Happy New Year Linda,
Love the new rules!
There have been a couple of situations that have come up at my club since the new rules have been implemented.
1) Can the person putting hold the flag while it is in the hole, not for stability but so that the flagstick isn't leaning in their direction, or can they pull the flagstick out of hole, hold the flagstick and putt?
2) If you opt to have the flagstick attended, will you incur any penalty if the ball hits the stick?
Thank you for all you do! I look forward to hearing from you!
Sincerely,
Lulu from South Carolina
Dear Lulu,
1) If the flagstick was not centered by the preceding group, the player may leave it in that position or center it [Rule 13.2a(1), Interpretation 13.2a(1)/1]. She must not deliberately lean the flagstick in a more favorable direction.
If her ball lies so close to the hole that she would feel comfortable holding the flagstick out of the hole with one hand while she putts with the other, she may do so.
The player is also permitted to attend her own flagstick, meaning she may hold the flagstick in the hole with one hand while she putts with the other. She may remove the flagstick while her putted ball is in motion, but she must not deliberately allow her putted ball to touch the flagstick [Interpretation 13.2b(1)/2].
I would recommend the player either center the flagstick and putt with two hands (best choice), or hold it out of the hole with one hand while she putts with the other. I foresee unnecessary, time-wasting arguments arising from a player attending her own flagstick and allowing the ball to hit it.
2) There is no penalty to anyone if your ball accidentally hits the flagstick or the person attending it [Rule 13.2b(2)].
Linda
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