Putting green flagsticks

[Sandy Smith]

Recently at my home club we removed  the flagsticks on the main putting green. Do you lIke that look or do you prefer  some type of flagstick to putt to ? Any pictures of your favorite putting green would be appreciated.

[Alex Miller]

I prefer to watch my ball disappear in to the hole instead of clanging in to an ugly flagstick.

If I'm close enough to see it hit the bottom, then I also enjoy the sound of it hitting the bottom of the cup more than hitting a stick.

[Pat Burke]

We tried no putting green flags at a club I worked at.
members digging balls out of the holes with their putters, and destroying the lips, caused us to
put the flags back in.

[Alex Miller]

We tried no putting green flags at a club I worked at.
members digging balls out of the holes with their putters, and destroying the lips, caused us to
put the flags back in.

That just sucks. I guess you really have to know your membership: Sandy I hope your members' backs are still good!

[rjsimper]

Half and half is the best solution. I personally prefer no flagsticks but understand that many do like them.

Kind of like some courses sprinkle in some of those small holes, just sprinkle in some cups with no flagsticks too. Everyone is happy.

[RDecker]

When it comes to this topic I'm a less is more guy.  You see some clubs with a 3,000 sq.foot putting green and there is 9 little cups and sticks, it looks ridiculous.  4 or 5 is plenty unless the green is really big.  We tried using the mini, target cups this year and they were very well received by the player that actually cares about his putting.

[Jeff_Mingay]

I like to putt to a hole. But, I think the hole should have a little flagstick in it, on a practice putting green. It's an aesthetic thing for me; the practice putting green area looks to barren without flagsticks in the holes. 

[Jason Goss]

I never understood why you would want to practice putting to a hole with a stick in it?  You can't putt to a hole with a stick in it on the course, so why practice something you can't repeat when it counts.  Just my 2 cents.

[Matthew Rose]

If they have flags, I take them out anyway

[Carl Johnson]

If they have flags, I take them out anyway

Why isn't this the simple answer?  Sometimes I leave the stick in, but when I want to practice with the stick out, I simply take it out and place it beside the green (and replace it when I finish).  I've noticed plenty of other golfers at our club doing the same thing.

[Mike_Clayton]

Believe it or not, there was a club in Sydney -Concord - where they did not have holes in the practice green.Rather that had small flagsticks with pointed ends that could be stuck into the green. Staggeringly the greenkeeper apparently thought that holes created wear issues  - presumably because people putted to them!!

[Bruce Wellmon]

Believe it or not, there was a club in Sydney -Concord - where they did not have holes in the practice green.Rather that had small flagsticks with pointed ends that could be stuck into the green. Staggeringly the greenkeeper apparently thought that holes created wear issues  - presumably because people putted to them!!

I have seen the same thing in SC at one particular course which will never be listed on GCA.
With the exact same logic quoted.

[Scott Stearns]

nothing like hearing a ball rattle in the hole.   

and i love the ultra small hole--every green should have one or two off to the side.  Garden City has em--i think as an homage to Travis....

[Jim Johnson]

Katepwa Beach Golf Course, in Saskatchewan Canada. Where Tom Doak mentions that culling is legal. 

[mike_beene]

We do half and half.The lower putting green ends up being where the putting lessons happen and the first thing the pros do is pull the flags.I have never seen a tour pro putt to a flag down there so I pull them out also.Hey,one can dream.We have three of the small holes and three regular holes on the upper green and works perfectly.

[Tim Martin]

nothing like hearing a ball rattle in the hole.   

and i love the ultra small hole--every green should have one or two off to the side.  Garden City has em--i think as an homage to Travis....

The small holes are great for honing your stroke on those pesky 3-4 footers.

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

I like empty cups best.

[Mark McKeever]

Empty cups are my preference.  It's not like you are going to be putting with the flag in while on the course.

Mark

[Steve_ Shaffer]

I like the mini wicker baskets on the putting green at that club on Ardmore Avenue near Philly.

[Jay Carstens]

I have one of those short flagsticks in my basement practice green and  I love hitting it exactly dead center and have it almost try and crawl up the stick.  Sometimes it sounds like it hits it two or three times.  You know it's center cut on those.  I'm also lazy and don't want to bend over all the time. 

[Ronald Montesano]

Do you have any eights?

[Mike Hendren]

I like empty cups best.

An unprecedented statement for an LSU man!

Frankly, I like the ornamentation and splash of color.  Also I like removing them and setting them aside to give the appearance of a player before the round begins and I'm proven otherwise.

Bogey