
I've heard a lot about 'illegal' pin positions in the past, my understanding is that the pin should be somewhere where the ball would actually stop. The only place where I've ever heard people talking about "illegal" pin positions is Haste Hill. It's the kind of place where you find people with random interpretations of the rules of golf
What does pin position mean in golf?
"Pin position" and "hole location" are two common synonyms. "Pin" is another term for the flagstick in golf, and the flagstick marks the location of the cup, or hole, on the putting green. So when golfers talk about pin placement, what we're really talking about is where on the putting green the hole is located.
What is pin placement on a putting green?
The term "pin placement" refers to the location of the hole on the putting green on golf courses. "Pin position" and "hole location" are two common synonyms. "Pin" is another term for the flagstick in golf, and the flagstick marks the location of the cup, or hole, on the putting green.
What are the rules for pin placement on golf courses?
There are no rules for pin placement, and no "illegal" pins. The USGA does have recommendations for proper and fair placement, and most courses follow those guidelines. But if your course doesn't follow those recommendations there really isn't anything that you can do but put up with it... or play somewhere else.
Is ‘pin’ a bad term in golf?
The USGA, however, disapproves of this term, listing “pin” as one of the top 10 misused golf terms, according to a 2009 article on the USGA website. The organization prefers “hole location” to “pin placement.”

How far must a pin be from the fringe?
“We keep hole locations a minimum of five paces – approximately 15 feet – from the edges of a green. Many golfers are not aware that while there are rules about the size of the hole and the depth of the liner, there is no rule about how far from the edge of a putting green the hole must be located.
How are golf pin placements determined?
Pin Placement Defined The tool extracts a cylindrical chunk of grass and dirt from the green. The cylinder is placed into the former hole's location, and the cup that lined the old hole is positioned in the new spot. During PGA tournaments, hole locations are typically changed each round.
Do golf pins change location?
0:202:19Fore The Golfer: Changing A Hole Location - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipOnce a location is selected. The maintenance worker uses a hole cutter to create the new hole. TheMoreOnce a location is selected. The maintenance worker uses a hole cutter to create the new hole. The worker will cut the hole as nearly on the vertical.
How do you read a pin position?
0:000:59How to Read a Hole Location Sheet - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe next numbers to look at are where the pin is located on the green. So as you can see here. ThisMoreThe next numbers to look at are where the pin is located on the green. So as you can see here. This number indicates how many paces the pin is from the front of the green.
What is a Sunday pin?
A "Sunday Pin" is a cup location that is difficult to access on your approach shot. The name comes from the way courses are typically set up on the last day of a tournament.
Can a pin placement be illegal?
If you've ever watched a PGA Tour event, you may have wondered why the pins are placed where they are. It's not because the rules dictate where to place the pins -- there are no rules for pin placement. The U.S. Golf Association does, however, offer several guidelines and recommendations.
Do Augusta members get greenjackets?
Green jacket Every member of Augusta National receives a green sport coat with the club's logo on the left breast. Members are required to wear them during the tournament, and the jackets are not allowed to be removed from the grounds. The idea of the green jacket originated with club co-founder Clifford Roberts.
How often do golf courses change pin location?
Pin Placement Defined During PGA tournaments, hole locations are typically changed each round. This is commonly termed each day's “pin placement.” The USGA, however, disapproves of this term, listing “pin” as one of the top 10 misused golf terms, according to a 2009 article on the USGA website.
How often do golf courses change hole locations?
each dayMoving the holes on the practice green each day is one way to spread traffic. It is common to change holes every day on the course, but not as common on the practice green.
Do they move the holes at the Masters every day?
During PGA tournaments, hole locations are typically changed each round. This is commonly termed each day's “pin placement.” The USGA, however, disapproves of this term, listing “pin” as one of the top 10 misused golf terms, according to a 2009 article on the USGA website.
What do the numbers on a golf green mean?
The "stimp" or "stimp rating" of a putting green is a numerical value that represents how fast the golf ball rolls on the putting surface. Golfers call this rating the green speed. That value is based on a measurement taken with a simple instrument called a Stimpmeter (hence the terms stimp and stimp rating).
