Taking the ball out of the hole

cookelad

cookelad

Tour Winner
Joined
Mar 12, 2009
Messages
3,076
Location
Wroclaw, Poland
Visit site
Is there a ruling on taking the ball out of the hole when you holed from off the green ie pulling the flag out to bring the ball out - the ball is completely below the lip?
 
You should move the pin to let ball drop below surface to be properly holed. It does not need to touch the bottom of hole.
 
I would think that how the ball goes into the hole is more important!
surely once a ball is properly holed, the hole is finished? What happens between the ball being holed and being put back into play is not relevant.
(yes, apart from all the rules you can break during that hiatus...)
 
cookelad said:
I know that bit, there was a comment made that you had to pick the ball out of the hole with your hand and couldn't just pull the flag to eject the ball.
Click to expand...

As said above - all that matters is that the ball is holed in the first place i.e. has come to rest within the circumference of the hole and all of it below the lip. How you take it out after that doesn't matter in terms of the rules but matters a lot in terms of looking after the course. Pulling it out with the flagstick or the toe of your putter are not good practices because of the risk of damaging the hole. Use your hand - with the one exception if, like me, you can't quite reach that far down of using one of those rubber/plastic devices on the end of your putter to pick it out.
 
Colin L said:
As said above - all that matters is that the ball is holed in the first place i.e. has come to rest within the circumference of the hole and all of it below the lip. How you take it out after that doesn't matter in terms of the rules but matters a lot in terms of looking after the course. Pulling it out with the flagstick or the toe of your putter are not good practices because of the risk of damaging the hole. Use your hand - with the one exception if, like me, you can't quite reach that far down of using one of those rubber/plastic devices on the end of your putter to pick it out.
Click to expand...

That's what I suspected, not against the rules just bad practice, I couldn't find anything that specified either way on the r&a app on my phone so thought I'd put it on here for the more knowledgeable! Thanks once again guys!
 
cookelad said:
That's what I suspected, not against the rules just bad practice, I couldn't find anything that specified either way on the r&a app on my phone so thought I'd put it on here for the more knowledgeable! Thanks once again guys!
Click to expand...

Where the confusion, myths etc happen is based on whether the ball is holed ie when it's resting against the pin, half in half out, and some walks up and pulls the flag out bringing the ball with it.

Its from such simple situations that the rules myths multiply exponentially and confusion reigns for ever!
 
cookelad said:
That's what I suspected, not against the rules just bad practice, I couldn't find anything that specified either way on the r&a app on my phone so thought I'd put it on here for the more knowledgeable! Thanks once again guys!
Click to expand...

Rule of thumb: what the rules do not prohibit is allowed.
 
i would imagine this there is no rule about taking the ball out of the hole, it is frowned upon if players put their putter in head first to drag the ball out as it tends to damage the hole,
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

V
Lee Westwood wrong ball?
2
Replies
23
Views
953
rulie
R
R
Relief ruling for golf all trapped in safety net
Replies
11
Views
982
rulefan
R
D
Can somebody place the ball on the tee and retrieve the ball from the hole for a playing partner?
Replies
10
Views
809
Steven Rules
S
Kennysarmy
What's the ruling if two moving balls collide?
Replies
3
Views
559
rulie
R
Imurg
Marking another player's ball on a Call Up hole
2
Replies
32
Views
1K
Troymcclure
T
Top