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Rule 13 · Bunkers and putting greens

Rule 13: Putting green and flagstick

Official title: Putting Greens

The putting green is made for rolling, so you may do more there than elsewhere: mark and clean your ball, repair damage and putt with the flagstick in the hole.

13.1 What applies on the green

Your ball is on the putting green as soon as it touches it. You may mark, lift and clean it. Since 2019 you may repair almost all damage, including spike marks, but not normal maintenance such as aeration holes, natural imperfections or normal wear of the hole. If you accidentally move your ball or ball-marker, there is no penalty and it goes back. You must not test the surface by rubbing it or rolling a ball. From a wrong green you must take relief.

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13.2 Flagstick

Since 2019 you may putt with the flagstick in the hole. Decide before your stroke: leave it in, remove it or have it attended. If your ball hits the flagstick in the hole, there is no penalty and you play it from where it lies. If the ball rests against the flagstick and part of it is below the surface of the green, it counts as holed.

13.3 Ball overhanging the hole

You may walk to the hole in a reasonable time and then wait ten seconds. If the ball falls in during that time, you have holed out with your last stroke. If it falls in later, you have also holed out, but you get one penalty stroke.

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