Hitting flag when it's out ?

[Skypilot]

We were both on the green and the pin had been removed and laid on the green about 10 foot from the hole.
My partner was about 40 ft away and over hit his putt which sped past the hole and hit the pole with enough force to launch it a foot in the air and land just the other side of the pole.

He moved the stick and then did a good putt to hole out :angry:


We're high handicappers and tend to forgive the odd misdemeanor but his casual nonchalance really peed me off. Especially as he would have definitely been off the green without this backstop.

What are the rules in this sort of situation?

 

[Crow]

Yes, two shot penalty.

 

[ruff-driver]

2 shot penalty iirc

 

[rulefan]

We were both on the green and the pin had been removed and laid on the green about 10 foot from the hole.
My partner was about 40 ft away and over hit his putt which sped past the hole and hit the pole with enough force to launch it a foot in the air and land just the other side of the pole.

He moved the stick and then did a good putt to hole out :angry:


We're high handicappers and tend to forgive the odd misdemeanor but his casual nonchalance really peed me off. Especially as he would have definitely been off the green without this backstop.

What are the rules in this sort of situation?

It depends on whether you were playing a match or strokeplay (in which case he was simply a fellow competitor).
The previous two answers only apply to stroke play.
If it was a match your opponent lost the hole.

Rule 17-3

 

[delc]

2 shot penalty iirc

If the putt was played from on the green in strokeplay, then a 2-shot penalty I'm afraid! Loss of hole in Matchplay.

 

[Skypilot]

By partner I just meant the guy (brother) actually, who I play my rounds of golf with. We try to beat each other though and today we carded the same scores for the first ever time strangely enough.
So he should add 2 stroles to his score

 

[rulefan]

By partner I just meant the guy (brother) actually, who I play my rounds of golf with. We try to beat each other though and today we carded the same scores for the first ever time strangely enough.
So he should add 2 stroles to his score

If you are playing total shots, yes. If hole by hole winner, then he lost that hole.

 

[KenL]

You might want to look out for a copy of the new rules book. You can pick one up for free at most golf clubs.

I never putt with a flag lying on the ground behind the hole on my line. Mainly because I find it distracting but also for this reason.

 

[rulefan]

What are the rules in this sort of situation?

You may move the flagstick out of the way if you think the ball will hit it.

Rule 24-1b

 

[cliveb]

You may move the flagstick out of the way if you think the ball will hit it.

Rule 24-1b

Are you sure about that? The definition of a "removed" flagstick seems ambiguous to me. I always thought that a "removed" flagstick is one that it still being held by the person who took it out of the hole. Once it's laid down on the green, is it still "removed", or is it now just another obstruction?

 

[rulefan]

Are you sure about that? The definition of a "removed" flagstick seems ambiguous to me. I always thought that a "removed" flagstick is one that it still being held by the person who took it out of the hole. Once it's laid down on the green, is it still "removed", or is it now just another obstruction?

Removed simply means removed from the hole. There is no qualification saying it must be being held (by anyone) even when it is attended.

 

[Foxholer]

You may move the flagstick out of the way if you think the ball will hit it.

Rule 24-1b

Though it wasn't long ago when that was a breach of the Rules (up until 2008).

@cliveb The Flagstick is a 'special case' of an MI, and anything that applies specifically to it is stated in the appropriate rule. And 'removed' is exactly that (no longer in the hole), whether held up or lying on the Green.

 

[rulefan]

The Flagstick is a 'special case' of an MI,

I think you mean MO

 

[cliveb]

Removed simply means removed from the hole. There is no qualification saying it must be being held (by anyone) even when it is attended.

OK, thanks for clarifying. I was never sure about this - now I know.