Monday, July 8, 2013

Ask Linda #685-Removal of flagstick pops ball out of hole


Dear Linda,

A player holes out from off the green. The ball is “holed” and entirely below the surface of the cup with the flagstick in. He removes the flagstick, deliberately pulling the ball from the hole. Is there any penalty?

If not, what happens in the same situation, but it is strong wind that dislodged the flagstick, popping the ball from the hole before the player got a chance to retrieve his ball?

Many thanks,
Lou from windy Scotland

Dear Lou,

In both cases, there is no penalty and the ball is holed. By definition, “a ball is ‘holed’ when it is at rest within the circumference of the hole and all of it is below the level of the lip of the hole.”

Linda
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