
The Flags in Golf
- Flag Color. Flag color is a method of telling golfers in the fairway or teebox the relative location of the pin on the green.
- Marker Height. ...
- Flags and Shots Off the Green. ...
- Balls Resting on the Flag. ...
- Striking the Flag. ...
What do the flags 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. The blue cart flag indicates that a player is …
What do the colors on a golf course mean?
What do the different colored flags mean on a golf course? 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. What does red flag mean on golf course? Red – A red flag indicates the hole is at the …
Why are there red and white flags on the putting green?
When using color-coded flags, the color of the flag can be used to mark the location of the flag relative to the center of the green, with a color for front, a color for back and a color for...
How do marker flags work on golf courses?
On each green, with the exception of the first and return, two holes have been placed; the one is played to by parties going outwards, the other in the in-coming. To prevent mistakes, the outgoing hole is supplied with a white flag, and its neighbour sports a red one, that being the colour for all the return holes.

What does a checkered flag mean on a golf course?
By the sixth hole we both found out the hard way that the checkered flag in the fairway was a warning flag to alert those playing behind that the group ahead had moved on. The course was very hilly and several holes had blind spots.
Why do golf flags have 2 flags?
This was because St Andrews has many double greens and so players needed to know which of the two flags on the green related to the hole they were on. Some other courses adopted this policy, including those with layouts lacking double greens. Some clubs simply have the same coloured flags throughout.
How many flags are there in golf?
There are four colours of golf flag available, each on denoting a different pin position. Red is for holes at the front of the green, yellow and blue for the black and white for the middle.
What do the colored flags on the green mean?
0:323:40Golf Flag Colors Explained For Beginner Golfers!! - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBlue if the flag is red that means that the hole is in the front of the green. So if you take aMoreBlue if the flag is red that means that the hole is in the front of the green. So if you take a little step back here's a massive.
What does double red flag at the beach mean?
water is closed to the publicBeach Warning Flags. Double red flags means water is closed to the public. Red flag is high hazard meaning high surf and/or strong currents. Yellow flag is medium hazard meaning moderate surf and/or currents. Green flag is low hazard meaning calm conditions, exercise caution.
What does the yellow flag mean at the Ryder Cup?
Although the United Kingdom is no longer in the EU, the country is still a a part of European continent. Traditionally, the attire that European players wear throughout Ryder Cup weekend is a shade of blue, and you can usually spot emblazoned yellow stars on them too.
What is the use of two flag signals?
Two-flag signals are mostly distress and maneuvering signals. Three-flag signals are for points of the compass, relative bearings, standard times, verbs, punctuation, also general code and decode signals. Four-flags are used for geographical signals, names of ships, bearings, etc.
What do golf flags indicate?
Golf flags usually indicate the hole number and location of the hole on the green, (front, middle, back).
What is the flag on a golf course?
Used to denote where a hole is located on a green, a flag extends up several feet above the ground, ensuring that players on the course can locate the position of the hole on the green from several hundred yards out to best aim their approaches.
What does the color of the flag on the green mean?
At many courses, the color of the flag on the flagstick indicates the general location of the hole on the green. 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 ...
How big is a flag stick?
The size of flags varies by course. The flagstick itself, however, is regulated by the USGA. The stick must be circular in cross-section and no more than 3/4 inch in circumference to allow enough room for the ball to drop into the cup.
What happens if a ball hits the flag?
If a ball strikes the flag in such instances, the player is penalized two strokes for the violation. This can be assessed if the flag is in the hole when struck as well as if the flag has been laid down and an errant putt strikes it.
What is the rule for flagsticks in golf?
Rule 17 of the Rules of Golf governs flags and flagsticks. If a golfer hits the flag with a shot when the flagstick is in the cup, the next shot must be played from where the ball comes to a stop. If you putt from on the green or if the flag has been removed for your shot, you are penalized if the ball hits any part of the flagstick, ...
Why do golfers use flags?
Marking the Target. The flags on a golf course are first and foremost used to give a golfer a visual marker for each hole. Whether standing on the tee area to hit a drive or hitting an approach shot from the fairway, golfers typically use the flag to help aim their shot to the green.
When did golf start with red and white flags?
The first noted golf course to have white and red flags for the outward and inward nine is Carnoustie, when Old Tom expanded it to 18-holes in 1873.
What does the red flag on the 17th green mean?
To further confuse matters, when Old Tom created a new first green and separated it from the famous 17th 'Road Hole', he continued to use the red 'in' flag on the 17th green, which means that there is no logic to the use of coloured flags on any golf course in the world.
What does the blue flag mean in golf?
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. Since the distance from the front to the back of the green can make a significant difference in terms of yardage, the colored flags aid golfers with their club selection.
Why do golfers put flags on the green?
Whether standing on the tee area to hit a drive or hitting an approach shot from the fairway, golfers typically use the flag to help aim their shot to the green. By visualizing the most direct path to the hole, golfers can plan their shots to play the hole with the fewest number of strokes.
