on the green penalty

[evahakool]

I once had a long uphill putt for birdie on a par 5 didnt hit it hard enough and ball rold away and come to rest on the flag.Didnt know the ruling at the time and was told it was a penalty,If I saw this was going to happen could I have quickly moved the flag or would that have been deemed bad etiquette.Went on to 3 put for a 8

 

[heronsghyll]

I believe it is OK to move the flag if you see the ball rolling towards it as it was YOUR ball. Thereby ensuring the flag did not stop your ball on the green.

You are not allowed to move anything belonging to your opponent(s) or anything which might impede or cause their ball to change flight, direction or stop. If you did it would be a penalty against YOU for interfering.

JezzE is the rules guru - maybe he should comment. Good question though.

 

[grumpyjock]

Thought it was the person who left the obstruction who received the penelty.
Player who caused obstruction can remove it.
And its 2 penalty strokes.

 

[Fyldewhite]

Rule 24-1 Obstructions......

"When a ball is in motion, an obstruction that might influence the movement of the ball, other than equipment of any player or the flagstick when attended, removed or held up, must not be moved."

Therefore you can move the flagstick or bags/trolleys etc but nothing else like a marker post or sign etc.

 

[Ethan]

Thought it was the person who left the obstruction who received the penelty.
Player who caused obstruction can remove it.
And its 2 penalty strokes.

Player whose ball hits it gets the penalties.

 

[JezzE]

Eva,
Got me thinking a bit this one, and having just spoken to one of my contacts at the R&A I now know why!
Firstly, in the instance as it happened with the ball actually striking the flag, the penalty is two shots and the ball should then be played as it lies.
I also thought there was still a penalty if the flag was moved after a stroke had been played, and I would have been right... up until 2008 when this particular Rule was changed.
Apparently it was done with equity and fairness in mind because to move the flag if a ball was heading towards it would be an instinctive reaction, and the R&A felt it wasn't right to penalise someone for trying to do what instinctively seemed right. If you see what I mean!

Proof that the R&A isn't always averse to remedying things in the Rules if it seems the right thing to do

 

[evahakool]

Thanks to Jezze and others who commented on this learned something new on the rules with the 2 shot penalty,which is always a help make sure I dont make the same mistake again!!

 

[heronsghyll]

Eva,
Got me thinking a bit this one, and having just spoken to one of my contacts at the R&A I now know why!
Firstly, in the instance as it happened with the ball actually striking the flag, the penalty is two shots and the ball should then be played as it lies.
I also thought there was still a penalty if the flag was moved after a stroke had been played, and I would have been right... up until 2008 when this particular Rule was changed.
Apparently it was done with equity and fairness in mind because to move the flag if a ball was heading towards it would be an instinctive reaction, and the R&A felt it wasn't right to penalise someone for trying to do what instinctively seemed right. If you see what I mean!

Proof that the R&A isn't always averse to remedying things in the Rules if it seems the right thing to do

As I stated in my post (number 2) - it needed JezzE to comment/clarify. Very interesting post and in my opinion what the Forum should be about - not the vehicle it is becoming for people to "share" their great rounds or personal wind ups. Thanks again Jezz and Eva for a great post.

 

[USER1999]

Why does the forum need to be a dry information source? Surely it takes a wide variety of golfing related posts to make it a vibrant place? If you just want a rules clarification site, try the R&A web site. If a post doesn't float your boat, don't read it. Simples.

 

[Sneds]

If a post doesn't float your boat, don't read it. Simples.

dunno about you, but I find it hard to determine if I don't like the post without reading it x

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I wasn't aware of the rule change so thanks to Jezz for enlightening me. I can understand the thinking behind it although to be fair I don't think I've ever had any problems as I tend to put the flag a reasonable distance away and try and make sure its never on anyones through line.

 

[USER1999]

Well most times you can guess from the title.

 

[muttleee]

Firstly, in the instance as it happened with the ball actually striking the flag, the penalty is two shots and the ball should then be played as it lies.

You have to play the ball as it lies if it actually finishes on the flag?? Surely you can mark it, then lift and place in that situation?