Charles Charles Posted April 15, 2021 Share Posted April 15, 2021 I think the U.S.G.A should examine leaving the flag stick in the hole. It’s debatable weather this speeds up play. What has become an issue is pulling the ball out of the hole with the flag still in. The cups are being pulled up around the edges of the whole. After several hours of play they wind up being pretty bad. I’ve seen many putts missed from the volcano effect. Quote Link to comment
Bossfan Posted April 15, 2021 Share Posted April 15, 2021 I played a course last year that had a pretty neat gizmo to get your ball out of the hole. A few inches up on the stick was a a piece of plastic and you used your foot, pulled up with your foot and the ball was lifted up and it rolled off on to the green and you picked it. Worked really well. Quote D- Tour Edge EXS 220 4W- Sub 70 949X Hybrid- Sub 70 949X Utility- Sub 70 699 U 21 degree Irons- Sub 70 749 5-PW Wedges- Sub 70 286 50+54, Tour Edge 1 out 58 degree Putter- Cleveland Huntington Beach soft # 11 Ball- Titleist Tour Soft Link to comment
DiscipleofPenick Posted April 15, 2021 Share Posted April 15, 2021 I can't wait for the restrictions to end and we are allowed to touch the stick again.Take Dead Aim Kansas King 1 Quote Take Dead Aim Driver: PXG 0211 10.5* Fairway: Titleist 917 F3 15* Hybrid: Adams Idea Pro Boxer Gold 18* Irons: MacGregor MT-86 Pro Wedges: Vokey 50/54/58 Putter: SeeMore X2 Costa del Mar Ball: Srixon Z-Star Link to comment
CarlH Posted April 15, 2021 Share Posted April 15, 2021 56 minutes ago, DiscipleofPenick said: I can't wait for the restrictions to end and we are allowed to touch the stick again. Take Dead Aim We recently lifted that restriction. I still leave the flag in, but if someone else pulls it, I'm okay with that, too. I don't mind it being in or out. I can only think of one time that I feel the pin was the reason that I didn't make the putt, but I'm not one to ram it in hard, either. We also finally got rakes back, which is awesome!!!! fixyurdivot, cciciora13, ParFore74x and 1 other 4 Quote Driver: Rogue ST Max (10.5* set at -1 and neutral) -- Mitsubishi Tensai Blue 55g R shaft Fairway: Rogue ST Max 3 wood (16.5*) and Heaven Wood (20*)-- Tensai Blue 55g R shaft Hybrids: Rogue ST Max 5H (23*)--Tensai Blue 55g R shaft Irons: Apex CF19 6-9, PW, AW -- KBS Tour Graphite TGI 70 shafts R +1/2 inch 3* upright Wedges: Edison 53* and 57* KBS PGI 80 Graphite +1/2 inch 2* upright Putter: L.A.B. DF 2.1 -- BGT Stability shaft Ball: Maxfli TourX...Golf Bag: Pioneer...Shoes: Hyperflex... Glove: Red Rooster Feather My Photography can be seen at Smugmug Link to comment
TBT Posted April 15, 2021 Share Posted April 15, 2021 I left the stick in long before COVID when playing solo so it hasn’t been a big transition for meSent from my iPad using MyGolfSpy silver & black 1 Quote XR Driver Matrix Ozik 8m3 Black Tie Shaft King F7 3W UST Mamiya Chrome Elements 7F4 Shaft King F7 5W UST Mamiya Chrome Elements 7F4 Shaft King F7 4 Hybrid Graphite Designs Tour AD-HY 95 Shaft PXG 0211 DC 5-PW Mitsubishi MMT 80 Shafts RTX ZIPCORE 50*,54*,58* UST Mamiya Recoil 95 Shafts Metal X Milled #7 with SuperStroke 2.0 grip MTB Twitter: @timldotson Instagram: timldotson Facebook: TimDotson Link to comment
cciciora13 Posted April 16, 2021 Share Posted April 16, 2021 If we're outside and they now say that the virus does not really persist on surfaces, I really don't know why the flagstick is still off limits. Touch it, do whatever you want with it fixyurdivot and silver & black 2 Quote In my bag: Driver: Ben Hogan GS53 10.5* Stiff Mitsubishi tensei blue Stiff 3 Wood: 939 x 15 deg. UST Proforce Black V2 7F4 stiff Hybrid: 939x Hybrid UST 680 recoil shaft stiff Irons: 699 irons 4-PW KBS tour 90 v Stiff 50 Deg: TAIII Satin 54 deg: TAIII Satin 58 Deg: TAIII Satin Putter: 004 Single Bend Masters Edition Rangefinder: Caddytek V2 Check out my MyGolfSpy 2020 Forum Official Tester: Ben Hogan GS53 Driver Link to comment
