Hello Linda,
My wife and I are discussing a rule that has us confused.
We’ve got our rule books out and are reading both Rule17-1 and rule 24-1
regarding the flagstick.
Last week at Port Royal (Bermuda) we had a pro explain that
if someone moved the flagstick that was laying on the green while a competitor’s
ball is in motion (in order to prevent it from striking the flagstick), the
person moving the flagstick incurs a penalty. We have the R&A “Golf Rules
Illustrated 2012-2015” which on page 118 describes rule 24-1 and even has a
half page picture depicting someone moving the flagstick that is laying on the
green while the ball (putted by someone else) is in motion. It states; “When
the ball is in motion it is permissible to move a flagstick that has been
removed and that might influence the movement of the ball.” This seems to be in
contradiction to rule 17-1 that states; “If the flagstick is not attended,
removed or held up before the player makes a stroke, then it must not be
attended, removed or held up during the stroke or while the player’s ball is in
motion if doing so might influence the movement of the ball.
We are wondering if someone in a foursome pulls out the
flagstick (because everyone is on the putting green) and lays it down on the
green, is it deemed to be attended? And what is the ruling if someone else, who
didn’t remove the flagstick, moves it while the ball is in motion?
Thanks for your clarification,
Lulu and Lou from Bermuda
Dear Lulu and Lou,
The first thing you need to do is take up a collection and
buy your pro a new rulebook. His book must pre-date 2008, the year this Rule
was changed.
I have answered this question before [Ask Linda #881,
published on July 14], but it is an important enough issue to bear repetition.
Here is the answer I posted in July, with a few minor
alterations:
When the flagstick has
been removed from the hole and laid on the ground, it is deemed to be
“attended,” even though no one may be officially “standing guard” over the
flagstick. An attended flagstick may be moved by anyone, from any distance, at
any time (including when the ball is in motion after a putt). This is alluded
to in Rule 24-1 (last paragraph), which was amended in 2008 to allow a player
to move an attended flagstick while the ball is in motion.
Since the flagstick
lying on the ground is considered “attended,” there is no penalty to anyone for
moving it. An attended flagstick may be moved while the ball is in motion.
Keep in mind that
anything else (other than equipment of the players) that might influence the
movement of the ball may not be moved while a ball is in motion. Such action
would result in a two-stroke penalty under Rule 1-2.
Rules 24-1 and 17-1 do not contradict one another. Rule 24-1
states that an obstruction that might influence the movement of a ball must not
be moved while a ball is in motion, but it exempts an attended flagstick. In
other words, an attended flagstick may be moved while a ball is in motion. Rule
17-1 states that a flagstick that is not
attended prior to a stroke must not be attended while a ball is in motion
if doing so might influence the movement of a ball. In other words, if no one
attends the flagstick when you putt, and no one is close enough to the
flagstick to be considered attending it, no one may run over to the flagstick
and pull it out of the hole while your ball is in motion if there is a chance
your ball might hit it.
The key to understanding why there is no penalty for moving
a flagstick lying on the ground while a ball is in motion is understanding the
meaning of “attended.” Once a flagstick has been removed from the hole, it is
deemed to be “attended.” An attended flagstick may be moved while a ball is in
motion, and it may be moved by anyone.
Linda
Copyright © 2014 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
