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The official rules of golf state that when playing your shots from the green, you have to make an important decision regarding the flagstick. You have to decide whether you would like to remove the pin from a hole or leave it in and have your golf partner or
caddie watch over it.

This may not seem like a hard decision, but what happens when you have to play a very short shot, what should you do? There is no right or wrong answer to this question, however there are definitely pros and cons to making each choice. Here are a few scenarios to help you make an informed decision about whether or not to remove
the flagstick when the time comes:

Pulling The Flagstick

Pros: The benefit of removing the flagstick is that you totally clear the pathway of the hole so that the ball can make it inside without any obstructions getting in the way. When the pin is removed, there is no worry about the ball bouncing against the flagstick and back out of the hole, which can be very upsetting to watch.

Cons: If you just made a shot and the ball is heading directly for the hole, but is moving too fast, it now has an opportunity to roll right over, skipping the hole entirely.

Keeping The Flagstick Inside

Pros: If you decide to keep the flagstick in the hole, it can serve a good purpose by blocking a ball which is traveling at high speeds. Also, you may even sink the ball into the hole as a result of the pin remaining inside, due to it stopping the ball from passing over so fast.

Cons: If you do not remove the flagstick, it may prevent the ball from falling into the hole. It may bounce right off of the pin and depending upon the terrain of the green, especially if it is downhill from the hole, the ball may roll far away from the intended target.

Last Minute Tip: As we stated earlier, there is no hard and fast rule to making the decision of whether or not to remove the flagstick. We have given you some sensible pros and cons when it comes to the flagstick, but you must also keep stock of other variables on the course you are playing on. Take note of the green. You may want to leave the
flagstick in the hole when hitting the ball on a downhill slope, or leave the pin in if you are making a shot up hill towards the hole.

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Hit ‘em straight

Ben

Did you know that there are literally hundreds of printed rules
that pertain to the game of golf?

In fact, the United States Golf Association (USGA) releases an updated
official golf rulebook every year that contains approximately 100 pages
of rules that every golfer should be familiar with.

It would behoove of you to purchase one as soon as possible.
The booklet is pocket-sized so you can carry it around with you while playing on the course.

It is important that all beginners sit down and become quite familiar
with the USGA rule booklet.  It is filled with a list of do’s and don’ts
when playing golf, clauses, subclauses, basically everything you need to
know, and then some.

The reason why there is so much power-packed information and rules associated
with golf is because the game itself has evolved over hundreds of years and
its rules have had to be amended and changed over the course of time.

Rules, Rules, & Then Some…

One of its key features is providing material in order to help resolve disputes.
The USGA rule booklet not only provides specific information pertaining to every
rule of golf in existence, it also provides official explanations of everything
else that pertains to the game, including golf equipment, the type of game being
played, and accurate specifications of the course.

No More Disputes!

Without a doubt one of the most important reasons to carry along an official
USGA rule booklet while playing golf is to use it to help resolve and avoid
disputes with other players.

Like all sports, your golf game will have its share of debates with your fellow
players. Instead of arguing back and forth about what is supposed to be the rules,
by quickly thumbing through your official guide will put to rest any confusion, and fast!

You can find more information about the United States Golf Association by checking
out usga.org. This is the official website of the USGA and provides a complete and
up-to-date rulebook, in addition to info on the handicap system, tournaments, and a
tour of the golf museum.

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Hit ‘em straight

Ben

For those of you golfers out there who like to play according to the official rulebook…

(which should be ALL of you, right? )

…there is are specific regulations devoted to using a putter on the course.

So what is the rule when you damage your putter?

Well, the rule states that if a putter is damaged during normal game play, it can be replaced.

OK, to be honest, I’m not sure how a normal game of golf can damage a club, but I do know that a bad temper and an angry swing at the ground can certainly ruin a perfectly good putter! :-0

That brings me to the next part of the rule concerning damaged putters. If you do happen to damage your putter out of anger, which is not considered to be the result of normal game play then you cannot replace it.

Sorry!!!

According to the regulations, you have to stop using the putter without finding a replacement. So I guess that means you have to putt with your 3 iron

The best practice is to calm yourself and avoid getting angry on the course. However, it is not uncommon to have a bad day. Even the professionals are known to blow their tops. Woody Austin, who won the 2004 Buick Championship, actually bent his putter’s shaft when he missed an important putt.

So it can happen to the best of us. Just try so stay calm, OK?

Hit ‘em straight

Ben

Artificial obstructions on the golf course are made up of anything man-made that gets in the way of the ball. There are two types of artificial obstructions that you will find; movable obstructions and immovable obstructions.

Movable Obstructions: Movable obstructions can be anything such as a cigarette, a soda can, shovel, food wrappers, etc. These items can be simply removed from the course so that you can play your ball from where it lies. If any of these objects are actually touching the ball, then you are allowed to mark the spot, lift the ball up, remove the item, then put the ball back in the original position.

 Immovable Obstructions: The second type of artificial obstruction is known as the immovable type. Such examples include large trailers, sprinkler heads, bleachers, etc. Basically, anything that is too large or heavy to be moved by a golf player is considered an immovable obstruction. If your ball happens to land in or underneath one of these items then you are allowed to move the ball back into play without being penalized