Do you Leave it or Pull it, The Pin Options

[forgedforever]

I really didn't want to get into this any further, but it's raining outside, no golf to be played, so here goes...

I think some of the confusion here could be cleared up if we could agree that "tending the pin" includes the actual pulling of the pin after a putt is struck. Tending the pin is not simply someone standing near the cup. It involves that person actually pulling the pin after a putt is struck from ON THE GREEN. It is the responsibility of the person who tends the pin to actually finish the job.

Make sense?

Cheers!

[minitour]

Okay...

You are saying that if I am off of the Putting surface, lets say I'm 2 feet onto the fringe, NOT on the Putting surface.

I can have someone tend the pin while I get ready to Putt (or chip) the ball and pull the flag after I have stroked the ball while it is in motion.

Yes.

I still say you can't.

Then you must know it better than the USGA.

-mini

[shuttle1]

I really didn't want to get into this any further, but it's raining outside, no golf to be played, so here goes...

I think some of the confusion here could be cleared up if we could agree that "tending the pin" includes the actual pulling of the pin after a putt is struck. Tending the pin is not simply someone standing near the cup. It involves that person actually pulling the pin after a putt is struck from ON THE GREEN. It is the responsibility of the person who tends the pin to actually finish the job.

Make sense?

Cheers!

To me, someone tending the pin is standing next to it and has his hand on it, is ready to pull it after you strike the ball, assuming you are on the Green.

The confusion is this:

You are OFF the Green. Before you strike the ball you must make the decision to leave the pin in or out. It cannot be pulled after you stroke the ball and the ball is in motion.

And.... I am going to pull the flag when I am just off the Green and can see the hole.

I think it leaves more room for the ball to go in.

[shuttle1]

Okay...

You are saying that if I am off of the Putting surface, lets say I'm 2 feet onto the fringe, NOT on the Putting surface.

I can have someone tend the pin while I get ready to Putt (or chip) the ball and pull the flag after I have stroked the ball while it is in motion.

Yes.

I still say you can't.

Then you must know it better than the USGA.

-mini

Well... I guess I'm wrong then. I have never seen a pin attended by a caddie when the player is off of the green chipping of putting. The player must decide to leave it in our out.


I've been playing it this way for 40 years...

[minitour]

Well... I guess I'm wrong then.

It happens. I learn something new every day...like that moving the pin on the ground thing.

I have never seen a pin attended by a caddie when the player is off of the green chipping of putting.

I've seen it quite a bit. Someone did it at the masters just a few years ago. Maybe it was last year. It was pretty recent.

The player must decide to leave it in our out.

Or have the pin tended.

I've been playing it this way for 40 years...

Hey, if a day goes by where we don't learn something...it's a wasted day.

-mini

[shuttle1]

I'm officially convinced... it took some doing... I do wonder if this ruling has changed from what I thought, to the present ruling over the last 40 years??



Rule 17-1

Attending Flagstick When Ball Off Putting Green

Q. May I have the flagstick attended when my ball lies off the putting green?

A. Yes, the provisions of Rule 17-1 apply regardless of the location of the ball, provided the attending does not unduly delay play.

[golfismygame]

I really didn't want to get into this any further, but it's raining outside, no golf to be played, so here goes...

I think some of the confusion here could be cleared up if we could agree that "tending the pin" includes the actual pulling of the pin after a putt is struck. Tending the pin is not simply someone standing near the cup. It involves that person actually pulling the pin after a putt is struck from ON THE GREEN. It is the responsibility of the person who tends the pin to actually finish the job.

Make sense?

Cheers!

The confusion is not quite over yet.
A player is deemed to be attending the flagstick if he stands so close to it that he can reach it when the stroke is made. Attending the pin does include pulling it, of course, but it's not the whole story.

If the player do not want the flag tended, he must ask anyone near the flag to move away to a distance out of reach.

Note to Rule 17-1:

Note 1: If the flagstick is in the hole and anyone stands near it while a stroke is being made, he is deemed to be attending the flagstick.

The Rules on attending the flag has been unchanged since 1984 except for the change in 2008 allowing the flagstick to be removed after the stroke is made, if it has been taken out of the hole and have been placed on the ground.