The Rules of Golf are tricky! Thankfully, we’ve got the guru. Our Rules Guy knows the book front to back. Got a question? He’s got all the answers.
During a recent match, I putted with the flagstick in. My ball hit the flagstick but didn’t drop in the cup. This got me thinking: Are all flagsticks the same diameter, or is there a range they must be within? —Dave Jones, via email
Dave, you’ve sent me scurrying to the Equipment Rules. Here’s what was ascertained: Per Section 8, Part 1a(iii), the flagstick’s pole must have a constant diameter of no greater than 0.75 inches from a point 3 inches above to 3 inches below the putting surface. There is no standard with respect to the size of the pole’s remaining sections, other than it can’t exceed 2 inches from its top to a point no less than 3 inches above the putting surface. That said, according to a flagstick fetishist friend, the vast majority of flagsticks in the U.S. fall in the 0.5-inch range.
Got a question about the Rules? Ask the Rules Guy! Send your queries, confusions and comments to rulesguy@golf.com. We promise he won’t throw the book at you.