How big is a flag stick?
The size of flags varies by course. The flagstick itself, however, is regulated by the USGA. The stick must be circular in cross-section and no more than 3/4 inch in circumference to allow enough room for the ball to drop into the cup. Also, it can't be padded or covered with absorbent material that can influence the reaction of a ball that hits it.
What is the rule for flagsticks in golf?
Rule 17 of the Rules of Golf governs flags and flagsticks. If a golfer hits the flag with a shot when the flagstick is in the cup, the next shot must be played from where the ball comes to a stop. If you putt from on the green or if the flag has been removed for your shot, you are penalized if the ball hits any part of the flagstick, ...
What is the safety feature in golf?
This safety feature typically is used in tournaments, when the course is crowded, and involves marshals who monitor play . The marshals use flag signals ...
When were flags first used in golf?
Flags mark the way for a golfer's journey. Flags, the objects on top of the sticks used to mark each hole on a golf course, were first mentioned in 1875, although golf historians believe they were used before that date.
Do flags have to be on flagsticks?
The USGA doesn't require flags to be attached to flagsticks -- some courses top the sticks with other adornments -- but the vast majority of courses maintain the tradition by using cloth or nylon flags. The size of flags varies by course. The flagstick itself, however, is regulated by the USGA.
What color stakes are used to indicate a golf course?
We're talking about the colored stakes and lines golfers encounter on golf courses: Red stakes and red lines; yellow stakes and yellow lines; white stakes and white lines are the most common colors used as indicators. But golfers might also encounter blue or green stakes;
What does a white line mean on a golf course?
White Stakes and White Lines on a Golf Course. White stakes or white lines are used to indicate out-of-bounds. (A course can mark out-of-bounds in other ways, too; for example, a fence might mark the boundary along certain parts of a course.) When stakes (or a fence) indicate out-of-bounds, then out-of-bounds begins at the nearest inside point ...
What does the blue line mean in a GUR?
Blue Stakes: Uncommon, but they are sometimes used to denote ground under repair. (More commonly, GUR is denoted by a white line painted around the area.) Check with your head pro or starter for further information, if not shown on the scorecard or Conditions of Competition.
Where is the drop in golf?
The drop can be taken within two club-lengths of the point where the ball crossed the margin of the hazard, no nearer the hole. Or a golfer can go to the opposite side of the hazard and drop at a spot on the hazard's margin that is equidistant from the hole.
What does red stakes mean?
Red stakes and lines indicate a lateral water hazard. A lateral water hazard is differentiated from a water hazard by the fact that it is, well, lateral. That is, it runs alongside or adjacent to the line of play, rather than across it.
When a golfer takes a drop out of a water hazard, must he drop behind the
When a golfer takes a drop out of a water hazard, he must drop behind the point where his ball crossed the margin of the hazard. The drop can be made at any point, as far back as the golfer wishes, so long as the point where the ball crossed into the hazard is kept between the point of the drop and the hole.
What does yellow stakes and lines mean?
Yellow stakes and lines indicate a water hazard. Why are indicators needed for a water hazard? Shouldn't a water hazard be obvious?
What color is the back pin on a golf club?
Thus red, for the front tees, is used when the pin is on the front section of the green, and so on. Thus a back pin placement is often a blue or white flag, and a central one is either white or yellow.
What flags are used on the front nine holes of Nelson Golf Club?
A quick phone call to Nelson Golf Club in Lancashire elicits the information that they have adopted the St Andrews policy of flags, and use red flags on the front nine holes, yellow on the back nine. Nelson requires every man do his duty and work out the pin depth for themselves. For all the latest from the golf world, ...
What message did the flag send before the Battle of Trafalgar?
Famously before the Battle of Trafalgar they spelt out the exhortation to Nelson’s fleet that “England expects that every man will do his duty.”. This message was intended to have started ‘Nelson requires’.
Can flags on golf courses send out messages?
Flags on golf courses can send out simple messages, too, to those who know the code.
What color flags are used for golf holes?
The standard around here is the red/white/blue flags.
When putting a flag on a golf course, should the flag be in the front or back?
Another thing to keep in mind - supposedly when the tees are forward in the tee box, the flag is supposed to be in the back position, and if the tees are back the flag should be in the front. This is to keep the yardages near what is posted on the card. Not all courses seem to be aware of this subtlety though.
How to tell if greens pin is yellow or white?
Since the greenskeeper generally places the pin locations in order (front on one hole, middle the next, then back, etc.) it is generally easy to tell, but if you aren't paying attention, the yellow and white flags look almost the same from a distance.
Where is the pin on a golf ball?
Some of the local courses use a plastic wiffle-ball softball on the flagstick, held in place by a rubber ring. It the ball is near the top, the pin is on the back of the green | If it's down low, it's near the front.
Is the US flag blue or black?
A lot of times it's blue or black as the back flag. I don't think I've ever seen yellow as back, only front, but I have seen gold as back. White, however, seems to be almost the consensus middle.
