Dear Linda,
Player A was putting from distance with player B attending
the flag as requested. As the ball tracked to the hole, player B attempted to
remove the flagstick; it wouldn't move. With a desperate effort player B pulled
up the flagstick with the white cup attached. The cup came halfway out of the
hole and jammed and the ball, at perfect pace and line, hit the cup. Who is to
blame, should player A be penalized?
Thanks,
Lou from Northampton, England
Dear Lou,
There is no penalty to either player. The hole-liner is an
outside agency. If it was moving when the ball hit it, cancel the stroke,
replace the ball, and putt again. If the liner was not moving (which seems to
be your case), the ball must be played as it lies. If there is any doubt as to
whether the liner was moving at the time of contact, the ball must be played as
it lies [Decision 17/8].
Attending the flagstick is a responsibility that should be
taken seriously. When you are asked to attend, always lift the flagstick out of
the hole before the putt and rest it lightly in the cup, out of the hole. If
Player B had taken this simple precaution, there would have been no problem.
Linda
Copyright © 2015 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
