Flagstick - No Maximum Diameter

[iacas]

I could have sworn that, when I was younger, the Rules of Golf specified that a flagstick could only be, say, 0.75 inches in diameter for the bottom 8 inches of the flagstick or something like that (I made the actual inch measurements up), but I now believe my memory is wrong on that, as I can't find anything on ruleshistory.com to support that.

In fact, the Rules do not have a maximum flagstick diameter, so in reality you could have a flagstick that's so thick (say, 3 inches) that a ball will NOT fit between it and the cup.

Just an odd little quirk. Think about it. You could legally make a flagstick, and hold a valid competition that's supported by the USGA and your local golf association (or the R&A and such), where a ball could never be chipped in, putted in from off the green, holed out for eagle or albatross, etc.

Weird.

[saevel25]

2 minutes ago, iacas said:

Just an odd little quirk. Think about it. You could legally make a flagstick, and hold a valid competition that's supported by the USGA and your local golf association (or the R&A and such), where a ball could never be chipped in, putted in from off the green, holed out for eagle or albatross, etc.

Weird.

So you are telling me that I should take the flagstick out 

[iacas]

Just now, saevel25 said:

So your telling me that I should take the flagstick out 

If you happen to find a course with a 3" diameter flagstick, absolutely! 

[Golfingdad]

At some point the name would have to change.  "Would you like me to remove or tend the flaglog?"

"Could you tend it?"

"Sure, but I'll need Joe and Matt to help me. It's soooo heavy!"

:P

[bkuehn1952]

Since reading the "study" done with varying diameter flagsticks that was cited in the discussion of flagstick in or flagstick out, I have noted the various flagstick styles.  Some are just a 1/2 inch rod.  Anything with a great diameter than 1/2 inch has been tapered at the lower end.  Very small sample so far (3 courses).

[iacas]

1 minute ago, bkuehn1952 said:

Since reading the "study" done with varying diameter flagsticks that was cited in the discussion of flagstick in or flagstick out, I have noted the various flagstick styles.  Some are just a 1/2 inch rod.  Anything with a great diameter than 1/2 inch has been tapered at the lower end.  Very small sample so far (3 courses).

Yeah. Nobody would buy thicker ones.

[Fourputt]

54 minutes ago, iacas said:

I could have sworn that, when I was younger, the Rules of Golf specified that a flagstick could only be, say, 0.75 inches in diameter for the bottom 8 inches of the flagstick or something like that (I made the actual inch measurements up), but I now believe my memory is wrong on that, as I can't find anything on ruleshistory.com to support that.

In fact, the Rules do not have a maximum flagstick diameter, so in reality you could have a flagstick that's so thick (say, 3 inches) that a ball will NOT fit between it and the cup.

Just an odd little quirk. Think about it. You could legally make a flagstick, and hold a valid competition that's supported by the USGA and your local golf association (or the R&A and such), where a ball could never be chipped in, putted in from off the green, holed out for eagle or albatross, etc.

Weird.

Yeah, you could slow down the game even more with an oversized flagstick than it already is, requiring it to be attended on every approach shot made from within range of the hole.  What a mess that would be. 

[pumaAttack]

What about shape of the stick?

Round vs. squared

[Martyn W]

1 minute ago, pumaAttack said:

What about shape of the stick?

Round vs. squared

Must be circular in diameter

[pumaAttack]

2 minutes ago, Martyn W said:

Must be circular in diameter

Gotcha, Thanks!

[Martyn W]

2 hours ago, iacas said:

I could have sworn that, when I was younger, the Rules of Golf specified that a flagstick could only be, say, 0.75 inches in diameter for the bottom 8 inches of the flagstick or something like that (I made the actual inch measurements up), but I now believe my memory is wrong on that, as I can't find anything on ruleshistory.com to support that.

You are probably thinking of the old 'U.S. only' Decision:

“US/17/100 Flagstick Dimensions 

The USGA recommends that the flagstick be at least seven feet in 
height and that its diameter be not greater than three-quarters of an 
inch from a point three inches above the ground to the bottom of the 
hole.”

Notice that was a recommendation, not a requirement

[Missouri Swede]

1 hour ago, Golfingdad said:

At some point the name would have to change.  "Would you like me to remove or tend the flaglog?"

"Could you tend it?"

"Sure, but I'll need Joe and Matt to help me. It's soooo heavy!"

:P

To reflect the Scottish heritage of golf, we could call it a "caber toss."

[boogielicious]

39 minutes ago, Missouri Swede said:

To reflect the Scottish heritage of golf, we could call it a "caber toss."

Scotsman removing the flagstick.

[turtleback]

If a course adopts a 3-inch diameter flagstick I would be happy to financially underwrite their hole-in-one bonus program.

9 minutes ago, boogielicious said:

Scotsman removing the flagstick.

Or is he just excited?

[iacas]

1 hour ago, Martyn W said:

You are probably thinking of the old 'U.S. only' Decision:

“US/17/100 Flagstick Dimensions 

The USGA recommends that the flagstick be at least seven feet in 
height and that its diameter be not greater than three-quarters of an 
inch from a point three inches above the ground to the bottom of the 
hole.”

Yay! I wasn't going crazy! That seems about right. I got the 0.75" right and 3" above the ground is about 8" from the bottom end.

10 minutes ago, turtleback said:

If a course adopts a 3-inch diameter flagstick I would be happy to financially underwrite their hole-in-one bonus program.

I'd let you.

Then I'd tell all the golfers to leave the flagstick out and, heck, maybe even leave it so it acts as a funnel to guide the ball into the cup.