
Take the flag to the edge of the green, where should you lay it down on the putting surface. Set the flag down in a place where it will be least likely to get hit by a ball. Once the hole is completed you can retrieve the flag and replace it.
Does every golf course have a flag?
Almost every course and iteration of the game uses some sort of flag. The notable exception to this is Merion Golf Club in Haverford Township, Pennsylvania which has wicker baskets adorning the top of pins instead of the usual flag.
How do you stake flags on a golf course?
The golfers stick those flags in the ground at the point from which their final shot is played. The golfer who stakes his flag the farthest around the course is the winner. Here's an example: Let's say your allotment is 75 strokes. You play the golf course until you hit your 75th shot, which, let's say, comes on the 16th fairway.
How to putt a flag on a golf green?
Take the flag to the edge of the green, where should you lay it down on the putting surface. Set the flag down in a place where it will be least likely to get hit by a ball. Once the hole is completed you can retrieve the flag and replace it.
What is the purpose of a flag in golf?
Golf flags have been used for centuries in order for golfers to be able to have a visual clue as to where they want their ball to land. Almost every course and iteration of the game uses some sort of flag.

Can you have the flag tended in golf?
It's OK for the flag to be tended for any shot, from any location on the golf course. But in the real world, players request tending of the flag primarily when attempting long putts (when they might have trouble seeing the hole without the flag).
What do the different colored flags on a golf course mean?
Red - A red flag indicates the hole is at the front of the green. Blue - A blue flag denotes the pin is at the back of the green. Yellow - A yellow flag shows the pin position is at the back of the green. White - A white flag signals the hole position is in the middle of the green.
What is the flag rule in golf?
Purpose of Rule: This Rule covers the player's choices for dealing with the flagstick. The player may leave the flagstick in the hole or have it removed (which includes having someone attend the flagstick and remove it after the ball is played), but must decide before making a stroke.
Can you pull flag off green?
Leaving it in You all know you can make a stroke with the flagstick in the hole, whether your ball is on or off the green, and the ball in motion can hit the flagstick, there's no penalty and you play it as it lies.
What does a white flag on a golf course mean?
A blue or yellow flag typically indicates a pin position, or where the hole is located, at the back of the green; a white flag is used when the hole is in the middle of the green; a red flag signals a pin position at the front of the green. The flag colors may vary, though.
What does white flag mean in golf?
On the green, the color of the flag can indicate to a distant golfer where the hole has been cut that day. BLUE means that the hole has been cut at the back of the green, furthest away from the golfer who is approaching. WHITE means that the hole has been cut somewhere in the middle of the green.
Do you have to remove flag when putting?
The United States Golf Association and the U.K.'s Royal and Ancient Golf Club changed the rule mainly to speed up play. Since most golfers don't use caddies, the need for individual golfers to remove the flag when they reach the green can increase their time on it. The new rule addresses that issue.
Is it better to putt with flag in or out?
That's . 01 percent of the time. So that's the only time the flagstick will help a putt go in the hole that would not have gone in otherwise. The rest of the time—99.99 percent—the better play is to putt with the flagstick out of the hole.
Can you chip with the flag out?
As of 2019, a golfer may choose to play a hole with the flagstick in or out. In previous years, the golfer would have received a penalty for not having the flagstick removed. However, now it is the golfer's choice so they can choose to leave the flagstick in and play that way.
Can you use your putter if your ball is not on green?
In fact, a golfer can use any club they want on the putting green. Under the Rules of Golf, a golfer can use a putter, a wedge, an iron, a fairway wood, a hybrid, a driver -- basically, whatever of their 14 clubs are in the bag -- on the putting surface.
Can a caddie remove the ball from the hole?
The player's caddie is allowed to mark and lift the player's ball on the putting green any time the player is allowed to do so, without needing authorization. The caddie continues to be allowed to replace the player's ball only if the caddie was the one who had lifted or moved the ball.
What does it mean to hold a flagstick in golf?
That means that one golfer stands next to the hole and holds the flagstick, then removes it before the other golfer's putted ball reaches the hole.
What is a flagstick?
