THE SCENE:
Your 4-some is on the green of hole #10. Your partner putts. Her ball misses the hole then speeds up as it heads downhill towards the flagstick, which is lying on the ground and in the way. It’s going to hit. And that will be a two stroke penalty.
You rush over and lift the flagstick just in time. The ball rolls on by and then stops. Whew! But one of the other players shakes her finger at you and says, “That’s a two stroke penalty. You can’t lift the flag while the ball is moving!”
What would you do?
A. You know you are allowed to move the flag so you refuse to take a penalty.
B. You just got excited and acted without thinking. You apologize and take a 2-stroke penalty.
A is correct.
This is new in 2008. You are now allowed to move a flagstick lying on the ground to prevent a ball from hitting it.
Actually, there are two things you can move out of the way of a ball in motion. Equipment of the players and a flagstick whether you are ‘tending it, holding it up or have placed it on the ground.
Look in your Rules of Golf book at Rule #24
24-1. Movable Obstruction
When a ball is in motion, an obstruction that might influence the movement of the ball, other than equipment of any player or the flagstick when attended, removed or held up, must not be moved.
Penalty for Breach of Rule:Match play - Loss of hole; Stroke play - Two strokes.
REMEMBER: You are now allowed to move the flag if a ball might hit it.
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