Can you hole out without the flag in the hole?

[Bulls9999]

Just curious, as this almost happened this weekend.

A long hitter on the tee, our group on the green of a short par-4, and the tee shot hits short of the green and rolls up and almost goes in the hole that we had already pulled the flag out to putt out.

If the ball from the guy on the tee went in the hole while we were on the green putting and had the flag out, would that have counted as 'holing out'?

[Ty_Webb]

Yes. Why wouldn't it?

[Diane]

Originally Posted by Ty_Webb

Yes. Why wouldn't it?

From what I read - he was in the group behind them. Doesn't the flag have to be in the hole if he's not on the green?

[Ty_Webb]

Originally Posted by Diane

From what I read - he was in the group behind them. Doesn't the flag have to be in the hole if he's not on the green?

No. You can have the flag attended from off the green too if you want. The pros regularly play chips with the flag out. There may be something that says if you're on the tee, the flag has to be in the hole, but I seriously doubt it.

[mr3856a]

Originally Posted by Bulls9999

Just curious, as this almost happened this weekend.

A long hitter on the tee, our group on the green of a short par-4, and the tee shot hits short of the green and rolls up and almost goes in the hole that we had already pulled the flag out to putt out.[/b]

On a side note, I hope one of you threw his ball into the nearest hazard...

[Fourputt]

The hole is the hole, regardless of whether the flagstick is in it or not. The only prohibition is hitting the flagstick after making a stroke when your ball lies on the putting green.

[Diane]

Originally Posted by mr3856a

On a side note, I hope one of you threw his ball into the nearest hazard...

What purpose would that serve mr angry golfer? The ball rolled onto the green - no one was in any danger.

[Fourputt]

I've done that by accident before too.... I once hit a 285 yard 5W... at a time when I could barely hit my driver 220. And that with a steel shafted, laminated maple FW wood and the sort of cheap balata balls that we used in the mid 1970's. It was supposed to be a layup to about 100 yards, but I just "connected" and rolled it onto the green in the middle of a group of older gentlemen (I was still a callow youth at the time ).

They must have been related to mr3856a, because they were downright nasty about it, and wouldn't take anything for an apology.

[mr3856a]

Originally Posted by Fourputt

They must have been related to mr3856a, because they were downright nasty about it, and wouldn't take anything for an apology.

I just tend to think someone is unlikely to not know they could possibly drive a par 4 green

[jshiver15]

Originally Posted by mr3856a

I just tend to think someone is unlikely to not know they could possibly drive a par 4 green

I've definitely done it. Drove onto a par 4 over trees that played nearly 325 yds. And I am far from being a long hitter. Sometimes a blind squirrel finds a basket full of nuts.

[Wazmankg]

Originally Posted by mr3856a

On a side note, I hope one of you threw his ball into the nearest hazard...

A 1st occurrence usually gets a pass from me, especially in a circumstance similar to the O.P.

[bignose]

This has happened on the PGA Tour before: The Only Par-4 Hole-in-One on the PGA Tour

The guy in the tee box drives/rolls the ball up the hole, it hits the putter of one of the guys standing on the green and went in the hole. So long as none of the players on the green hit it intentionally, they are all outside agents and just "rub of the green".

[Diane]

Originally Posted by Fourputt

I've done that by accident before too.... I once hit a 285 yard 5W... at a time when I could barely hit my driver 220. And that with a steel shafted, laminated maple FW wood and the sort of cheap balata balls that we used in the mid 1970's. It was supposed to be a layup to about 100 yards, but I just "connected" and rolled it onto the green in the middle of a group of older gentlemen (I was still a callow youth at the time ).

They must have been related to mr3856a, because they were downright nasty about it, and wouldn't take anything for an apology.

4-Putt - They were just jealous.

[Bulls9999]

Yea, there's several at our club with the length to hit green-high on 365-yrd par-4's with the wind...I've had to give some stare-downs a few times when the balls were dropping around me while putting out...the only saving grace was the green was not visible from the tee, but walking about 15 yrds off to the left of the tee you could see if the green is clear. The short par-4 I mentioned is 302 yrds.

Originally Posted by mr3856a

I just tend to think someone is unlikely to not know they could possibly drive a par 4 green

[alf174]

Originally Posted by bignose

This has happened on the PGA Tour before: The Only Par-4 Hole-in-One on the PGA Tour

The guy in the tee box drives/rolls the ball up the hole, it hits the putter of one of the guys standing on the green and went in the hole. So long as none of the players on the green hit it intentionally, they are all outside agents and just "rub of the green".

yep, it was Andy McGee, who has been co-hosting the current Big Break on the Golf Channel.

[Leaguegolf]

We had a driveable par 4 on my league course and it was long enough that no one could fly the ball onto the green but a few big hitters could roll it onto the green with a big tee shot. Our rule of thumb was for those on the tee to wait to hit until those on the green pulled the flag stick. That insured that if a tee shot did find the green, it was rolling and very unlikely to hurt anyone.

"If you can fly it there, don't hit it there." Good words to live by.

[OnePutt]

I've had it happen one time where a guy hit his tee shot onto the green we were on. No big deal as it was I'm sure the best tee shot the guy ever hit. In my case it was a 330 yard dogleg left par 4, so I doubt he could do it again if he tried.

[VansGirl]

Interesting situation. I agree that it doesn't matter whether the flag is in the hole or not, but I do think it was a bit rude of the guy to tee off when other players were still on the green.

[essurfer]

I was on a short par 6 once I had hit my drive maybe 60 yards short of the hole. Somehow the guy behind me did not see me or was thinking I was not going to be in play or something. He hit his tee shot that went pretty much oiver my head and landed on the front fringe. He was very apologetic. I congratulated him on his length and chickled it off. Now this guy may had just hit the shot of his life but, if you know you are that long you need to wait till the group in front of you clears.

[Ty_Webb]

Originally Posted by essurfer

I was on a short par 6 once

That sounds like an oxymoron to me...

Heck of a drive mind you

[Leaguegolf]

Originally Posted by Ty_Webb

That sounds like an oxymoron to me...

Heck of a drive mind you

He must've been playing at Willie Nelson's place.