Tending the flag, also called attending the flagstick, means holding the flagstick in the hole while another player putts, then lifting it out as soon as the ball is struck. It helps a player see the hole on long putts. To do it well, ask the player what they want, stand to the side holding the flag at arm’s length so the cloth stays still, keep your feet and shadow off their line, loosen the flagstick before the stroke, and pull it out cleanly once the ball is on its way. Under the current Rules of Golf, players may also putt with the flagstick left in the hole, so tending is less common than it once was, but it is still a useful skill and a basic piece of golf etiquette.
What tending the flag means
The flagstick marks the location of the hole. From the putting green, it is usually easy to see the hole itself, but on long putts, or when the hole is on a slope or partly hidden, the flagstick gives a clear visual target. When someone tends the flag, they hold it in place until the putt starts, then remove it so the ball has an open path to the hole. The Rules of Golf treat the flagstick as attended when someone is holding it, standing beside it, or otherwise positioned to remove it on the player’s behalf.
Your three options with the flagstick
Under Rule 13.2, a player decides before making a stroke how the flagstick will be handled.
| Option | What happens | When golfers often choose it |
|---|---|---|
| Leave it in the hole | You putt with the flagstick in place; no penalty if the ball hits it | Many golfers prefer it for longer putts and to speed up play |
| Have it attended | Someone holds it and removes it after the stroke | Long putts where the player wants to see the hole clearly |
| Have it removed | The flagstick is taken out and laid down away from the line | Short putts, or when a player simply prefers an open hole |
How to tend the flag step by step
- Ask the player first. A simple question about whether they want it tended, left in or out avoids confusion.
- Approach from the side. Walk to the hole without stepping on the player’s line of putt or anyone else’s line.
- Loosen the flagstick. Gently lift and twist it before the putt so it will not stick when you pull it out.
- Stand to the side. Position yourself so you are not behind the hole on the player’s line, and keep your shadow off the line and the hole.
- Hold the flag still. Stand at arm’s length and hold the cloth against the pole if it is windy so it does not flap and distract the player.
- Stay quiet and still while the player sets up and makes the stroke.
- Remove the flagstick promptly. Once the ball is struck, lift it straight out and step away from the hole.
- Lay it down carefully off the green or well away from any line of play, and avoid dropping it on the putting surface.
Where to stand
Where you stand matters for both courtesy and the Rules. Standing directly behind the hole on the player’s line can distract them and could put you in the path of the ball. Instead, stand to the side at an angle, usually on the high side of the hole if the green slopes, so a missed putt will not roll toward your feet. Be aware of the sun, since your shadow falling across the hole or the line can be distracting. Also avoid standing on or very close to another player’s line of putt.
The rules on attending the flagstick
| Situation | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Ball hits the flagstick left in the hole | No penalty; play the ball as it lies |
| Ball accidentally hits an attended flagstick or the person attending it | No penalty; play the ball as it lies |
| Attender deliberately fails to remove the flagstick, or moves it, to affect the ball | Penalty for the person who acted deliberately |
| Ball comes to rest against the flagstick | Holed if any part of the ball is below the surface of the putting green |
| Someone stands near the hole with the player’s knowledge and the player does not ask them to move | The flagstick is treated as attended |
Rules note: these summaries follow Rule 13.2 of the Rules of Golf published by the R&A and USGA. The wording above is simplified, so consult the current official Rules or your committee for exact procedures and any Local Rules.
Should you leave the flagstick in?
Since the 2019 Rules changes, many golfers leave the flagstick in for most putts, especially longer ones, because it saves time and removes the need for someone to tend it. Whether it helps the ball go in is debated. Some golfers believe the flagstick can stop a firmly struck putt from lipping out, while others think it can deflect a ball away. The effect likely depends on the speed of the putt, where it hits the flagstick and the design of the pole. What matters most is that the choice is made before the stroke and communicated clearly.
Tending the flag etiquette
Tending the flag well is part of good golf etiquette. Offer to tend when you are nearest the hole or already standing near it, which helps keep play moving. Hold the flagstick quietly, avoid moving once the player settles over the ball, and never tease or joke while someone is putting. When you remove the flagstick, avoid damaging the edge of the hole, and when you replace it at the end of the hole, set it gently and vertically in the cup. The last player to hole out or the nearest player to the flag often replaces it before the group leaves.
Tending the flag on long putts and chips
Tending is most useful on very long putts, such as those from the far side of a large green, and on putts from the fringe where the hole is hard to see. A player chipping from off the green may also ask for the flag to be attended, though most chip with it left in. If you are asked to tend on a long putt, check that you are ready to move quickly, since the ball can reach the hole sooner than expected on fast greens.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Not asking the player. Assuming they want it tended can cause confusion and wasted time.
- Forgetting to loosen the flagstick. A stuck flagstick can cause a scramble and a possible deflection.
- Standing on the player’s line. This is distracting and discourteous.
- Letting the flag flap in the wind. Hold the cloth against the pole.
- Casting a shadow over the hole or line. Check the sun’s position.
- Dropping the flagstick on the green. This can damage the putting surface.
- Pulling it out too late. Remove it as soon as the ball is struck.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a penalty if a putt hits the flagstick?
No. Under the current Rules, there is no penalty if a ball played from the green hits a flagstick left in the hole or accidentally hits an attended flagstick.
Do you have to take the flag out to putt?
No. Players may choose to leave it in, have it attended or have it removed.
Where should you stand when tending the flag?
Stand to the side at arm’s length, off the player’s line and with your shadow away from the hole.
