Flag in / flag out debate

[clubchamp98]

I play a lot of scratch tournaments, it's only the odd dickhead that asks for the flag to be put back in. Most have it out as soon as the hole can be clearly seen.

Dickhead is a bit strong.
but I played with a lad who wanted it back in for a 8” putt.
but he is entitled to his choice.
and the flag had to go back in anyway so no problem.

 

[Backsticks]

Yes, dickhead is a club too strong. But, while its perfectly legit by the rules, it would still be better in the greater scheme, if people refrained from wanting the stick back in. Legal doesnt necessarily mean its the right thing to do other than on the rarest occasion.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Yes, dickhead is a club too strong. But, while its perfectly legit by the rules, it would still be better in the greater scheme, if people refrained from wanting the stick back in. Legal doesnt necessarily mean its the right thing to do other than on the rarest occasion.

You do realise the circular nature of that view? If people refrained from wanting the stick out then the discussion would not begin in the first place. If you want it out then you have to accept that others may want it back in.

And on and on it goes.......

 

[clubchamp98]

Yes, dickhead is a club too strong. But, while its perfectly legit by the rules, it would still be better in the greater scheme, if people refrained from wanting the stick back in. Legal doesnt necessarily mean its the right thing to do other than on the rarest occasion.

I agree with your reply but.
it’s a choice under the rules so nobody is wrong here.
The right thing to do is what is best for you.!

 

[Slab]

Long or short... If its in I'll hit my putt, if its out I'll hit my putt

In or Out it makes no difference to my target size, point of aim, mental/comfort state of mind, I don't care if the flagstick is being buffeted/moving in the wind or the flag shadow is fluttering over my ball

None of it changes the odds of success/failure of making the putt. It's just line and pace, two things if judged correctly mean the ball will drop regardless of where the stick is

 

[Imurg]

THE FLAG STICK HAS TO GO BACK IN THE HOLE AT SOME POINT.....

 

[RichA]

Long or short... If its in I'll hit my putt, if its out I'll hit my putt

In or Out it makes no difference to my target size, point of aim, mental/comfort state of mind, I don't care if the flagstick is being buffeted/moving in the wind or the flag shadow is fluttering over my ball

None of it changes the odds of success/failure of making the putt. It's just line and pace, two things if judged correctly mean the ball will drop regardless of where the stick is

Likewise.
"In or out Rich?"
"Don't care."

 

[Backsticks]

I agree with your reply but.
it’s a choice under the rules so nobody is wrong here.
The right thing to do is what is best for you.!

Agree nobody is wrong also.
Its more a case of rules, and spirit of the rules. Which are, just putt. If someone has taken it out, dont compound the time wasting by asking for it back in again.

 

[Mandofred]

Agree nobody is wrong also.
Its more a case of rules, and spirit of the rules. Which are, just putt. If someone has taken it out, dont compound the time wasting by asking for it back in again.

Even if the person "thinks" they putt better with it in??? So....to heck with those people....

 

[Voyager EMH]

Does anyone have the flagstick attended for long putts these days?

 

[Mandofred]

Does anyone have the flagstick attended for long putts these days?

I've suggested it a few times....people are kind of shocked when I mention it. Nobody has taken me up on it yet.

 

[D-S]

Does anyone have the flagstick attended for long putts these days?

That is the one point that hopefully we all agree on - it is a good thing that we don’t have to faff around tending the pin for others. This surely must have speeded things up a bit too.

 

[Deleted member 31467]

Dickhead is a bit strong.
but I played with a lad who wanted it back in for a 8” putt.
but he is entitled to his choice.
and the flag had to go back in anyway so no problem.

Fair enough maybe it is but situations like you quote are ridiculous especially when someone else is still to putt and wants the flag out again which happened to me numerous times in a scratch event last year when I was playing with a couple of +2 cappers.
I did chuckle to myself when they had 3 bounce outs between them during the 36 holes

 

[Backsticks]

Even if the person "thinks" they putt better with it in??? So....to heck with those people....

Not to heck with them. But they need to move to be more flexible themselves and get over such irrational hangups. For the benefit of everyone, rather than just the individual.

 

[Mandofred]

Not to heck with them. But they need to move to be more flexible themselves and get over such irrational hangups. For the benefit of everyone, rather than just the individual.

They? or you?

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Not to heck with them. But they need to move to be more flexible themselves and get over such irrational hangups. For the benefit of everyone, rather than just the individual.

Every point you make could be made equally the other way .

That's largely applicable to both sides of this. Both are legal, crack on without the insults.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Does anyone have the flagstick attended for long putts these days?

One of my playing companions on Sunday had flag attended a couple of times. How odd I thought. His rationale was simple though. He was a good way from the hole so didn’t want it out when putting, but didn’t want it in when his ball got to the hole. Our flagsticks taper, but they are still fairly chunky towards the bottom and he didn’t want to risk his ball strinking the flag stick and bouncing out. We had no issue tending the flag for him and it didn’t noticeably delay things.

 

[Backsticks]

Every point you make could be made equally the other way .

It cannot. I am not saying it should be flag in, or out. I am saying it should be putt whatever way it is. i.e. dont ask for the state of the flag to be changed. The remover of the flag is equal to the replacer of the flag. It is better to do neither.

 

[Backsticks]

One of my playing companions on Sunday had flag attended a couple of times. How odd I thought. His rationale was simple though. He was a good way from the hole so didn’t want it out when putting, but didn’t want it in when his ball got to the hole. Our flagsticks taper, but they are still fairly chunky towards the bottom and he didn’t want to risk his ball strinking the flag stick and bouncing out. We had no issue tending the flag for him and it didn’t noticeably delay things.

Its not a good rationale though if the facts are that any benefit either way is undetermined, or insignificant, which is the best evidence at the moment. His rational is therefore based on an incorrect foundation.

 

[Imurg]

It cannot. I am not saying it should be flag in, or out. I am saying it should be putt whatever way it is. i.e. dont ask for the state of the flag to be changed. The remover of the flag is equal to the replacer of the flag. It is better to do neither.

Well....the flag is in to start with.....