out? That's all the time you're really saving, because once you putt out, and eventually hole the putt, you're now right beside where the flag is laying and you simply pick it back up and put it back in. If you're taking the time to properly read your putt, a lot of people are going to talk around the pin anyway. I just don't see how this speeds up play at all.

> >

> > Agree. 10 minute savings sometimes is akin to the guy who will drive 25 miles to buy 2.99 gas when the station beside his house has it for 3.03. ( my father in law). I’d venture we spend over 10 min talking about it each round for an even wash.

> >

> > Edit. It’s only beneficial if there’s a 100% accord amongst the group

>

> Get out your calculator and show your FIL how much $$$ he saves by taking the drive just to get the gas.

>

> (Hint - answer is it costs him MORE $$$ driving to get the "cheaper" gas) LOL

 

He doesn’t believe in “ new math “. Whatever that means.

 

And his infamous quote is “ you’ve got more time than money “. Said whenever I pay someone to do anything rather than do it myself. Keep in mind I do 99 % of things myself. But decide to pay a guy to remove a 100 year old oak tree that’s dead or a lawn service to remove a whole winters worth of leaves in one day and I’m an idiot. Lol. Can’t convince him how valuable my time is. I mean. How on earth could I keep you guys on your toes if I’m out blowing leaves ??? ( sarcasm ).

[nsxguy]

> @bladehunter said:

> > @nsxguy said:

> > > @bladehunter said:

> > > > @"The Real Pacman" said:

> > > > I just don't see how leaving the flag in speeds rounds up at all. How many seconds does it take to walk to the flag, and take it out? That's all the time you're really saving, because once you putt out, and eventually hole the putt, you're now right beside where the flag is laying and you simply pick it back up and put it back in. If you're taking the time to properly read your putt, a lot of people are going to talk around the pin anyway. I just don't see how this speeds up play at all.

> > >

> > > Agree. 10 minute savings sometimes is akin to the guy who will drive 25 miles to buy 2.99 gas when the station beside his house has it for 3.03. ( my father in law). I’d venture we spend over 10 min talking about it each round for an even wash.

> > >

> > > Edit. It’s only beneficial if there’s a 100% accord amongst the group

> >

> > Get out your calculator and show your FIL how much $$$ he saves by taking the drive just to get the gas.

> >

> > (Hint - answer is it costs him MORE $$$ driving to get the "cheaper" gas) LOL

>

> He doesn’t believe in “ new math “. Whatever that means.

>

> And his infamous quote is “ you’ve got more time than money “. Said whenever I pay someone to do anything rather than do it myself. Keep in mind I do 99 % of things myself. But decide to pay a guy to remove a 100 year old oak tree that’s dead or a lawn service to remove a whole winters worth of leaves in one day and I’m an idiot. Lol. Can’t convince him how valuable my time is. I mean. How on earth could I keep you guys on your toes if I’m out blowing leaves ??? ( sarcasm ).

 

Well, I AGREE with his "infamous quote". If I'm going to pay someone to do something I can do equally as well myself i calculate how much I'd be "paying myself" to do the task. If it's worth it, I'll do it myself. If not, I'll pay someone.

 

Now if it's something I can't do myself, where's the problem ? I'll be worse off, and it'd probably be more expensive, if I attempt it and screw it up than if I'd just paid to have it done the first time.

 

Just so happens the "gas thing" rang a bell with me. I drive about 25 miles each way to go play golf twice a week or so and since the same gas is $.30/gal cheaper where I play, I pay attention to my gauge so I can fill up down there. Only saves me about $3.50 per fill up but there's (virtually) no extra effort on my part to fill up down there. Now in the overall scheme of things $3.50 2 or 3 times a month wouldn't affect my lifestyle (if I can even call it THAT LMAO) at all but,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[Shilgy]

> @nsxguy said:

> > @"The Real Pacman" said:

> > I just don't see how leaving the flag in speeds rounds up at all. How many seconds does it take to walk to the flag, and take it out? That's all the time you're really saving, because once you putt out, and eventually hole the putt, you're now right beside where the flag is laying and you simply pick it back up and put it back in. If you're taking the time to properly read your putt, a lot of people are going to talk around the pin anyway. I just don't see how this speeds up play at all.

>

> Have you tried it yet ?

>

> It's been explained any number of times how it "works", especially "early" in the greens portion of a hole when people can just go on and hit a long putt instead of waiting for the pin to be tended or pulled. @davep043 has explained it rather well several times himself.

>

> Some who have used it many times already, myself included, have suggested it saves roughly 10 minutes a round. Not a great timesaver in and of itself,,,,,,,,,, but it wasn't introduced to make a 5 hour round into a 3 hour one.

 

It seems like it should save time-10 minutes might be correct. On a slow course it seems the time saved on the green often means more time waiting on the tee.

[nsxguy]

> @Shilgy said:

> > @nsxguy said:

> > > @"The Real Pacman" said:

> > > I just don't see how leaving the flag in speeds rounds up at all. How many seconds does it take to walk to the flag, and take it out? That's all the time you're really saving, because once you putt out, and eventually hole the putt, you're now right beside where the flag is laying and you simply pick it back up and put it back in. If you're taking the time to properly read your putt, a lot of people are going to talk around the pin anyway. I just don't see how this speeds up play at all.

> >

> > Have you tried it yet ?

> >

> > It's been explained any number of times how it "works", especially "early" in the greens portion of a hole when people can just go on and hit a long putt instead of waiting for the pin to be tended or pulled. @davep043 has explained it rather well several times himself.

> >

> > Some who have used it many times already, myself included, have suggested it saves roughly 10 minutes a round. Not a great timesaver in and of itself,,,,,,,,,, but it wasn't introduced to make a 5 hour round into a 3 hour one.

>

> It seems like it should save time-10 minutes might be correct. On a slow course it seems the time saved on the green often means more time waiting on the tee.

 

Well, until someone can figure out how to make a golf course 2 lanes, instead of a 1 way 1 lane road,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, LOL

[dpb5031]

> @rogolf said:

> I don't understand the comments and concerns about "out, then back in" and "in, then out, then in". We've played several rounds in 2019 and have not had any issues with the flagstick. Some players want it in on certain putts (usually long putts and/or downhill putts); some want it out on shorter putts, some want it in all the time. But there are no issues or conflicts within the group - just kindly ask whether the player would like it in or out and then willingly oblige. The flagstick never needs to be put down on the green, just passed from player to player and put back in as needed. It's all about courtesy and respect of the other players in the group.

 

I'll try again to explain since I'm one of the guys in this thread who lamented the "out, then back in, then out again, etc." You stated you've "played several rounds in 2019", whereas I've played nearly 60, so I've got a decent enough sample size, with many different groups of players from plus handicaps to 20 cappers, tournament, money matches, and purely recreational to have evaluated it pretty well at this point.

 

I never indicated that there were any conflicts, I said it was "a pain in the azz" that saved zero time and can actually add time to a round if all players aren't very aware and attentive. It's just another thing to worry about, where previously once it was out, it was pretty much out until everyone completed the hole. It's no huge deal, just mildly annoying to have to pull the flag for one guy, then put it back for the next guy's 4 footer cause you know he prefers it "in", then remove it again for another's 3 footer, etc., then have to put it back before exiting the green... especially if you happen to have a handful of clubs and a towel (like many players often do). It's just an unnecessary and cumbersome practice IMO that does nothing to help pace of play unless there's full consensus within the foursome to leave it in all the time (which I've yet to experience lol).