Putting from fringe, guy says I can't have pin tended???

[johnsy14]

If you had a group right waiting to play right behind you, or you had a tricky putt you wanted to have a good look at, I'd probably not want to be tending the pin for a playing partner - it's going to slow things down. On the other hand if on a similar line I'd probably jump at the chance.

[Jaylasvegas]

I find some of the comments in this thread amazing.

If you are going to give rules advice, you should really know the rules.

As for asking a playing partner to tend the flag at a "higher level" and having him say no, I've played in State and Regional USGA events and NEVER had a playing partner refuse to tend a flag stick. Never seen it. Never heard anyone talk about it. Can't imagine it ever happening.  I play tournament golf every week in season and cannot imagine anyone even thinking this way on the golf course.

I find this statement completely at odds with the whole spirit of the game.

If someone were to do this they would be ostracized by every other player in the field - whether they were within their rights to say no or not.

-t

Try playing in Mini tour events for money, there is quite a difference
I gave bad advice thinking the rule hasnt changed, but then again, I would never ask another player whom im competing with to try and assist me with anything, thats what a caddie is for

[mainuh]

I'm in an Amateur Tour event on Saturday. I'm on the fringe and I'm going to putt. I asked my partner to tend the flag for me. He says "It is either in or out, can't tend it from off the green." I was pretty sure I can have the flag tended from anywhere on the course, but I just had him pull it just to be on the safe side. I've played a lot of rounds of stroke play and match play tournament golf and have never heard of it being illegal before.

Anyone care to give clear interpretation of Rule 17 regarding this specific incident?

 

I have a question please that I would like an answer to before I offer up my thoughts -

You said - "I asked my partner". Were you playing an Alternate Shot/Foursome / Four Ball tournament or was "my partner" your opponent ?

rob 

[thewitt]

Try playing in Mini tour events for money, there is quite a difference

The question and initial posting was about Amateur events, but I have spent many days on a number of different Mini Tours - never as a player, but as a caddy and supporting the events.

I've never seen any professional player refuse to tend a flag for someone else in the group - and never heard of anyone denying this simple courtesy.

-t

[Jaylasvegas]

The question and initial posting was about Amateur events, but I have spent many days on a number of different Mini Tours - never as a player, but as a caddy and supporting the events.

I've never seen any professional player refuse to tend a flag for someone else in the group - and never heard of anyone denying this simple courtesy.

-t

so that must mean its not true huh

[thewitt]

I'm not calling you a liar if that's what you are asking. I would just call it straight up.

You can blow off my observations if you want - it will not hurt my feelings one bit.

It's a sorry statement on Professional Mini-tour Golf however if your statement of the commonness of this activity is accurate.

-t

[longfornothing]

Rob, it was Medal play. He was an opponent.

I've played in about 70 or so Amateur medal events and have never had anyone say no to tending the flag. I also play in a big rivalry Ryder Cup style 54 hole match play event every year in Hilton Head against the Virginia Am Tour. It is a pretty fierce deal. Blood match if you will, no love loss. I've never seen or heard of any of the Va. boys not tending the pin when asked by us. This is still golf after all, and we should behave in the spirit of the game of golf.

[mainuh]

Rob, it was Medal play. He was an opponent.

I've played in about 70 or so Amateur medal events and have never had anyone say no to tending the flag. I also play in a big rivalry Ryder Cup style 54 hole match play event every year in Hilton Head against the Virginia Am Tour. It is a pretty fierce deal. Blood match if you will, no love loss. I've never seen or heard of any of the Va. boys not tending the pin when asked by us. This is still golf after all, and we should behave in the spirit of the game of golf.

LFN - thanks for giving me that info as I can now fashion a response.

I read what Tim said as well as Jay and in this situation I have to say that, while I would like to echo Tim, Jays thoughts are about right.

Gamesmanship is a part of the game whether you like it or not and your opponent, while not showing you courtesy, decided to do something to throw you off your game so he would have an edge.

Hagen, Trevino, Seve and I'm sure scores other would do whatever they could to draw you out of your game in order to beat their opponent.

You just happened to draw an opponent in this case who was more dick than gentleman.

rob

ps - out of curiosity. where did the match stand at that point ? All even or you were up ?
If you were up I can understand him being a bit "peeved" 

[Jaylasvegas]

LFN - thanks for giving me that info as I can now fashion a response.

I read what Tim said as well as Jay and in this situation I have to say that, while I would like to echo Tim, Jays thoughts are about right.

Gamesmanship is a part of the game whether you like it or not and your opponent, while not showing you courtesy, decided to do something to throw you off your game so he would have an edge.

Hagen, Trevino, Seve and I'm sure scores other would do whatever they could to draw you out of your game in order to beat their opponent.

You just happened to draw an opponent in this case who was more dick than gentleman.

rob

ps - out of curiosity. where did the match stand at that point ? All even or you were up ?
If you were up I can understand him being a bit "peeved"  

The type of gamesmanship you mentioned is all over professional golf, Tiger was famous for it. On the Goldenstate tour you will not even find a conversation on the golf course. On tour if 2 caddies or players dont like each other they will not help each other and will verbally berate each other at times.
If anyone wants to see this sort of gamesmanship, enter a Gateway tour event in AZ and you would see first hand the type of attitude that many have.

[longfornothing]

LFN - thanks for giving me that info as I can now fashion a response.

I read what Tim said as well as Jay and in this situation I have to say that, while I would like to echo Tim, Jays thoughts are about right.

Gamesmanship is a part of the game whether you like it or not and your opponent, while not showing you courtesy, decided to do something to throw you off your game so he would have an edge.

Hagen, Trevino, Seve and I'm sure scores other would do whatever they could to draw you out of your game in order to beat their opponent.

You just happened to draw an opponent in this case who was more dick than gentleman.

rob

ps - out of curiosity. where did the match stand at that point ? All even or you were up ?
If you were up I can understand him being a bit "peeved" 

Again, it was Medal Play. Also, the guy wasn't trying to be a dick. He honestly did not know you could have the pin tended from off the green. It was more an issue of him not being aware of the rules. I beat him by 3 strokes anyway.

[mainuh]

LfN - and you won by 3 strokes, congratulations.

Reading that I'm happy that it did not throw you off your game.

Here's hoping for your continued success in the amateur ranks. 

rob

[longfornothing]

I didn't win the tournament, I just beat that guy and the others in my group. If you don't win, it is always a nice consolation prize to at least beat everyone in your group. I finished T-21 out of 70 though, so it was a decent day. I could have won easily, but I had a triple on 10 and a double on 11, that pretty much ended any hope of winning. I was proud of the fact that I parred the last 7 holes. In the past, I would just play out the string after a few bad holes. This time I kept my shit together.