When Can You Remove the Flag in Golf?

Knowing when you can and can't remove the flag in golf used to be simple, but the rules have changed, leaving many players a bit confused on the green. This isn't just about rules, it's about strategy, pace of play, and what feels right for your game. We’ll walk through the current rules on the flagstick, the on-course etiquette, and the strategic thinking that will help you decide whether to leave it in or take it out.

The Big Shift in 2019: You Now Have a Choice

For decades, the answer to what you did with the flagstick on the green was simple: you took it out. If your ball, played from the putting green, struck the unattended flagstick in the hole, you were hit with a penalty - typically two strokes. It was an automatic, non-negotiable part of golf.

However, a major rules modernization in 2019 changed everything. To simplify the game and improve pace of play, the governing bodies, the USGA and R&,A, introduced a new rule. Under Rule 13.2a(2), golfers are now allowed to make a putt from on the green with the flagstick left in the hole. There is no penalty if your ball hits the flagstick in this situation.

Let’s break that down:

• You can putt with the flagstick in the hole.
• You can putt with the flagstick taken out of the hole.
• You can have a playing partner attend the flagstick and remove it as your ball approaches.

The choice is entirely yours, and you can change your mind from hole to hole or even from putt to putt. This shift handed golfers a new strategic tool, turning a simple piece of course equipment into a tactical consideration on every green.

When a Penalty Can Still Happen

While the new rule offers a lot of freedom, it’s not a complete free-for-all. There are a few specific situations where you still need to be careful to avoid a penalty. The core idea is that you cannot deliberately use the attended flagstick to your advantage once the ball is already in motion.

1. Altering the Flagstick to Help a Moving Ball

Imagine your playing partner hits a putt that's rolling much too fast toward the hole. You, seeing this, rush to put the flagstick back in the hole to stop their ball. This is a big no-no. Under Rule 11.3, you are not allowed to deliberately move or alter the flagstick to affect where a ball in motion might come to rest. Doing so would result in the general penalty (two strokes in stroke play or loss of hole in match play) for the player who moved the stick.

2. Striking an Attended Flagstick

If you ask someone to "tend the pin" for you, they are in control of the flagstick. If you putt and your ball strikes the flagstick while they are still holding it, or hits the person attending it, it's a penalty on you. This is because the person tending the flag is expected to remove it in time. The same penalty applies if the flagstick has been taken out and set on the ground, and your putt then hits it.

3. A Ball Wedged Against the Flagstick

Here’s a fun one that every golfer loves to see. You hit a great approach shot or chip, and your ball comes to rest leaning against the pin, but not fully in the cup. What’s the ruling?

According to Rule 13.2c, the ball is treated as holed if any part of it is below the surface of the putting green. In this case, you simply walk up and carefully remove the flagstick. If the ball falls into the hole, fantastic - it's holed! If it pops out and settles on the lip of the cup, you haven't technically holed out. You must then place the ball on the lip of the hole right where it came to rest, and tap it in. There is no penalty in either situation.

Good Etiquette: Tending the Pin for Your Partners

Just because the rules let you leave the flag in doesn't mean everyone wants to. Golf is a social game, and good etiquette on the greens keeps the game flowing smoothly and enjoyably for everyone. The practice of "tending the flag" is still very much a part of the game.

Here’s how to handle it properly:

• Communicate Clearly: If it's your turn to putt and you want the flagstick moved, just ask a playing partner clearly. "Hey, would you mind grabbing the stick for me?" works perfectly. On the flip side, before you pull the flagstick, it’s good practice to make sure no one else in your group wants it left in for their putt. A quick, "Does anyone want the pin in?" covers this.
• The Proper Way to Tend: If you're asked to attend the pin, stand in a spot where your body and your shadow won't be in the putter's line of sight. Hold the flag securely so it doesn't flutter in the wind. As soon as the player strikes the putt, you can remove the flagstick. Don't wait until the ball is right on top of the hole, as an early, smooth removal is far less distracting. Once you remove it, step away from the hole and place the flagstick gently on the ground in a spot where it won’t interfere with anyone’s putt.
• Pace of Play: The 2019 rule change was partly about speeding up the game. If everyone in your group agrees to leave the flag in, it saves the time spent walking to the hole, removing the pin, putting it down, and replacing it after everyone putts out.

