I've seen this done before and don't know the answer, but what if someone ahead of you didn't take a careful approach to replacing the flag after playing the hole and makes the hole a bit of a mess. Can you fix the mess before putting? Or do you have to wait until you are holed out?

I've always approached it as it would be no different than if a pitch mark on the edge of a cup...pitch marks are okay to fix, so why wouldn't this be as well. Especially since it can't be proved that it wasn't a ball that made the mark. Is that the wrong ruling?

I've fixed them. To me it's no different than fixing a pitch or ball mark. It can affect the roll and characteristics of the ball.

It seems to depend on whether the dimensions of the hole have been changed (sod pushed out into the opening for example).

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16-1a/6 Damaged Hole; Procedure for Player

Q. Prior to putting, a player discovers that the hole has been damaged. What is the proper procedure?

A. If the damage is not clearly identifiable as a ball mark, then:

(a) If the damage is such that the proper dimensions of the hole have not been changed materially, the player should continue play without repairing the hole. If he touches the hole in such circumstances, a breach of Rule 16-1a occurs.

(b) If the proper dimensions of the hole have been changed materially, the player should request the Committee to have the hole repaired. If a Committee member is not readily available, the player may repair the damage, without penalty.

If a player repairs a materially damaged hole when a Committee member is readily available, he incurs a penalty for a breach of
Rule 16-1a.

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You will have to putt around the damage the best you can, but I think it would be proper etiquette to fix the damage after your group has putted out.