A flagstick is exactly that: a stick with a flag on it*. You see them on putting greens to mark the location of the hole. Some golf courses color code the flags on flagsticks to denote if the hole location is near the front, center or back of the green.
Is it OK to putt with flagstick in?
1, 2019, that penalty was removed — it is now OK for golfers to putt to a hole with the flagstick in or out, at the golfer's preference. In the golf rules, situations involving the flagstick are covered in Rule 13-2, within the broader Rule 13 that addresses situations on the putting greens.
Can you put the flag high on the stick?
Another way of doing the same thing is to put the flag high, middle or low on the stick. (A course that does this should note the practice on its scorecard or pin sheet.) Prior to 2019, it was a penalty for the golf ball to enter the cup with the flagstick still in the hole for any stroke played from the surface of the putting green. ...
Is a flagstick circular?
In a separate section of the Rules of Golf (not included in the normal rulebook) called the Equipment Rules, the governing bodies also state that the flagstick must be circular in cross-section, cannot include any shock-absorbing material or other material that might influence the movement of the golf ball.
Is "flagstick" a synonym for "pin"?
"Flagstick" and "pin" are synonyms and are used interchangeably by golfers. ("Flagstick" is often shortened to just "flag," too.) However, the governing bodies always use flagstick, never pin. So you might say that flagstick is the technically accurate term of the two words.
Do flagsticks have to be at the top of the golf cart?
So be sure to familiarize yourself with Rule 13-2 for any questions regarding the role of the flagstick in golf. (*Note that a flagstick does not have to have a flag, or banner or bunting, flying at its top. Rarely, golfers encounter other items at the top of the flagstick, such as wicker baskets at Merion Golf Club .)
Where do you plant your flag on a golf course?
You play the golf course until you hit your 75th shot, which, let's say, comes on the 16th fairway. That's where you plant your flag, from the place you played your final stroke. If no other player's flag is planted beyond yours (say, on the 16th green or 17th tee box) you are the winner.
What is the format of a flags tournament?
This Format Is Also Called Last Man Standing or Tombstone. Brent Kelley is an award-winning sports journalist and golf expert with over 30 years in print and online journalism. A "flags tournament" — also commonly called a "flag competition" or known by the names Last Man Standing or Tombstone — is a competition format in which golfers begin ...
How many handicaps are used in golf?
To avoid the circumstance of multiple golfers reaching the end of the golf course with strokes remaining, tournament organizers can consider using partial handicaps — three-fourths or two-thirds are the most common.
How did the game of golf get its name?
The game gets its name from the fact that little flags are usually given to competitors before the round. The golfers stick those flags in the ground at the point from which their final shot is played.
What does full handicap mean in golf?
Using full handicaps often means that several golfers will reach the end of 18 holes with strokes left to use. In that event, those golfers would go back to the No. 1 hole and keep playing.
Why do golfers use flags?
Golf flags have been used for centuries in order for golfers to be able to have a visual clue as to where they want their ball to land. Almost every course and iteration of the game uses some sort of flag.
What does a red flag mean in golf?
These positions can also be indicated via the colors of the flags rather than positioning with a red flag indicating a front flagsticks position , a white flag indicating a middle position, and a blue or black flag to indicate a back flagstick position. There are other flags involved in golf as well, such as the blue cart flag.
hmrunkle
I've started collecting flags from the more notable courses I've gotten the opportunity to play over the years. My initial plan was to frame them and cover the walls in my home office. The problem I've run in to which I didn't anticipate is that not all of the flags are the same size (ignorant assumption, I know).
augustgolf
A nice compound mitre saw (rent or own) can be your friend. You can make your own frames.
augustgolf
Get some plastic coated braided airline cable (we used to call it "clothesline")
taylorx300
I am doing the same thing. The 12.00 plastic frame from Walmart looks cheap. Started to wait for the sale at Michaels and the 50% coupon.
hmrunkle
Thanks for the suggestions guys! Will keep you posted on what I decide to do. Part of me wishes I would've decided to do this with scorecards instead of flags but I've purchased too many flags at this point to turn back now :)
Bholden52
I know where you are coming from. My wife got my St. Andrews flag framed for me a long time ago. So I tried to do it myself with other flags, but the Boss didn't approve of my work because it didn't look good.
sethdavidsdad
Get some plastic coated braided airline cable (we used to call it "clothesline")
What is the tube on a golf flag?