Kenny B Posted April 16, 2021 Share Posted April 16, 2021 2 hours ago, CarlH said: We recently lifted that restriction. I still leave the flag in, but if someone else pulls it, I'm okay with that, too. I don't mind it being in or out. I can only think of one time that I feel the pin was the reason that I didn't make the putt, but I'm not one to ram it in hard, either. We also finally got rakes back, which is awesome!!!! The restrictions has been lifted here as well. I liked the flag in before COVID, so it's been no big deal to me. We have rakes back, but people have been using the local rule where you are allowed to move the ball out of footprints for so long that they aren't using the rakes yet. Easier, takes less time, and they really didn't care much before COVID anyway. A muni is a muni. cnosil, fixyurdivot and CarlH 3 Quote “We don’t stop playing the game because we get old; we get old because we stop playing the game.” Link to comment
CarlH Posted April 16, 2021 Share Posted April 16, 2021 17 minutes ago, Kenny B said: A muni is a muni. Yes, that, along with other don't give-a-sheet attitudes, does exist at munis. Sadly, even at private clubs, some people think they don't have to fix ball marks, repair divots, rake traps, etc. Amazing! Larryd3, Kenny B and GaDawg 3 Quote Driver: Rogue ST Max (10.5* set at -1 and neutral) -- Mitsubishi Tensai Blue 55g R shaft Fairway: Rogue ST Max 3 wood (16.5*) and Heaven Wood (20*)-- Tensai Blue 55g R shaft Hybrids: Rogue ST Max 5H (23*)--Tensai Blue 55g R shaft Irons: Apex CF19 6-9, PW, AW -- KBS Tour Graphite TGI 70 shafts R +1/2 inch 3* upright Wedges: Edison 53* and 57* KBS PGI 80 Graphite +1/2 inch 2* upright Putter: L.A.B. DF 2.1 -- BGT Stability shaft Ball: Maxfli TourX...Golf Bag: Pioneer...Shoes: Hyperflex... Glove: Red Rooster Feather My Photography can be seen at Smugmug Link to comment
fixyurdivot Posted April 16, 2021 Share Posted April 16, 2021 8 hours ago, Charles Charles said: I think the U.S.G.A should examine leaving the flag stick in the hole. It’s debatable weather this speeds up play. What has become an issue is pulling the ball out of the hole with the flag still in. The cups are being pulled up around the edges of the whole. After several hours of play they wind up being pretty bad. I’ve seen many putts missed from the volcano effect. People yanking the flag out in attempt to pop out their ball, and crowing the cup, was an issue before the leave the pin in and Covid. Like spitting sunflower seeds on the tee box and greens, or dropping lit cigars on the green while putting leaving burn marks, there are some that just do inconsiderate things . GaDawg, Kenny B, cciciora13 and 3 others 6 Quote G410 Plus, 9 Degree Driver G400 SFT, 16 Degree 3w G400 SFT, 19 Degree 5w ZX5 Irons 4-AW Glide 2.0 56 Degree SW (removed from double secret probation ) ER5v Putter (Evnroll ER5v Official Review) AI-One Milled Seven T CH (Currently Under Product Test) Link to comment
higherplane Posted April 21, 2021 Share Posted April 21, 2021 On leaving in the Flag stick leads to cup damage worse than normal don't buy it where I play. Maybe an issue elsewhere, one would think damage when yanking it out, dropping on green would be more of an issue. However do think and this was pointed out by others that when the rule changed prior to COVID, that leaving in the stick saves like 30-40 seconds of screwing around with the flag per hole. In 18 holes you lose over 10 minutes which is the typical time between tee times. Given the Covid popularity in golf this can only help to speed up the game. Quote Driver - 2023 Callaway Paradym 9.0, 3 Wood -2022 Rogue ST Max, 3 Hybrid Mavrik, 2017 X-forged 4-PW, Wedges Callaway 50-56-60, Putter Odyssey Toulon Chicago Link to comment
ZenGolfer Posted April 22, 2021 Share Posted April 22, 2021 On 4/15/2021 at 2:04 PM, Charles Charles said: I think the U.S.G.A should examine leaving the flag stick in the hole. It’s debatable weather this speeds up play. What has become an issue is pulling the ball out of the hole with the flag still in. The cups are being pulled up around the edges of the whole. After several hours of play they wind up being pretty bad. I’ve seen many putts missed from the volcano effect. Is leaving the flagstick in really a problem or is it people who jam their hand into the hole, with little to no regard for the damage they are doing? IMO, you have a small percetage of people who dont like change and are taking it out on the golf course. I was leaving the flag in long before the governing bodies told me to and I will continue to do so. If others want to remove the flag, thats cool but theres really no reason to do so. The time it saves should be obvious and numerous studies have shown that youre more likely to make the putt with the flag in anyways. ParFore74x and wolfpacker92 2 Quote "I suppose its better to be a master of 7 than to be vaguely familiar with 14." - Chick Evans Whats in my Sun Mountain 2.5+ stand bag? Woods: Tommy Armour Atomic 10.5* Hybrid: Mizuno MP Fli-Hi 3H Irons: Mizuno T-Zoid True 5, 7 and 9-irons Wedge: Mizuno S18 54* and Top Flite chipper Putter: Mizuno Bettinardi A-02 Ball: Maxfli Tour X Link to comment
