scubascuba3
Assistant Pro
This is a serious question, are you allowed to tend the flag when you are putting? I.e. I putt with the flag in and remove the flag before the ball goes in?
Attending the flag on your putt?
- Thread starter scubascuba3
- Start date
rulefan
Tour Winner
Yes. If you are quick enough.
Three
Tour Rookie
Well. You are certainly allowed to hold the flag with one hand and putt without the other and make sure the ball doesn't hit the flag.
But, and I could be wrong, it would seem to me that putting with the flag unattended and then running up and taking the flag out when the ball is in motion would not be allowed.
Happy to be proved wrong though as that is just a guess.
scubascuba3
Assistant Pro
If rulesfan says its ok thats enough for me. I may do it in tomorrows medal depending if my playing partner is faffing about.
Region3
Ryder Cup Winner
Do you have to announce you are attending the flag yourself before you putt?
Colin L
Tour Winner
No, but please get someone to take video of it being done and post it here for the entertainment of us all. 
scubascuba3
Assistant Pro
To be fair, its not my idea. Mark Crossfield does it in his videos sometimes. I may do it tomorrow if the situation demands.
Region3
Ryder Cup Winner
No, but please get someone to take video of it being done and post it here for the entertainment of us all.
I did it last week in a knock up. Couldn't score on the hole so knocked it with my putter whilst walking and carried on to remove the flag.
Didn't have a spare hand for the video
SwingsitlikeHogan
Major Champion
Remember that if you are standing close to the flag you can be deemed to be attending it. So if a PP is off the green and you are standing close to the flag then, if your PP doesn't ask you to move, if his ball hits the flag then he incurs a two stroke penalty (Decision 17-1/1)
Crow
Crow Person
It's not a penalty if you leave the flag stick in if you're off the green.
Are you saying that if you ask for the flag to be attended, even if off the green, that if the ball goes in the hole with the flag still in that it's a penalty?
SwingsitlikeHogan
Major Champion
Yes
If I stand beside the flag and my PP is off the green, unless he asks me to move I am deemed to be attending the flag. So if I do not take it out and his shot hits the flag he is penalised - the flag must be removed when attended - regardless of where shot is played from.
Crow
Crow Person
Okay, thanks.
backwoodsman
Tour Winner
I wouldn't normally question your opinion but is that really correct? Unless the player is close to the hole (say arm's length perhaps? ) then i don't see how the player could be deemed to be in attendance of the flagstick. And if no-one is attending the flagstick whilst it is still in the hole, then it can't be moved without penalty while the ball is still moving after a stroke.
Or, can the player become the attendant simply by stating "I'm attending the flag" - even though they may be say, 20 yards away ? (Which doesn't seem to sit right for me. Decisions regarding unauthorised attendance suggest that proximity to the flag is implicit to attendance. Surely the converse would also be true?)
Interested to see your comments.
Colin L
Tour Winner
I don't see anything in Rule 17-1 which dictates where a player must stand in order to attend the pin.
SammmeBee
Journeyman Pro
See the notes - I and it would suggest an arms length would be near the flag to attend it.
backwoodsman
Tour Winner
I realise that. But similarly, it says nothing about where someone must not stand. If 17-1 doesn't say anything about where they must stand, then why is someone standing near the flag deemed to be in attendance? My thought was that the concept of attendance generally, and some Decisions specifically, all imply that proximity is integral to attendance.
I know we should read rules literally, but someone charging across the green to whip out the flag just doesn't seem to fit.
scubascuba3
Assistant Pro
I doubt you will see it, maybe never
Three
Tour Rookie
Your choice, I prefer to think for myself.
Attending the flag is the specific act of standing next to it and either holding it or clearly having the intention of taking it out so that the ball doesn't hit it.
The flag may be taken out when the ball is in motion by someone attending the flag, however other actions that affect a ball in motion are not allowed.
I'll lay my money that if a definitive answer to the OP is found, the answer will be that a player cannot putt then run up and remove the flag.
duncan mackie
Money List Winner
There is no stated requirement for someone who is attending the flag to stand next to it; that someone standing next to it is deemed to be attending it is a separate issue. However, having the flag attended brings rights and responsibilities, as you highlighted, so clarity and default positions need to be covered in the rules.
However, and agreeing your subsequent point, if there is no one deemed to be attending then for a person to be attending there would have to be some verbal agreement between that person and the player putting. I can see no fundamental problem with that being the player stating that he is going to remove the flag himself, and then doing so.
However, and from a practical perspective, I also struggle to see any situation where this would make any sense - if it's a long slow downhill putt you will be able to see the hole without the flag so just remove it first. If it's an uphill/up level one you aren't going to beat the ball to the hole without risking significant damage to the green!
One thing that supports the principle is that you could is that a FC or opponent can refuse to attend the flag so logically you might be left with no alternative if you require it attended.
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