The Rules
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the player’s handicap (such as net double
bogey). A player who does not complete
a hole will not be disqualified, but simply
gets the maximum score for the hole.
FLAGSTICK: Under current Rule 17-3,
if a player makes a stroke on the putting
green and the ball then hits the unat-
tended flagstick that was left in the hole,
the player gets the general penalty (loss
of hole in match play or two strokes). In
2019, under Rule 13.2b(2), there will no
longer be a penalty if a ball played from
the putting green hits a flagstick left in
the hole. Players will not be required to
putt with the flagstick in the hole; rather,
they will continue to have the choice to
have it removed (which includes having
someone attend the flagstick and remove
it after the ball is played).
The USGA reasons that allowing a
player to putt with the flagstick in the
hole without fear of penalty should gen-
erally help speed up play. This change
could also speed up play for short tap-
ins, as the player could simply putt the
ball into the hole without first removing
then replacing the flagstick.
We’ll tackle more Rules changes in up-
coming Virginia Golfer issues. For more
information, visit the USGA’s New Rules
Hub at USGA.org.
vsga.org
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