In golf there are gestures that don’t appear on the scorecard and yet say a lot about the person playing. How you treat the flagstick on the green is one of them. At San Roque Golf & Resort we often remind players of it, because caring for the course starts with details as simple as where you leave the pin while the others hole out.
Out of the hole, lay the flagstick on the green with care
When someone removes the pin to putt, the temptation is to drop it without looking. Don’t. The right way is to lay it down carefully on the collar or the longer grass around the green, never throw it straight onto the putting surface.
The reason is simple: the green is the most delicate surface on the whole course. A sharp knock from the pin can leave a mark, and the next group will suffer that mark when their ball rolls along that line. Leaving the flagstick on the green any old way is a small oversight with consequences for everyone.
Back in the hole: upright and centred
When you have all finished putting, it’s time to put it back. Place it upright, in the exact centre of the hole and without hitting the edges. The edge of the hole is fragile, and a knock from the tip of the pin can deform it, something you notice as soon as another ball approaches the cup.
It’s a gesture of a few seconds that leaves the flagstick on the green just as you found it, and the hole ready for those coming behind.
Putting with the flagstick on the green: what the Rules say
Since the 2019 Rules of Golf you don’t need to remove the pin to putt. Rule 13.2 allows you to play from the green with the flagstick in the hole, and if the ball hits it there is no penalty: you play it as it lies. However, the decision is made before the stroke, and you can’t place the flagstick in an off-centre position to gain an advantage. You’ll find the full text in the R&A Rules of Golf.
Some players prefer to putt with it in and others always take it out. Both options are valid; what doesn’t change is that, when it comes out of the hole, it deserves the same care.
Small gestures that show at San Roque
A green in good condition is more enjoyable, reads better and does justice to the work behind every hole. Treating the flagstick on the green properly is one of those habits that cost nothing and that everyone appreciates. Think of the flagstick on the green as part of the course you share: small gestures make the difference.
If you’re interested in the side of the game you can’t see, on the blog we also talk about the mental game and staying calm over the ball, another area where details count.
Frequently asked questions
Can I move the flagstick on the green to centre it before putting?
Yes. Rule 13.2 lets you leave it as it is or move it so it is centred in the hole and play that way. What isn’t allowed is deliberately moving it off-centre to gain an advantage.
What happens if the ball comes to rest against the flagstick in the hole?
If any part of the ball is in the hole below the surface of the green, it is considered holed even if it hasn’t dropped all the way. If no part is below the surface, it is not holed and you play it as it lies.