The putting green: marking, repairs and the flagstick.

This page summarises Rule 13 of the 2023 Rules of Golf, in effect from 1 January 2023. The R&A says the next edition is due on 1 January 2028.

When your ball is on the green

Rule 13.1a says a ball is on the putting green when any part of it touches the green, or when it lies on or in something inside the edge of the green. Under Rule 2.2b, the putting green that counts as a specific area is the one for the hole you are playing.

Marking, lifting and cleaning

Under Rule 13.1b you may lift your ball on the green and clean it, but you must mark its spot first and replace it on that same spot. Since 2019, the USGA's summary of the changes records, you no longer have to announce that you are lifting a ball to identify it or check it for damage.

Accidents are forgiven on the green. Rule 13.1d says there is no penalty if you accidentally move your ball or your ball-marker there; you simply replace it. This was one of the 2019 changes. If you, or your opponent in match play, lift or move a ball-marker in other circumstances, Rule 9.7 can bring a one-stroke penalty.

What counts as a ball-marker

The Equipment Rules (Part 6) treat some markers as alignment devices, which Rule 4.3 does not allow. A marker falls into that category if it can measure or interpret slope or green speed, has optical or electronic parts, stands more than 1.0 inch tall, or is more than 2.0 inches across while having a line or extension of 2.0 inches or more.

What you may repair

Rule 13.1c lets you remove sand and loose soil from the green and repair damage. The 2019 Rules widened this to almost any damage, including spike marks and animal damage.

No testing the surface

Rule 13.1e says you must not deliberately rub the green or roll a ball on it to test it during a round. There is an exception between holes: you may test the green of the hole you have just completed, and any practice green.

The flagstick

Before each stroke, Rule 13.2 lets you choose one of three things: leave the flagstick in the hole, have it taken out, or have someone attend it. There is no penalty if your ball hits a flagstick left in the hole. That was a 2019 change; the USGA lists putting with the flagstick in among the changes meant to help pace of play.

A ball can come to rest against a flagstick left in the hole. Rule 13.2c treats it as holed if any part of the ball is in the hole below the surface of the green.

A ball hanging over the hole

Rule 13.3a covers the ball that stops on the lip. You are allowed a reasonable time to reach the hole, plus ten seconds, to see whether it drops. If it falls in after that, you are treated as having holed out with your previous stroke, but you add one penalty stroke, so the score is the same as if you had tapped it in.

When natural forces move a replaced ball

Normally a ball moved by wind or water is played from its new spot. Rule 9.3 makes an exception on the putting green: if you had already lifted and replaced your ball, it goes back to its original spot whatever moved it. See ball at rest moved for the rest of Rule 9.

Wrong green

If your ball is on a wrong green, Rule 13.1f makes relief compulsory. You drop within one club-length of the nearest point of complete relief. How to find that point and drop is on the relief and dropping page.