CarlH Posted April 22, 2021 Share Posted April 22, 2021 Cups are damaged by people using their putters to get the ball out rather than bending over and getting the ball with their fingers/hand. I can't imagine how anyone reaching into the cup with their fingers to retrieve the ball could damage a cup with or without the flagstick left in. Kenny B, silver & black and ParFore74x 3 Quote Driver: Rogue ST Max (10.5* set at -1 and neutral) -- Mitsubishi Tensai Blue 55g R shaft Fairway: Rogue ST Max 3 wood (16.5*) and Heaven Wood (20*)-- Tensai Blue 55g R shaft Hybrids: Rogue ST Max 5H (23*)--Tensai Blue 55g R shaft Irons: Apex CF19 6-9, PW, AW -- KBS Tour Graphite TGI 70 shafts R +1/2 inch 3* upright Wedges: Edison 53* and 57* KBS PGI 80 Graphite +1/2 inch 2* upright Putter: L.A.B. DF 2.1 -- BGT Stability shaft Ball: Maxfli TourX...Golf Bag: Pioneer...Shoes: Hyperflex... Glove: Red Rooster Feather My Photography can be seen at Smugmug Link to comment
RobbyT Posted April 22, 2021 Share Posted April 22, 2021 I didn't mind that much about leaving the pins in until I was playing in a tournament recently and had a ball bounce out of the cup on a three foot putt. Now if I'm allowed to take out the pin inside about 15 feet I will. Quote Radspeed 10.5* TS 15* 3 Wood CLK 19* Hybrid JPX 900 Forged P-4 Irons SM7 52*&56* Wedges SM6 60* Wedge Ghost Spider Putter Tour B XS Link to comment
Kansas King Posted April 22, 2021 Share Posted April 22, 2021 I still think it should be an option. There is nothing more satisfying than holing a putt in into a hole with no stick. Nothing takes away from a made putt like seeing your ball get wedged between the pin and the edge of the hole. I also love the sound of draining a good putt. I don't always take the pin out when I'm playing but I definitely prefer to have the option. Quote Link to comment
ballplayer002003 Posted April 22, 2021 Share Posted April 22, 2021 We have lifted restrictions as well with both, pins and rakes. When I play alone, I leave the pin in, however if I am playing more competitive I prefer the pin out. Visually I think that the hole looks better to me. It's easier for me to aim or to visualize a cup to the left or a cup to the right etc. Quote Driver: Epic Flash Sub Zero Hzdrs Smoke x flex 70g 3 Wood: 917 w/ Diamana Whiteboard stiff 5 Wood : Epic Flash 18* Hzdrs Smoke stiff 4 Hybrid: TSi3 Hzdrs Smoke X flex Irons: 5-7 Apex forged 19 w/ Modus 120 X 9-A Apex Pro 19 w/ Modus 120 X Wedges: MD5 52&56 Jaws Dynamic Gold wedge flex Putter: Scotty Cameron Phantom 5.5 34" Link to comment
2puttbogey Posted April 22, 2021 Share Posted April 22, 2021 I didn't mind that much about leaving the pins in until I was playing in a tournament recently and had a ball bounce out of the cup on a three foot putt. Now if I'm allowed to take out the pin inside about 15 feet I will.I have seen more putts hit the stick and bounce out that I have putts get made because it hit the stick. Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy Quote Link to comment
SlowNLow Posted April 27, 2021 Share Posted April 27, 2021 I played at (2) courses in E. Lansing in 2019, and they had those solid flagsticks with the thinner diameter posts at the bottom of flagstick which mounts in the hole. Those things are very heavy and solid, and ball will bounce off of those much more frequently than the more prevalent fiberglass flagsticks, where the stick gives much more. My putting has gotten so much better since the rule change allowing the flag to be left in, especially on the 6ft and in putts, so I never take the flagstick out for myself. Actually, the foam in the hole helped me putt better too, I could see where the ball was going to end up. The foam is gone everywhere I have played so far this year but the water jugs and the ball washers are still missing, need those to return. Not for this though. Quote Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.