BALL STOPPED BY FLAG

Question
What is the ruling in match or stroke play, when a player plays a shot to the green and the ball becomes stuck in the flag itself. The ball is stopped and entangle in the flag and does not drop down.

Answer
Paul,

After researching this question in the USGA Decisions On The Rules Of Golf, here is the answer straight from this book.

On page 229 17/6 entitled Ball Lodged in Flag Attached to Flagstick.

Q. A player's ball lodges in the flag attached to a flagstick. What is the procedure?

A. A flagstick is a movable obstruction and Rule 24-1 applies. However, in taking relief the player may not place the ball in the hole. Therefore, in equity (Rule 1-4), the player must place the ball on the lip of the hole when taking relief.

Did this happen to you recently?

Thanks for the interesting question.

Michael Hoffman
PGA Professional
[email protected]