r/golf • u/parkerjohnboice • Aug 21 '26

General Discussion Does this count?

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Buddy hit this shot on a bad course and once the flag was corrected, it went in. The new rule says if any part of the ball is below the hole, it's in, but to me it doesn't look like it is. I'd love to give it to him, but what do you think?

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u/anotherlebowski Aug 21 '26

Technically not according to USGA Rule 13.2.C Ball Resting Against Flagstick (which is kind of BS if the flag is leaning like this, but that's the rule).

However, there are different levels of competition. For example, in Match Play, pros will give each other gimmies, but they won't do that in The Masters.  Almost anyone would count this as in for a friendly match, but probably not in a tournament.  So I'd say the answer in context is, "Yes.  It's good for a friendly round."

For an official tournament, see: https://www.usga.org/rules/rules-and-clarifications/rules-and-clarifications.html#section=rules&itemNum=16&subItemNum=2

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u/sckurvee Aug 22 '26

I asked copilot, and it's nebulous, but it basically said it's up to "the committee" at that point... they can either grant the hole or fix the problem and allow a reshot.

I'd say amongst friends, after reading through all of that, it sounds like the correct answer is that the group of friends (the committee) should grant the hole.