Flag stick hits ball

[Papa Steve 55]

I was watching one of the tourneys on the Golf Channel today and saw something strange almost happen. The players chip came up a couple inches short and was going to the ball to finish. The flag was stuck in the hole though, and his caddy was having a hard time getting it out. He shook it back and forth to loosen it, and when it popped out the bottom was oscillating quickly back and forth and almost hit the players ball. The player looked startled and said something to the caddy, but you could not tell what. He tapped in and the coverage went to another hole. I'm not sure the announcers even saw it.

If it had hit and moved the ball, what would the ruling be? I'm hoping its just replace the ball, no penalty, but you never know.

[iacas]

4 hours ago, Papa Steve 55 said:

I was watching one of the tourneys on the Golf Channel today and saw something strange almost happen. The players chip came up a couple inches short and was going to the ball to finish. The flag was stuck in the hole though, and his caddy was having a hard time getting it out. He shook it back and forth to loosen it, and when it popped out the bottom was oscillating quickly back and forth and almost hit the players ball. The player looked startled and said something to the caddy, but you could not tell what. He tapped in and the coverage went to another hole. I'm not sure the announcers even saw it.

If it had hit and moved the ball, what would the ruling be? I'm hoping its just replace the ball, no penalty, but you never know.

http://www.usga.org/rules-hub/2017-local-rule/new-local-rule.html