What do the principles say about utilizing the flagstick as a coat rack?
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My buddy and I have been enjoying an early-morning spherical. We every wore a pullover to fight the nippiness. On the seventh gap, he took off his pullover and, as a result of his bag was throughout the inexperienced, draped it atop the flagstick as he putted with the pin in. Neither of us knew if this was permitted. —Bruce Reeder, Seattle
Guidelines Man’s beloved aunt, Fashion Girl, informs us that it’s permissible ought to the pullover’s colour not conflict with the flag’s.
From a Guidelines perspective, the one potential penalty we will consider could be intent-based — say, your buddy intentionally did so to maneuver the flagstick to a place aside from centered or to solid a shadow to intention at.
Failing a need to help his play, there wouldn’t be an issue with treating the flagstick as a garments hanger, though it feels a tad presumptuous.
For extra flagstick-related steering from our guru, learn on …
Guidelines Man: Can I ask my enjoying accomplice to carry the flag, however preserve the pin within the gap whereas I putt?
Retired guys with season passes will play in nearly any situations. Just lately, we have been braving a spherical in a really stiff wind. My tee shot on a par 3 landed a bit brief and, simply as I chipped, the wind blew the flagstick from the outlet. My ball hit the susceptible flagstick and adopted alongside the stick into the outlet. The flag was correctly positioned after I performed my shot, so I doubt I’m penalized. However do I replay my shot, or is it a birdie with an help from Mom Nature? —Greg Hayward, by way of electronic mail
Whereas Guidelines Man shouldn’t be fairly as besotted by Caddyshack as some individuals, the incident you describe would have labored effectively within the bishop’s “greatest spherical of my life” montage. Does it finish on a happier notice? Sure.
There’s nothing within the guidelines so far as Guidelines Man sees that penalizes you or would require the stroke to be replayed. You didn’t take away the flagstick whereas the ball was in movement, and the ball hitting the flagstick was an accident. Beneath Rule 13.2, unintended deflections consequence within the ball being performed because it lies with out penalty. Choose your ball from the cup … and, please, don’t get struck by lightning.
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