What is the pin placement in golf?
During PGA tournaments, hole locations are typically changed each round. This is commonly termed each day’s “pin placement.”. The USGA, however, disapproves of this term, listing “pin” as one of the top 10 misused golf terms, according to a 2009 article on the USGA website.
How far should you put a hole from the edge of the putting green?
More specifically, Rule 15-3 (ii) recommends that holes should be placed "at least four paces from any edge of the putting green," and even farther if there's a sand trap near the edge or if the area surrounding the green's edge slopes downward.
Why is the hole farther from the edge of the green?
For example, the hole will typically be placed farther from the edge of the green when the expected approach shot requires a long iron rather than a more lofted club, according to PGA official Mickey Bradley. Weather conditions also are factored in. For example, greens will hold an approach better when they’re wet.
What is the rule for the back nine?
Rule 15-3 (vi) recommends that officials use a balanced selection of hole locations "for the entire course with respect to left, right, central, front and back positions." For example, when setting the hole locations for the back nine during the 2007 Nissan Open, tournament official John Mutch set four on the left side of the green, four on the right and one in the center.
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.
Taking it out
Some like it in, some like it out. This is what happens when you opt for the latter under Rule 13.2b. Again, you decide before you make the stroke and either have it taken out or you authorise someone to attend it.
The ball is resting against the flagstick
Well, is it holed or isn’t it? It depends, but Rule 13.2c is pretty clear on the matter. If your ball comes to rest against a flagstick that is left in the hole and “any part of the ball is in the hole below the surface of the putting green” then it is holed – even if the whole of the ball isn’t below that surface.
What does pin placement mean in golf?
The term "pin placement" refers to the location of the hole on the putting green on golf courses. "Pin position" and "hole location" are two common synonyms.
Why is it important to know the pin placement?
Knowing the pin placement helps the golfer decide what to do with his or her approach shot. A pin placement on the back of a green, for example, might require more club (a longer shot) than a pin placement on the front part of a putting green.
What is a hole location chart?
Some golf courses provide golfers with pin sheets (also called hole location charts) that illustrate the pin placement on each green that day. (Some golf GPS devices, such as those that are now built-in to many riding carts, can also display the exact pin placement.) Such information is valuable not only because it helps ...
How far away should a golf pin be from the edge of the green?
For holes designed with a sand trap at the edge of the green or a steep slope away from the edge, the pin should be located more than four paces from the edge.
How deep should a hole be for a golf pin?
The hole's outer diameter must not exceed 4 1/4 inches, the depth is a minimum of 4 inches and the liner must sit 1 inch below the putting surface. As a general rule, the pin placement must be at least four to five paces from the edge of the green.
How many pins does a superintendent use?
Course superintendents typically use a hole placement rotation when setting up the course -- six pin placements in the front third, six in the center and six in back ...
What is the pin placement in golf?
During PGA tournaments, hole locations are typically changed each round. This is commonly termed each day’s “pin placement.”. The USGA, however, disapproves of this term, listing “pin” as one of the top 10 misused golf terms, according to a 2009 article on the USGA website.
What is the rule for golf hole locations?
Rule 15-3 ( vi) recommends that officials use a balanced selection of hole locations "for the entire course with respect to left, right, central, front and back positions." For example, when setting the hole locations for the back nine during the 2007 Nissan Open, tournament official John Mutch set four on the left side of the green, four on the right and one in the center. Officials also change some hole locations between rounds to force golfers to hit a different shot into the green.
How far should you put a hole from the edge of the putting green?
More specifically, Rule 15-3 (ii) recommends that holes should be placed "at least four paces from any edge of the putting green," and even farther if there's a sand trap near the edge or if the area surrounding the green's edge slopes downward.
Where can I put a hole in the PGA?
By the strict letter of the law, therefore, a hole may be placed anywhere on the green.
Is it illegal to put pins on golf courses?
There are no rules for pin placement, and no "illegal" pins. The USGA does have recommendations for proper and fair placement, and most courses follow those guidelines. But if your course doesn't follow those recommendations there really isn't anything that you can do but put up with it... or play somewhere else.
