Scott; Correct me if I've wrong here, but the only time anyone NEEDS to have someone TEND the flag, is when the golfer is so far from the cup, that they can't see the cup if the flag stick is removed. You don't have someone tend the flag when you're 10 feet away. So how would a small mark in the green, an inch behind to edge of the cup be seen by the golfer, when he or she can't see the cup? I can't type for anyone other than myself, but I know I can touch the tip of the flag stick to the green and not leave a mark. And since the flag stick is still touching the ground when the putt is stroked, it woulnd' really matter if I did leave a mark behind when I did lift the stick up and out of the way.
Bottom line is that you only tend the flag when a golfer can't see the cup from where the ball is. And if they can't see the cup well enough to see the line, they surely will not be able to see any mark of the green an inch behind the cup where I rest the tip of the flag. Here's an idea. Next time you're on a green, lift the flag stick out of the hole, then lightly touch the tip of the stick onto the green in 4 spots around the cup, 1 inch from the edge. Then walk 10 feet away and see if YOU can see any marks on the green that would aid you in picking out your line. Then repeat this exersice from a distance that would cause you to ask to have the flag tended. I bet you a brand new putter you can't see any marks on the green from a distance where you would be asking to have the flag tended.

Let's make this real simple................
If you take the flagstick out of the hole and hold it anywhere near the hole while someone is putting, it is considered pointing out the line. In front, on the side, or behind, it makes no difference.
BTW, if every golf group on the course were able to set the pin down behind the hole, there'd be so many indentations around the hole it would look like a texas hail storm hit.

Having someone tend the pin on a putt where a golfer can clearly see the hole, helps depth perception, which helps with speed, especially on an overcast day.

I think it would be beneficial to all of us if this months contest winner uses the gift certificate to purchase a large print, illustrated rule book for Don.

Don, I'm not saying you can't do it without making a mark or that it will be visible or not, but it's my understanding that Rule 8-2b basically says you can't do this legally within the rules of golf because some caddie "could" place the flag on the ground over to the left or right of the cup intentionally to place a mark on the green that the player would use as a guide. Touching the pin to the ground as you tend the flag is considered "marking to line of putt" and I don't think you can touch do that.

I may have that wrong but maybe Bill or others can confirm.

Over my head..anyone else have any wisdom. Don's idea does seem reasonable though.

I think Don's idea is reasonable, but it is against the rules, according to Bill and Scott and most likely the USGA rule book (i don't know because i don't own a rule book)

I'm sorry Don but reason and golf don't go together. Why else would we hit a little white ball as far as we can, go look for it, find it and hit it again, instead of being happy we found it and pick it up and go home.

We agree Don's idea is reasonable, just not legal

Even though Don's actions have nothing to do with targeting the line of the putt, the rule still says you can't touch the green like that because someone else MIGHT use the rule that way.

But remember, it's legal to use something already on the green as a mark for the line of your putt, but it's not legal to make one yourself. So hence the reason you're not supposed to press anything onto the green while your ball is in play. You can use the flagstick (or the butt end of your club) to point to a target on the line but you can't touch the putting surface with it.

We knew this from the beginning.

Woo hoo ouch... Hey Kev, I've got an extra in the bag I don't read that much, you can have it... LOL

Chris, does it have pictures? If it's not illustrated, it won't do him much good.........

That's right, I don't read to good no how

But since there are so many rules wouldn't I need an extra cart just to carry the thing around. And if they make the pictures small enough, my eyesight is bad enough I wouldn't be able see it and would just not carry it.

Here's one more rule I don't alway follow. Putting with the flag in. If my ball is a simple tap in, and there are 3 others off the green. I might just tap in my butt, and not worry about pulling the flag, or whether my ball hits the stick or not. This saves time, and it part of what READY GOLF is all about. Some times, if you are playing READY GOLF, the rules can't be followed to the letter.

Right on... saves time marking, moving marker etc....
Why do you "tap in your butt" though...Always use your ball...
JUST KIDDING ...note you spelling...

If that ain't the pot callin' the kettle black...

Bill, Self said YOU again!!!!!

Hey, it's all ok.............
Not following the rules and "Ready Golf" was designed to get people out of the bowling alleys and onto the golf course.

I think new players taking up the game and not learning the Etiqette and Rules of Golf, before they hit the course, will be able to get this game down to the level it belongs.

BTW, if everyone learned the etiquette and rules of the game, it would speed up golf more than "Ready Golf" and fudging the rules.

Picky, Picky...Left out one "R"...

BillH...
You are absolutely"spot on" again...You can thank Dicks, Golf Galaxy, Golf catalog's and on and on. When I first started I was a caddy...You learned quick....
Marshal's today just ride around, stop and say hello, say it's a nice day, ride off to return in about and hour and then repeat the same thing. Starter's and marshal's don't put groups on the correct tee's, don't police raking traps, fixing ball marks on green's and etc. and etc. and etc..Everybody looks like a golfer, dress, equipment and etc....
You can't teach them anything because they already "wrote the book"...

Selftaught,
We can start a movement.

BTW, I started golf by caddying in a private CC when I was a kid. Became the pro of that CC.
Bill

HEY BILL H...

A "modern day "Horatio Alger" story..."Rags to richs"...
Only in America....Making a "living" from a sport or hobby
has got to be the "best"...
It is the "lucky & blessed" person that finds "passion" in
their "life's work"...

sure have to be careful of where the fingers land on the old keyboard these days. Some people don't know their putts from a hole in the ground.

Don...

YOU-DA-MAN...
We both type phoneticaly...(I Think...?)....

Self, I never really knew how to type until I got a computer for my business. And I didn't get very fast typing until I started posting stuff on this site awhile back. Fingers just tend to get ahead of my brain too much, and can't tell you for sure what the spelling might be.

You have me in stitches. I am not sure about all that and I am sure Bill is correct but my take is the putter is responsible. So if your ball is far enough away to ask for a tend just ask the person to pull it after you hit it. I would not want anyone placing the tip down around the hole causing indentations around the hole.

If someone asks me to tend, sometimes I put my foot behind the hole and rest the tip of the stick on my foot. I played one course after it rained a lot and the sticks were getting caught in the hole so I didn't want to risk not being able to pull it before the ball got there!

Tony; If you ask to have the flag tended, It IS the job of the person tending the flag to PULL is after the ball is struck. They can't leave it in the cup, tha't not an option. Therefore, there is no reason for the goler to ASK for the flag to be pulled, it's a given that it MUST be pulled.

Well, Don, I'm with you. It doesn't really matter if the person tending the flag did not pull it intentionally or if it got stuck. The putter's job was to put and not pull so why should he be penalized.

Thank you Jan. Really glad you joined this site.