Let's stop the nonsense with the flagstick

[Fourputt]

Well, I imagine that you can guess my feelings on this.  The flagstick exists solely to indicate the position of the hole when the player is too far away from it to see the hole itself.  It was never intended to be of assistance with, or an impediment to, getting the the ball into the hole.  It wasn't all that long ago that the flagstick was required to be removed or attended when the player was within 20 yards of the the hole, and it didn't matter if the ball was on the green or off.  It was changed to the current rule when it was concluded that guessing at 20 yards could raise a dispute in a close match.  Much easier to manage the rule if it was only required to decide if the ball was on the putting green or off.

My only feeling on this is that the flagstick rule should remain as it is.  I would like to see its form standardized (the hard metal ones are much less forgiving than the cheaper fiberglass ones, particularly on a shot like Tiger hit at the Masters), but I don't expect that to happen.

[Meltdwhiskey]

I also do not enjoy having to deal with the flagstick each time.  I could get behind 'stopping the nonsense' as you say, but I don't have a better plan.  As Fourputt states, it is just a tool to identify where the hole is.  Once you know, its job is done. The only thing I could think of is to not have one at all.  Honestly, it would probably not affect my game at all.  But I don't think anyone would agree with that.

[rehmwa]

I believe the purpose is:

 Oh great, oh and here's the better part. ****, this is brilliant!

                Right near the end, I'll put a little flat piece
 
  with a little flag to give you ****ing hope.
 
 But then I'll put a little pool and a sand box,

                to **** with your ball again

[Lihu]

I believe the purpose is:

Oh great, oh and here's the better part. ****, this is brilliant!

Right near the end, I'll put a little flat piece

with a little flag to give you ****ing hope.

But then I'll put a little pool and a sand box,

to **** with your ball again

I liked that skit from Robin Williams