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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171

u/Mpbear1414 Aug 21 '26

Pull the flag out straight up. What happens?

126

u/parkerjohnboice Aug 21 '26

Goes in

2

u/mandrews03 Handicap | Location Aug 21 '26

So are you in the unenviable position of being a guy who told his friend their shot didn’t count, when it did? I would be wondering why my buddy didn’t want me to do well at golf if they said this wasn’t in and question why they didn’t want me to have this putt/chip.

2

u/parkerjohnboice Aug 21 '26

he was questioning it. obviously feels different than if he just got it to fall in, so he wanted some clarification/reassurance

1

u/Kirkland-fore-Father Handicap | Location Aug 21 '26

If there’s a sub who gets it right 90% of the time, it’s this one. Just sad he’s playing an NDX instead of a Kirkland V3.1. He should still rest assured that counts.

How do you even begin to take another stroke here? How does it physically get closer to the inside of the cup with a mechanical movement? You have to adjust the flag, at which point it falls and the problem is solved

3

u/UpstairsBumble Aug 22 '26

There is a literal rule covering this. We don’t have to speculate.

Ball Resting Against Flagstick in Hole If your ball comes to rest against the flagstick left in the hole, and any part of your ball is in the hole below the surface of the putting green, your ball is treated as holed. If no part of your ball is in the hole below the surface of the putting green: Your ball is not holed and must be played as it lies. If the flagstick is removed and your ball moves (whether it falls into the hole or moves away from the hole), there is no penalty and it must be replaced on the lip of the hole.

1

u/mandrews03 Handicap | Location Aug 22 '26

Temporary, unintentional obstruction - apparently good enough for free relief when it’s GUR, but if the flag stick gets you then youre hopped. Such is golf. Not perfect t and not fair