Can I leave the flagstick in when putting?

Yes, you can leave the flagstick in the hole when you putt — there's no penalty if your ball hits it. Just decide before you stroke; you can't move it once the ball is rolling to help or hurt your shot.

Leaving the flagstick in

You have two choices before every stroke: leave the flagstick where it is (or center it in the hole), or have it taken out. If you leave it in and your ball hits it, no penalty — play the ball where it stops. The only catch is you can't deliberately move the flagstick off-center to try to help your shot; if you do and the ball hits it, that's the general penalty.

Moving the flagstick while the ball is moving

After you've struck the ball with the flagstick in, neither you nor your caddie can deliberately move or remove it to affect where the ball might end up. Do that and you get the general penalty. But if you genuinely think the ball won't reach the flagstick before stopping, you can have it moved — no penalty. The same goes for other players: they can't touch your flagstick to mess with your ball, but they can move it if they reasonably believe your ball won't hit it.

Having someone attend the flagstick

You can ask someone to attend the flagstick — hold it in the hole and pull it out after you stroke. They have to be authorized by you. If another player or their caddie moves your attended flagstick without permission to affect your ball, they get the general penalty. But if they do it for any other reason, like thinking your ball won't reach it, there's no penalty.

Exceptions that change the answer

• The group ahead left the flagstick leaning or off-center → You can play it as you find it, or center it yourself — it's your right to play the course as it sits.
• Someone removes your flagstick without your authority → It may be put back in the hole while your ball is in motion, though the person who moved it without permission still gets the penalty if they broke the rule.
• You want to hold the flagstick while putting → You can make a one-handed stroke while holding the flagstick with your other hand, but you can't use the flagstick to steady yourself.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to take the flagstick out when I'm on the green?

No. You can leave it in, have it attended, or take it out — your call. Just decide before you make your stroke.

What happens if my putt hits the flagstick I left in?

No penalty at all. Play the ball where it comes to rest.

Can I pull the flagstick out after I've hit the putt to stop the ball hitting it?

Not if you're doing it to affect where the ball stops. That's the general penalty. Only remove it if you genuinely think the ball won't reach the hole.

Can my playing partner take the flagstick out without asking me?

Only if they reasonably believe your ball won't hit it before stopping, or they didn't know you were about to play. Otherwise it's a penalty on them.

Can I hold the flagstick myself while I putt?

Yes, you can hold it with one hand and putt one-handed with the other. Just don't lean on it for balance — that's not allowed.