The Strategic Side: When to Leave It in vs. When to Take It Out

Now we get to the coaching part of the discussion. This is where you can turn the rule into a real advantage. The decision is highly personal and depends on the situation, the putt, and your own nerves. Here are some thoughts on when to use each option.

Reasons to Leave the Flagstick IN:

1. On Long Putts: It’s a Backstop
This is the most common reason golfers leave the stick in. From 30, 40, or 50+ feet, your main goal is pace control. You want to get the ball into a small circle around the hole for an easy tap-in. The flagstick can be your best friend here. A putt hit a little too firmly that might have rolled six feet past the hole now has a chance of hitting the pin and stopping dead an inch away - or even dropping in. It gives you permission to be a little more aggressive with your pace.

2. For Chips and Pitches from Off the Green
When you're chipping from the fringe or pitching from just off the green, leaving the flag in is almost always a good idea. It gives you a much better visual target than a small hole in the grass. More importantly, it acts as that same helpful backstop. It’s far more likely to absorb the energy of a shot coming in with more speed and help the ball drop or settle nearby than it is to cause a bounce-out.

3. When You Struggle with Your Eyesight
For players who find it difficult to see the hole clearly from a distance, the flagstick provides a bright, obvious target to focus on. It removes ambiguity and can simplify the process of aiming and committing to a line.

Reasons to Take the Flagstick OUT:

1. On Fast, Downhill Putts
This is the most critical time to consider pulling the pin. On very fast putts, especially side-hillers or downhillers, your ball will be trickling toward the hole with very little speed. If it hits the flagstick dead-on, the ball's momentum might not be enough to overcome the rigidness of the pin, and it could bounce away. Modern fiberglass flagsticks are much "bouncier" than old metal ones. Taking the pin out on these delicate putts opens up the entire face of the cup and gives the ball a much better chance to drop in using gravity.

2. If the Flagstick is Leaning
Pay attention to how the pin sits in the cup. Sometimes, due to wind or a worn-out cup liner, the flagstick will lean significantly one way or the other. If it’s leaning toward you, it effectively makes the hole smaller. If it’s leaning away from you, it leaves a gap between the front of pin and the cup, which can also cause weird bounces. In these cases, it's best to remove the variable altogether and just putt at an open hole.

3. If You’re an Aggressive Putter
Some golfers have a "die it in the hole" philosophy, while others prefer to hit their putts firmly into the back of the cup. If you fall into the latter camp, especially on shorter putts inside 10 feet, take the flag out. Hitting a firm putt into a flagstick brings the possibility of a ricochet back, turning what felt like a perfect putt into a miss. Taking it out eliminates this risk completely.

4. For Purely Mental Comfort
At the end of the day, some golfers just prefer putting to an open hole. Many of us learned the game when taking the flag out was mandatory, and those old habits provide comfort. If the sight of the flag in the hole is distracting to you or makes you feel anxious, don't overthink it. Pull it out and play the way that gives you the most confidence.

Final Thoughts

Understanding when to leave the flagstick in or take it out is a small but meaningful part of modern golf. By knowing the rules and thinking strategically about the situation, you can turn this simple choice into a way to save strokes and play with more confidence around the greens.

Navigating these on-course situations and decisions is a constant part of an enjoyable round of golf. That’s why we created Caddie AI, it’s like having an expert B-caddie and tour-level coach in your pocket, ready 24/7 to help you think through any shot. Whether it’s getting a smart strategy for a tough hole, a recommendation for a tricky lie, or an answer to any golf question, we built it to take the guesswork out of the game so you can feel clear and confident over every swing.