Flagstick in or out — your call, no penalty
Since the 2019 rules change you can putt with the flagstick in the hole with no penalty, under Rule 13.2 — leave it, remove it, or have it tended.
Can you leave the flagstick in when putting?
Yes. Since the 2019 rules change, you can putt with the flagstick in the hole with no penalty, under Rule 13.2 — and you can have someone tend it, or have it removed, at any point.
Before 2019, the default in most formats was that hitting the flagstick with a putt cost you two penalty strokes. That's gone. Now it's entirely your call.
When to leave it in vs. take it out
| Choice | Consider it when… |
|---|---|
| Leave the flag in | The putt is fast and you want the ball to die into a backstop; or a wind could blow it; or you're not confident the pin will be tended properly. |
| Take it out / tend it | The flag is leaning or could deflect a putt; or you want a cleaner read of the hole; or a firm putt could bounce off the flag out of the cup. |
Most amateurs still pull the pin, and it's usually fine. But for long, fast putts, the flag can act as a helpful backstop — why not use it.
Still possible to get penalized
The ways you can still get it wrong
- Authorizing removal then causing it: Rule 13.2 covers who may attend or remove the flag. If you authorize someone to tend it and the ball then hits the untended flag in certain match play scenarios, penalties can apply.
- Striking the flag when moving it: A player may still move or tend the flag. But you can't use the flag to prop the ball or gain a deliberate advantage.
- Ball resting against the flag: If your ball comes to rest against the flag in the hole and any part is below the surface, it's holed — but if it's leaning on the flag above the rim, it's not holed until it drops.
The short version
Here's the rule you'll actually use: you may leave the flagstick in, take it out, or have it tended — free choice, no penalty, under Rule 13.2. Test both on the practice green and see which you make more of.
Keep learning
Want more rules you can use mid-round? Start with cart path relief and unplayable lies. For the full printable set, grab the free cheat sheet or the Save Strokes reference.
Get Save Strokes → Free cheat sheet