It's 2019, you leaving the pin in?

Leaving it in all long putts...
I'll most likely take it out on short putts...it will be a feel thing for me.

Cheers,
Dr. K

Pin in. Been doing it since I was a kid. Especially on long putts. Gives a better sense of perspective.

Out of choice, I am happy to leave it in. No worries.

Only take it out if playing partners are first to go and want it out

Whether the pin is "in or out" is up to you, the penalty has been removed. Just have FUN!

The fastest answer is "hell yes", it speeds up pace of play and for those holes where there is a sloped green and I am putting down hill, the flag will stay in for my game.

In my group we have been leaving it in if putting long putts and taking it out once we are closer.

What I'm finding so far: Guys are removing it by muscle memory. Once they know the rule change, it stays in on longer putts. Once someone takes it out, it stays out.

We are having fun yelling "hit it" when someone leaves it in on 3 footers.

Agree with MattW - I'll leave the pin in, but if others in the group opt to pull the pin first, I've no problem putting with pin out. I think constantly changing between pin in/pin out in a group will slow play down.

I’ve tried it my last round and left the flagstick on all holes ala Adam Scott, it definitely works with speed, pace of play, and visual cues. I made short, medium, long putts and alot of them went in firm without any issues rebounding or flagstick interference. There’s definitely an advantage with leaving it in, but like everything in golf, practice and repetition are the keys to success.

I will be leaving it in as much as I can without affecting the pace of play for the entire group. I firmly believe that having a target to aim at that is the exact center of the hole can only aid in shorter putts.

Depends how long I remember what my game plan was with regards to the pin!!
If it's a long walk to the flag, I'll just leave it in...
I'm used to lagging up with the pin in so maybe I'll just pretend I'm lagging and hope to get lucky.
There, I've sorted my strategy
JT

I can see this getting out of hand in my men's league. I know a few guys that will use it to get in the other teams head. If they are playing against a puller they will have it put back in before they put and then if they are playing with a guy that leaves it in they will pull it for all of their putts. This will drive some of the guys crazy. There has been talk this offseason about the groups having to agree on the first tee if they will pull it or leave it in that day.

Has anybody else thought of the safety issue with leaving the sick in? How many times have you looked ahead to see if the group ahead of you has put the Pin in to see if they are done with the hole? With the stick in it may appear you are done. When the flag is on the ground it sends a clear don't hit it on the green signal.

Im thinking I will leave it in on any down hill putt, if i have a flat put or uphill where the flag may be leaning toward me, i will take it out! Maybe!! LOL, i just don't know!

No.


I have rattled to many chips off the pin, in fact, I pull the pin when I chip.

I know this may go against everyone's thinking but I am planning to pull the flag each time I putt. My reasoning is as follows: if you have a hole in the ground that is a certain distance in diameter, if you put something in that hole does it not become a smaller opening?

It can go both ways, the thinking behind leaving the stick in is that it acts like a backstop. Sure there is a chance the ball will bounce back out of the hole, but the theory I've heard is that the vast majority of the time, the ball will hit the stick and drop.

I'm in agreement with most of the other comments I see, when I play solo I usually just leave the stick in because I just can't be bothered to take the time, with a group if the general consensus is to pull it we'll do that. I do like not having to tend the stick on long putts though.

In agreement that on a slick down hill putt maybe, like Hotsauce said. But like Troy said, I've rattled too many chips off the pin from just off the green, and for years now, done better with it out. Or if I'm just on the green with a putt that needs a driver, and no one has taken it out yet fine. But I too have been taking it out for years, and like it better visually too. I also think that unless you're on a course that puts in new cups every year, and new flags, those things moving around back and forth in the wind over time, do loosen up, and just a slight breeze will be blowing the around slightly in the hole, and maybe just enough to end up leaning toward you when the ball hits.

I don’t mind leaving the pin in on longer putts but I definitely want it out for short putts unless I’m playing by myself and am rushing around the course.

Our greens have some decent slopes so I like to hit three to four footers quite firmly and hit the back of the hole so they take less of the break. I’d worry that a firm putt is more likely to stay out with the pin in. I hit the pin and stayed out with a chip on the first on Sunday which probably would have dropped if the flag had been out.

I have been so far unless a playing partner wants it out.