Removing the pin, ball in motion

[D-S]

This happened today in a social 9 hole match. My partner had chipped in for 2 and my putt for a 2 couldn’t better it. I hit anyway from about 30 odd feet leaving the flag in (we have thin pins so this is rarely an issue). However the putt ran true and it was tracking from halfway. It hit the pin dead centre and popped out to a foot or so, it would have gone 3 or past had it not hit the hole or pin.
Could I have asked my partner or an opponent who were standing close by to remove the pin when my ball in motion looked as if it was going in when it was 15 feet away? Or does my original decision to leave it in remain final? The greens are pretty quick and they would have had time to remove it.

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

you could have had them tend the pin for you and remove it as it tracked toward the hole like we all used to do within the rules!

 

[Steven Rules]

The flagstick was not being attended when the stroke was made. Once the ball is in motion, the player (or their caddie or partner) must not move or remove an unattended flagstick to affect where the ball might come to rest. General penalty. Rule 13.2a(3)

If another player or caddie does this while the ball is in motion without the player’s authorisation then the other player gets the general penalty. Rule 13.2a(4).

Bottom line - before the stroke is made you need to elect to have the flagstick either attended or removed or left in the hole. Once the stroke is made, you need to live with that decision.