Asked by: Virgil Scheunemann
sports golf

Is it better to leave flag in when putting?

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In a statement on its website, The USGA says there “should be no advantage in being able to putt with the unattended flagstick in the hole.” It continues by saying that “In some cases, the ball may strike the flagstick and bounce out of the hole when it might otherwise have been holed,” while “in other cases, the ball


Similarly one may ask, why do golfers leave the flag in when putting?

The bodies decided on the alteration because they believe "allowing a player to putt with the flagstick in the hole without fear of penalty should generally help speed up play". Before, if a player hit the flagstick with a putt, then they would have been hit with a penalty.

One may also ask, what is the penalty for hitting the flagstick while putting? If a ball in motion after a stroke from on the putting green strikes the flagstick when still in the hole, the player loses the hole in match play or incurs a two stroke penalty in stroke play.

Likewise, can you putt with flag in hole?

Players are not required to putt with the flagstick in the hole; rather, they continue to have the choice to have it removed (which includes having someone attend the flagstick and remove it after the ball is played).

How many golf balls are you allowed to carry in your bag?

Under the Rules of Golf, a golfer can carry as many golf balls as they want in their bag. Really, they can carry as many golf balls as they're willing to carry around themselves or their caddie is willing to lug around for them. Most PGA Tour golfers carry in the area of nine golf balls in their bag per round.

Related Question Answers

Dianne Miramon

Professional

Can caddies remove ball from hole?

A caddie may also help search for an opponent's ball. If the caddie is not attending the flagstick prior to the shot, however, he may not remove or hold it up during the player's swing or when the ball is in motion. Violation of the rule may result in a two-stroke penalty, or -- in match play -- loss of the hole.

Evi Keane

Professional

Can you take the flag out when off the green?

Players who are off the green may choose to leave the flagstick in the hole or have it removed. This choice has not existed with balls on the putting green given the risk of a penalty. The USGA and R&A feel that, on balance, there should be no advantage in putting with the flag stick in the hole.

Ailen Vaghi

Professional

What are the new golf rules for 2019?

20 Must Know Rules of Golf Changes for 2019
  • Drop from knee height (NOT shoulder height)
  • Measure the area to drop in with the longest club in your bag (except a putter)
  • Drop in and play from the relief area.
  • When dropping back-on-the-line, your ball cannot be played from nearer the hole than your chosen reference point.

Arnelio Ermitoo

Explainer

What are the new golf rule changes?

New rule: Replace the ball on its estimated spot; if that spot was on, under or against attached natural objects, replace the ball on that spot on, under or against those objects. Current rule: Drop the ball as near as possible to the estimated spot. New rule: No penalty.

Yohanny Segbers

Explainer

Can you putt with a different ball?

If you remove a ball from play due to damage, the rules regarding removal must be followed. So, under the Rules of Golf, you may not change balls on the green and putt with a different ball than with which you played the hole.

Micael

Explainer

Does the golf ball have to hit the bottom of the cup?

“Holed: When your ball is at rest in the hole after a stroke and the entire ball is below the surface of the putting green. When the Rules refer “holing out” or “hole out”, it means the player's ball is holed.” (no mention of having to be at the bottom of the cup!) Your ball is NOT HOLED and must be played as it lies.

Dah Rocas

Pundit

Can you move your golf ball out of a divot?

No, you cannot move a golf ball out of a divot hole even when that divot is in the fairway - at least, not without penalty. (You can declare the ball unplayable, assess yourself a one-stroke penalty, and drop.)

Elma Riegg

Pundit

Who is responsible for putting the flagstick back in the hole?

If you move the flagstick, or authorize someone else to do it, and the ball comes to rest at the bottom, it's holed. But if it doesn't drop, you must place it on the lip of the hole (no penalty) and tap in. UNWRITTEN ? When you remove the flagstick, place it gently on the ground.

Dea Arestizabal

Pundit

What happens if a golf ball hits another golf ball on the green?

There is no penalty when a ball played from off the putting green (chipping) moves another ball. However, in stroke play, when a ball played from the putting green hits another ball on the putting green the person making the stroke incurs a penalty of two strokes.

Azddin Jatsun

Pundit

What are the rules for match play in golf?

The golfer with the fewest strokes at the completion of the round wins. In match play scorekeeping, each hole is a separate competition. The player with the fewest strokes on an individual hole wins that hole; the player winning the most holes wins the match.

Didina Boino

Pundit

Can you touch the line of a putt?

Under Rule 16-1a, the player must not touch the line of putt. The “line of putt” is defined in the Rules as “the line that the player wishes his ball to take after a stroke on the putting green” including “a reasonable distance on either side of the intended line”.

Zorayda Rulaffs

Teacher

Is there a penalty for chipping on the green?

There is no penalty when a ball played from off the putting green (chipping) moves another ball. However, in stroke play, when a ball played from the putting green hits another ball on the putting green the person making the stroke incurs a penalty of two strokes.

Yongli Muller

Teacher

Can you touch the green before putting?

It's OK to repair spike marks anywhere on the putting green except on your line of putt or if repairing them would assist you or another person playing the hole. It's OK to touch the green on the other side of the hole from where your ball is resting, provided it's not done to indicate a line for putting.

Lizet Neupert

Teacher

Can you chip on green?

A golfer can use a wedge to hit a chip shot on a green if they feel it will get them closer to the hole than putting the ball on the putting surface. In that case, a golfer may use a wedge to chip the ball from one part of the green to another, going over the obstructing portion of the green, for the best result.

Tonia Ziegelhofer

Teacher

Can you tap down spike marks?

Once you putt out, provided you aren't aiding a fellow competitor with his or her putt, you can tap down spike marks, fix a damaged hole (sometimes a part of the circumference caves in) or push the hole liner back down (they sometimes get pulled up when the flagstick is removed.

Co-Authored By:

EveryThingWhat Staff Editor

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30th June, 2020

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