What is putting in golf? Rules and common mistakes

A putt is any stroke made from the putting green with the intention of rolling the ball toward the hole (Rule 13.1). The most important rule: you may leave the flagstick in while putting without penalty, even if the ball strikes it (Rule 13.2).

What is a putt in golf?

A putt is any stroke made from the putting green with the intention of rolling the ball toward the hole. It differs from other strokes in that it uses the putter — the no-loft club designed to roll the ball along the surface — and is played from within the bounds of the green.

Distance doesn't matter: if you play the stroke from the green with a putter, it counts as a putt. If you play toward the hole from off the green (a chip and run, for example), it is not a putt even if the ball rolls. This matters in stableford scoring and stats, where putts are counted separately.

The most important rule when putting: the flagstick

Since the 2019 rule revision, you can leave the flagstick in while putting without penalty even if the ball strikes it (Rule 13.2).

Before 2019 it was the opposite: hitting the flagstick from the green carried a 2-stroke penalty in stroke play. It was the rule that generated the most arguments and was most frequently misapplied on courses.

Your options when putting:

• Leave the flagstick in and putt
• Ask someone to attend the flagstick and remove it as the ball rolls toward the hole
• Remove the flagstick from the hole before playing

What you cannot do: ask for the flagstick to stay in and then change your mind once the ball is rolling.

The flagstick rule (Rule 13.2) covers all three scenarios in detail — including when a penalty does apply if the person attending the flag fails to remove it before the ball arrives.

Order of play on the green

The player farthest from the hole putts first. This is the standard in stroke play and stableford.

In stroke play, you can use Ready Golf: putt as soon as you are ready even if it is not strictly your turn, provided everyone in the group agrees. It keeps pace of play moving without any rules consequences.

In match play the order carries more weight. If you putt out of turn and your opponent requires it, you may have to replay the stroke — no penalty stroke, but you lose the information of having seen how the ball rolled on that line.

Marking your ball: always before lifting it

Whenever you lift your ball from the green, you must mark it first. The marker (a coin or ball marker) is placed directly behind the ball, never to the side or in front. Lifting without marking = 1 stroke penalty (Rule 14.1).

Exception: if your ball interferes with another player's stroke or line of putt, that player may ask you to mark it. You are required to do so.

Once marked and lifted, you may only clean the ball — not substitute it — and must replace it in exactly the same spot.

The line of putt: what you cannot touch

The line of putt is the imaginary path between your ball and the hole, plus a reasonable area beyond the hole. Specific restrictions apply to it:

You cannot:

• Touch it with your club before putting to indicate direction or feel the lie
• Intentionally step on it to flatten the grass
• Use your club, feet, or any object to improve its surface

You can:

• Repair any damage on the line caused by a hand or a club (ball marks, spike marks, accidental damage) — since 2019 this includes any damage from human causes
• Point along the line with your club in the air without touching the ground
• Remove loose impediments (leaves, twigs, insects) on the line

Gimmies: only in match play

Gimmies — the concession of a putt without the player having to play it — only exist in match play. In stroke play and stableford there are no gimmies: every stroke must be played and counted.

In match play, your opponent can concede the putt at any point before you play the stroke. Once conceded, it cannot be withdrawn. You are not obligated to accept it: if your opponent concedes but you choose to putt anyway, that stroke does not count on the scorecard. Concessions also work at the hole and match level — not just for individual putts — and carry rules consequences that catch many match play beginners off guard; the full breakdown is in the guide to concessions in match play.

Penalties when putting

Ball overhanging the hole: how long can you wait?

If your ball overhangs the lip of the hole, you are allowed a reasonable time to reach the hole plus ten seconds to see if it falls in (Rule 13.3a). If it drops during that window, it counts as holed with your last stroke. If it does not fall, the ball is played as it lies — no penalty, no extra stroke. Walking up slowly to buy extra time is not "reasonable"; the clock starts when you could first reach the hole.

Keep reading: Ready Golf · honour and plays first from the tee · match play

FAQ

What counts as a putt in golf?

Any stroke made from the putting green with the intention of rolling the ball toward the hole counts as a putt. A chip from off the green that rolls on the green is not a putt.

Can I leave the flagstick in when putting?

Yes. Since 2019 you may leave the flagstick in while putting without penalty, even if the ball hits it (Rule 13.2).

Do I have to mark my ball before lifting it on the green?

Yes. You must mark the ball directly behind it before lifting. Lifting without marking is a 1-stroke penalty (Rule 14.1).

What is the penalty for touching my line of putt?

Intentionally touching the line of putt with your club, foot, or any object to improve it is a 2-stroke penalty (Rule 13.1c). You may repair damage and remove loose impediments.

Are gimmies allowed in stroke play?

No. Gimmies (conceded putts) only exist in match play. In stroke play and stableford every stroke must be played and counted.

What happens if my ball moves after I mark it on the green?

If the ball moves after you have marked and lifted it, you must replace it on the original spot with no penalty (Rule 13.1d). The mark fixes the spot; any movement after marking — wind, gravity, another ball — does not change where you replace it.

How long can I wait for a ball overhanging the hole to drop?

You get a reasonable time to reach the hole plus ten seconds (Rule 13.3a). If it falls in that window, it is holed with your previous stroke. After ten seconds, if it has not fallen, you play it as it lies — no extra stroke, no penalty.

What if I accidentally hit my ball with a practice swing on the green?

That stroke does not count. You replace the ball on its original spot (or estimate it if the exact spot is unknown) and play on with no penalty (Rule 13.1d, Exception 1). A practice swing is not a stroke, so the ball is simply put back.

Does putting from the fringe count as a putt for stats?

No. A putt is only a stroke made from the putting green with the intention of rolling the ball toward the hole (Rule 13.1). A stroke from the fringe — even with a putter — is a chip or approach shot, not a putt, and is recorded as such in stableford and putting stats.