Rule Question: When to Pull the Flagstick?

rapriebe · June 4, 2015

[quote name='Colin L' timestamp='1433402266' post='11687022']
[quote name='gopherguts' timestamp='1433391872' post='11686672']
It's funny.

In today's college coverage this guy "Pierce" (a human rain delay BTW) is putting from about 50 feet and his opponent is tending the flag and as the ball gets to about 10 feet away or so discovers the flag isn't coming out quite so easily. He does get it out in time even though the putt was wide.

What if he couldn't pull it and his opponent hits the stick while still in the hole ?
[/quote]

It is loss of hole just the same. The sportsmanlike gesture on the part of the opponent would be to concede the next hole.

In stroke play it would be a 2 stroke penalty to the player and since the fellow competitor could not make any sporting gesture to compensate, he would probably have to be taken to A&E to have the flagstick removed. You may decided for yourselves from which orifice. :swoon:
[/quote]

True. It's always a good idea when attending the flagstick to at least twist it to loosen it from the insert (a little bit of grit from a bunker or from top dressing the green can cause the pole to wedge in the insert) before the player makes his stroke just to ensure that you don't end up in the ER. I usually pull it out and just rest it in the bottom of the cup.

HitEmTrue · June 4, 2015

[quote name='rapriebe' timestamp='1433426417' post='11688206']
True. It's always a good idea when attending the flagstick to at least twist it to loosen it from the insert (a little bit of grit from a bunker or from top dressing the green can cause the pole to wedge in the insert)
[/quote]

Word on the street is you should make a quarter-turn every time you remove the flagstick.

smeech8000 · June 4, 2015

[quote name='rapriebe' timestamp='1433426417' post='11688206']
I usually pull it out and just rest it in the bottom of the cup.
[/quote]

I do this as well, at an angle so I may keep my feet well behind the hole on the high side of the putt, although I will vary accordingly when it results in a shadow across the hole/line.

Mr. Bean · June 4, 2015

[quote name='Colin L' timestamp='1433422830' post='11687812']
Except for "You may decided for yourselves ......" :blush2:
[/quote]

Oh yes, I noticed that but gave that one for free to you...

Colin L · June 4, 2015

Kiitos. You are all heart, Mr Bean.

TerpFangolfer · June 10, 2015

[quote name='InTheHole' timestamp='1218052995' post='1200610']
OK, the flip-side question that really started this for me... I was told that if you putted the ball while on the green and within 20 feet of the hole, and the flag was in the hole, that was a 2-stroke penalty. It didn't matter if it was attended or if the ball hit the pin. Putt within 20 feet with the flag, add 2.
[/quote]

Yeah, just to help - there is no rule anywhere in the book that EVER refers to something being applicable a certain distance from the hole (2', 20', 100', 1000').
Only the "condition" that the ball is in - i.e. "through the green"..."closely mown area"... "Putting surface" etc etc

rapriebe · June 10, 2015

[quote name='TerpFangolfer' timestamp='1433959893' post='11726764']
[quote name='InTheHole' timestamp='1218052995' post='1200610']
OK, the flip-side question that really started this for me... I was told that if you putted the ball while on the green and within 20 feet of the hole, and the flag was in the hole, that was a 2-stroke penalty. It didn't matter if it was attended or if the ball hit the pin. Putt within 20 feet with the flag, add 2.
[/quote]

Yeah, just to help - there is no rule anywhere in the book that EVER refers to something being applicable a certain distance from the hole (2', 20', 100', 1000').
Only the "condition" that the ball is in - i.e. "through the green"..."closely mown area"... "Putting surface" etc etc
[/quote]

Just as a point of interest, there used to be a rule that specified a limit of 20 yards from the hole, so it's possible that some real old timers would remember that. From the 1952 Rules:

[quote][b]3. Stroke Play [/b]
[b]a. Ball within Twenty Yards of Hole.[/b][color=#000033] - When a competitor's ball lying within twenty yards of the hole is played and strikes or is stopped by the flagstick, whether it is in the hole or not, or the person attending the flagstick, [/color][i]the competitor shall incur a penalty of two strokes[/i][color=#000033] and shall play the ball as it lies. [/color]
[b]b. Ball more than Twenty Yards from Hole.[/b][color=#000033] [/color]
[color=#000033]A competitor incurs no penalty if, in playing from farther than twenty yards from the hole, his ball strike the flagstick when it is not attended or has not been removed. [/color]

[color=#000033]If the flagstick is attended or has been removed at the player's request and his ball strike the flagstick or the person attending it, [/color][i]the player shall incur a penalty of two strokes[/i][color=#000033] and shall play the ball as it lies.[/color][/quote]