{"id":15548343,"date":"2024-09-03T07:56:11","date_gmt":"2024-09-03T11:56:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/golf.com\/?post_type=article&p=15548343"},"modified":"2024-10-09T16:26:50","modified_gmt":"2024-10-09T20:26:50","slug":"rules-guy-playing-partner-hung-jacket-flagstick-legal","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/golf.com\/instruction\/rules\/rules-guy-playing-partner-hung-jacket-flagstick-legal\/","title":{"rendered":"Rules Guy: My playing partner hung his jacket on the flagstick while he putted. Is that legal?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Rules of Golf are tricky! Thankfully, we\u2019ve got the guru. Our Rules Guy knows the book front to back<\/a>. Got a question? He\u2019s got all the answers.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

My buddy and I were playing an early-morning round. We each wore a pullover to combat the chill. On the 7th hole, he took off his pullover and, because his bag was across the green, draped it atop the flagstick as he putted with the pin in. Neither of us knew if this was permitted. \u2014Bruce Reeder, Seattle<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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<\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

Rules Guy\u2019s beloved aunt, Style Lady, informs us that it is permissible should the pullover\u2019s color not clash with the flag\u2019s. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

From a Rules perspective, the only potential penalty we can think of would be intent-based \u2014 say, your buddy deliberately did so to move the flagstick to a position other than centered or to cast a shadow to aim at. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Failing a desire to assist his play, there wouldn\u2019t be a problem with treating the flagstick as a clothes hanger, although it feels a tad presumptuous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For more flagstick-related guidance from our guru, read on …<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\n\n
\n
\n \n Rules <\/a>\n <\/div>\n \n \n \"Rules <\/a>\n <\/div>\n
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Rules Guy: Can I ask my playing partner to hold the flag, but keep the pin in the hole while I putt?<\/a><\/blockquote>\n By:<\/span>\n \n \n Rules Guy <\/a>\n \n <\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

Retired guys with season passes will play in just about any conditions. Recently, we were braving a round in a very stiff wind. My tee shot on a par 3 landed a bit short and, just as I chipped, the wind blew the flagstick from the hole. My ball hit the prone flagstick and followed along the stick into the hole. The flag was properly positioned when I played my shot, so I doubt I\u2019m penalized. But do I replay my shot, or is it a birdie with an assist from Mother Nature? \u2014Greg Hayward, via email<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

While Rules Guy is not quite as besotted by Caddyshack<\/em> as some people, the incident you describe would have worked well in the bishop\u2019s \u201cbest round of my life\u201d montage. Does it end on a happier note? Yes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s nothing in the rules as far as Rules Guy sees that penalizes you or would require the stroke to be replayed. You didn\u2019t remove the flagstick while the ball was in motion, and the ball hitting the flagstick was an accident. Under Rule 13.2, accidental deflections result in the ball being played as it lies without penalty. Pick your ball from the cup \u2026 and, please, don\u2019t get struck by lightning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Need help unriddling the greens at your home course? Pick up a custom Green Book<\/a> from Golf Logix.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Got a question about the Rules? Ask the Rules Guy! Send your queries, confusions and comments to rulesguy@golf.com. We promise he won\u2019t throw the book at you.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Is it permissible to hang your jacket on the flagstick while you putt, or is that a penalty? Rules Guy has the answer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":15548347,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":true,"ep_exclude_from_search":false,"apple_news_api_created_at":"2024-09-03T11:56:15Z","apple_news_api_id":"0eff9ca9-e78d-40d9-b300-553f7f78e2bd","apple_news_api_modified_at":"2024-09-03T11:56:15Z","apple_news_api_revision":"AAAAAAAAAAD\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/w==","apple_news_api_share_url":"https:\/\/apple.news\/ADv-cqeeNQNmzAFU_f3jivQ","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_is_hidden":"","apple_news_is_paid":"","apple_news_is_preview":"","apple_news_is_sponsored":"","apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":[],"apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false},"categories":[52],"tags":[61404,61891],"class_list":["post-15548343","article","type-article","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-rules","tag-golfmagazine","tag-rulesguy"],"acf":{"art_author":[{"ID":14046396,"post_author":"235","post_date":"2018-02-10 16:33:43","post_date_gmt":"2018-02-10 16:33:43","post_content":"","post_title":"Rules Guy","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"rules-guy-2","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2018-02-10 16:33:43","post_modified_gmt":"2018-02-10 16:33:43","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.golf.com\/?post_type=golf_person&p=14046396","menu_order":0,"post_type":"contributor","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"art_source":"None","tee_time_button_status":false,"article_template":"standard","featured_image_caption":"What do the rules say about using the flagstick as a coat rack?","featured_image_credits":"Getty Images","wsum-gated-content":false,"wsotp_enable_one_time_payment":false,"ad_meta":false},"apple_news_notices":[],"yoast_head":"\nMy playing partner hung his jacket on the flagstick while he putted. 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