Most of our golf flags come with a plastic “tube” to slide over the flagstick though many flags can be made with grommets as well.
What is the longest lasting flag fabric?
Polyester is our heavier material and will outlast nylon flags before fraying on the fly end. Our Rugged WaveCrest™ polyester is the longest lasting flag fabric available and is preferred for display in strong wind and unpredictable weather conditions.
Why is the Solarmax flag called SolarMax?
It receives its name SolarMax for its ability to hold strong against ultraviolet sun rays. This material is designed to be a light fabric with a very superior performance. For flags there is no better material on the market. Some can argue that other silk materials can make for great flags, although they may look great, the flag will be heavier in weight and will most likely not be able to take any extreme weather that most areas of the world encounter.
Why do golfers take flagsticks out to putt out?
Because most golfers don’t play with caddies, the process of taking the flagstick out to putt out can delay play , and the USGA added that it does not anticipate the rule resulting in a scoring advantage.
What is the penalty for hitting a flagstick?
The Old Rule: Hitting the flagstick with your ball from on the green resulted in a two-stroke penalty. The New Rule: According to the USGA, under Rule 13.2a (2), “There will no longer be a penalty if a ball played from the putting green hits a flagstick left in the hole.”.
What does it mean to leave a flagstick in?
Leaving the flagstick in means you can ram in some short putts, taking break and doubt out of them. (But be careful — one firmly-struck missed putt can zip by!) Where this rule can more reliably help you is in pace of play. No longer do you have to feel a twinge of guilt for tapping in without first removing the pin.
Can you putt with a pin in golf?
Yes, as far as these things go. It already has been controversial! The headlines thus far have come from Bryson DeChambeau, who announced to GOLF.com last month that he intends to putt with the pin in. “It depends on the COR, the coefficient of restitution of the flagstick,” he said.

Golf Range Finder Use and Pin Seeking Technology
Flag Etiquette
- The term tending the flag refers to someone standing next to the flagstick and removing it from the cup once a player has struck their putt. A golfer can choose to play to the hole with the flag out or in, based on their preference. In years past, if a golfer played a stroke from the green to the cup with the flag still in, they faced a penalty. But due to the new golf rules, this has changed, so …
Requesting That The Flag Be Tended
- It’s perfectly fine for the flagstick to be tended to for any type of shot at any location on the course. A player can request tending of the flag when they’re attempting long putts. This is when a player may have difficulty seeing the hole from a long shot. Some players will also request flagstick tending when chipping off the green. The flag should be tended for another player if: 1. …
Tending The Flag
- If you’re the one that’s tending the flag, make sure that you approach it, remove it and stand it at arm’s length. Keep different players putting lines in mine, ensuring that you’re not standing in anyone’s putting line or walking across it. Keep quiet and still in order to avoid distracting another player. Make sure you lift the pin straight up an...
Important Flag Rules
- It’s important to know that if the flag is in the hole, the person that stands near it is going to be deemed as the person that will tend the flag unless another player requests the job. This means that the person standing closest to the flag will be responsible for it until a ball comes to rest. 1. A golfer can request that the flagstick be removed whether it’s off or on the green. It can also be le…
Color-Coding and Difficulty Level
- In golf, the flags are a very important part of the game. The flag is used to identify where a hole is placed. The flags extend up to several feet above the ground which allows a player on the course to easily locate the hole’s position on the green from hundreds of yards away. The color of the flag sends a message, telling the player in the tee box or in the fairway the relative location of the fla…
Final Thoughts
- For new players, learning the ropes of the game can be very challenging. Hopefully, this article has helped to clear up some common misconceptions when it comes to tending the flag in golf properly. While some of these rules may seem unfair or even a little ridiculous, there’s a reason for everything when it comes to the golf rules and how the game is played. Whether you’re a low ha…