Flagstick facts

Dear North Shore Golf,

Over the course of many rounds several questions have often popped up regarding when and when not to pull the pin on the green. I was wondering if North Shore Golf could shed some light on a few of them.

First, does the pin always have to be pulled when all balls are safely on the green? A buddy of mine, who has a rather strong stroke, likes to keep the pin in even on relatively short putts when he has a clear view of the hole. Can he do this? Can he put the flagstick back when the pin has already been pulled by someone with a longer putt?

Secondly, on long putts where the hole is not in view can the pin simply be left in or does someone have to hold the stick.

Finally, what is the ruling when the ball comes to rest touching the pin, but not in the hole?

J. Sullivan, Gloucester

Dear Mr. Sullivan,

Mr. Sullivan, for the purpose of sticking to the Rules of Golf, you will only find the term “Flagstick” when referenced by the United States Golf Association. With that said, your questions certainly are common in regard to an everyday round of golf or tournament play.

When all players have reached the green, it is solely up to the player if he or she would like the flagstick removed while putting. It would be recommended to have the flagstick tended by a caddie or player, to avoid the chance of violating Rule 17-3 which states: The player’s ball must not strike:

• The flagstick when it is attended, removed or held up;

• The person attending or holding up the flagstick or anything carried by him; or

• The flagstick in the hole, unattended, when the stroke has been made on the putting green.

The penalty for violating Rule 17-3 is the loss of the hole in match play or two strokes in stroke play.

This rule should also assist your buddy with the rather long putting stroke, whether he has a two-footer or a long, double-breaker 85 feet away. Again, he has the choice of leaving or removing the flagstick, but the recommendation would be to have the flagstick tended.

In the unique event of a ball coming to rest touching the flagstick on a chip or putt off of the green, but not holed, Rule 17-4 states: The player or another person authorized by him may move or remove the flagstick, and if the ball falls into the hole, the player is deemed to have holed out with his last stroke; otherwise, the ball, if moved must be placed on the lip of the hole, without penalty.

In my opinion … be careful! One last situation that has been added to the Rules of Golf as of late, that is significantly related to the above inquiries, is Rule 24-1b. The Rule states: When a ball is in motion, an obstruction that might influence the movement of the ball, (other than equipment of any player or the flagstick when attended, removed or held up), must not be moved.

To clarify, when the ball is in motion, a player is only permitted to move the flagstick or equipment!

Jesse Menachem, 22, is in his first year as the Director of Rules and Competitions for the Massachusetts Golf Association. The Framingham native and 2008 Indiana University graduate joined the MGA as a USGA PJ Boatwright intern in 2005.