Tarkus1212
Challenge Tour Pro
Twice in recent weeks I've played into greens where the flagstick has been lying on the green - either fallen out of the hole or not replaced by the group in front.
On both occasions the flagstick has not interfered with play but it led to an interesting discussion/question - at what stage is a player obliged to put the flagstick back in the hole or remove it from an area where it could interfere with play?
For example we have a par three with a severely sloped green and protected by half a dozen bunkers. On arrival at the tee we see the flagstick lying on the green right next to the hole.
Obviously we cant be expected to send someone forward 160 yards to replace the flag so we tee off with the flagstick lying down.
Assume we all miss the green and one or more of us hits our tee shot into a greenside bunker, the green slopes away from the bunker and it would be advantageous to leave the flagstick where it is. Can we carry on and play a shot from the bunker (or anywhere else not on the green?)?
Would there be any penalty for hitting the flagstick with a bunker shot/pitch/chip? I know you can't ask anyone not to replace the flagstick but if no-one gets there to do so can you carry on playing until you're on the green?
On both occasions the flagstick has not interfered with play but it led to an interesting discussion/question - at what stage is a player obliged to put the flagstick back in the hole or remove it from an area where it could interfere with play?
For example we have a par three with a severely sloped green and protected by half a dozen bunkers. On arrival at the tee we see the flagstick lying on the green right next to the hole.
Obviously we cant be expected to send someone forward 160 yards to replace the flag so we tee off with the flagstick lying down.
Assume we all miss the green and one or more of us hits our tee shot into a greenside bunker, the green slopes away from the bunker and it would be advantageous to leave the flagstick where it is. Can we carry on and play a shot from the bunker (or anywhere else not on the green?)?
Would there be any penalty for hitting the flagstick with a bunker shot/pitch/chip? I know you can't ask anyone not to replace the flagstick but if no-one gets there to do so can you carry on playing until you're on the green?
