Ball resting against flagstick in hole – is it holed?

Yes, it's holed — but only if any part of the ball is below the surface of the putting green. If the ball is just leaning on the flagstick with everything above ground level, it's not holed and you play it as it lies. Rule 13.2c covers this.

What counts as holed

When your ball comes to rest against the flagstick left in the hole, look at whether any part of the ball breaks the plane of the green surface. If even a sliver is below the lip, the ball is treated as holed. You don't need the whole ball underground — just a piece of it. That's the whole test. If no part of the ball is below the surface, it's not holed. The ball stays where it is, leaning on the flagstick, and you play it from there. No penalty, no do-over.

What happens if you pull the flagstick

You're allowed to remove the flagstick after the ball comes to rest against it. If the ball then drops into the hole, great — it's holed. If it moves away from the hole instead, no penalty either way. You simply replace the ball on the lip of the hole, right where it was resting against the flagstick. This replacement is free. You don't drop it, you place it. And you play from there. The key is that the ball was at rest against the flagstick before you touched anything.

No penalty for the flagstick being there

There's never a penalty just because your ball hit the flagstick and stayed leaning on it. Rule 13.2a(2) already says no penalty when a ball in motion hits a flagstick left in the hole. Rule 13.2c just tells you how to handle the ball once it stops. Either it's holed, or you play it as it lies, or you replace it on the lip if you pulled the stick and it moved.

Exceptions that change the answer

• You remove the flagstick and the ball moves (falls in or rolls away) → No penalty. Replace the ball on the lip of the hole where it was resting against the flagstick.

Frequently asked questions

My ball is stuck against the flagstick but sitting on top of the grass — is that holed?

No. If the entire ball is above the putting green surface, it's not holed. You play it as it lies, leaning on the flagstick, or you can remove the flagstick and replace the ball on the lip if it moves.

Can I just pull the flagstick out and let the ball drop in?

Yes. If the ball falls into the hole when you remove the flagstick, it's holed. If it rolls away instead, replace it on the lip with no penalty.

What if the wind blows the ball into the hole while it's leaning on the flagstick?

If the ball was at rest and then moves into the hole on its own (wind, gravity), it's holed. You don't replace it — the hole is complete.

Does it matter if the flagstick is leaning or centered?

No. The position of the flagstick doesn't change the rule. The only thing that matters is whether any part of the ball is below the surface of the green.

What if I accidentally knock the ball in while removing the flagstick?

If the ball was at rest against the flagstick and you cause it to move while removing the flagstick, replace it on the lip with no penalty. It only counts as holed if it falls in on its own when you pull the stick.