Simpler Rules: Rule 17

Rule 17: The Flagstick 

17-1. Flagstick Attended, Removed or Held Up

Before making a stroke from anywhere on the course, the player may have the flagstick attended, removed or held up to indicate the position of the hole. 

If the flagstick has not been attended, removed or held up before the player makes a stroke, 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. 

Note 1: If the flagstick is in the hole and anyone stands within arm’s length of it while a stroke is being made, he is deemed to be attending the flagstick. 

Note 2: If prior to the stroke and with the player’s knowledge the flagstick is attended, removed or held up by anyone and the player makes no objection, he is deemed to have authorised the action. 

Note 3: If anyone attends, removes or holds up the flagstick while a stroke is being made, he is deemed to be attending the flagstick until the ball comes to rest. 

PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE 17-1:

Match play – Loss of hole; Stroke play – Two strokes. 

(Moving attended, removed or held-up flagstick while ball in motion – see Rule 24-1)

 

17-2. Unauthorised Attendance

If, without the player’s authority or prior knowledge, an opponent or his caddie in match play or a fellow-competitor or his caddie in stroke play, attends, removes or holds up the flagstick during the stroke or while the ball is in motion, and such act might influence the movement of the ball, the opponent or fellow-competitor incurs a penalty of loss of hole in match play or two strokes in stroke play.

 

17-3. Ball Striking Flagstick or Attendant

The player’s ball must not strike: 

(a)   The flagstick when it is being attended or held up or has been removed;  

(b)   The person attending or holding up the flagstick or anything carried by him; or  

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

Exception: In stroke play, if the flagstick is attended, removed or held up without the player’s authority (see Rule 17-2) and the player’s ball subsequently strikes the flagstick, the person attending or holding it, or anything carried by him, while the opponent or fellow-competitor incurs the penalty, the player incurs no penalty. If the stroke was played from off the putting green, the ball is played as it lies. If the stroke was played from on the putting green, the stroke is cancelled and the ball must be replaced and replayed. 

PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE 17-3:

Match play – Loss of hole; Stroke play – Two strokes.

 

17-4. Ball Resting Against Flagstick

When a player’s ball rests against the flagstick in the hole and the ball is not holed, the player or another person authorised 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 edge of the hole, without penalty.