Quick rules question......

A player on a green, while waiting for his turn to putt, walks over to the flagstick lying on the ground and uses the straight edge of the flagstick pole as a practice or training aid to practice his putting stroke. I know he can use the edge of the collar of the green to practice his stroke, but I'm 99% sure using the flagstick as a practice or swing aid is a penalty.

Agree? If so, do you know what the rule number is??

As long as the player is not making a practice stroke at a ball during play of a hole, I do not see a problem with the rules of golf.

Kevin

So you don't know.......

That's a great question. I don't know either, but I suspect it would be illegal (something about "artificial" or "outside agency". Send the question to the "Rules Guy" at Golf Digest.

You are not making a stroke (practice or otherwise) as per its definition since there is no ball involved. You are not using an artificial device to assist you in making a stroke since there is no ball involved. Therefore there is no rule prohibiting this.

I apologize for not being as confident as Tom Meeks would be. Sometimes it's far more difficult to find a rule that is NOT there. No, I am not positive - 95% ...

To be 100%, go here and shoot the question to the USGA.

http://www.usga.org/questions/contact_us/r...contact_us.html

Kevin

During the round the player may not use a device designed as a training aid - a flagstick is not designed for training and using it is not a breach of Rule 14-3.

Golfismygame,

Good point. The only thing holding me back from 100% is the following:

Except as provided in the Rules, during a stipulated round the player must not use any artificial device or unusual equipment, or use any equipment in an unusual manner

I don't think this applies, but not certain. I am never 100% when I can't find an applicable decision.

Kevin

Actually, now that I think it through, the flagstick is not equipment. No penalty. I'm up to 98%.

Kevin

Good points of view. I'll contact the USGA and report back with my findings......

If the player uses it for some purpose, the flagstick is equipment.
Question is - does he breach Rule 14-3? And I say no, he doesn't.

Def. of equipment:
"Equipment" is anything used, worn or carried by the player or anything carried for the player by his partner or either of their caddies, except any ball he has played at the hole being played and any small object, such as a coin or a tee, when used to mark the position of a ball or the extent of an area in which a ball is to be dropped.

I will look forward to hearing what you find. Interesting question...

Kevin

Got a reply from the USGA Rules Dept......

Not a penalty.

Are answers more qualified coming from him?

Thank you for the update!

Kevin