Rules Around the Green: What Every Golfer Should Know

The green is where the scorecard gets written — and it’s also where some of the most specific and misunderstood golf rules come into play. From marking and cleaning your ball to dealing with the flagstick or another player’s ball in your line, it’s easy to get tripped up if you’re not sure what’s allowed.

Fortunately, the rules on and around the green have been modernized in recent years to make the game faster and fairer.

But even with those updates, many golfers still don’t know when they can fix damage, what to do if their ball moves on the putting surface, or how to handle a sprinkler head near the fringe.

This guide breaks down the essential rules you need to know any time you’re near the green — so you can focus on rolling in putts instead of worrying about penalties.

Marking and Cleaning Your Ball on the Green

Once your ball is on the putting green, you’re allowed to mark, lift, and clean it — but only under specific circumstances and with proper procedure. Missteps here can lead to penalties if you’re not careful.

How to Mark Your Ball

Before picking up your ball on the green, you must place a ball marker directly behind it. This can be a coin, a small disc, or any similar object. The goal is to preserve the exact position of the ball.

• Always mark before lifting
• Do not shift the ball’s position while marking
• Replace the ball on the exact spot it was marked

If you accidentally move your ball while marking or replacing it, there is no penalty — just put it back where it was.

Cleaning the Ball

Once marked, you may clean your ball before putting it back in play. This is often done to remove mud, grass, or debris that could affect the roll.

Important:

• You may only clean the ball when it is lifted (after being marked)
• Cleaning is not allowed if you lift the ball for another reason unless the rules allow it

What If You Forget to Replace the Ball?

If you putt from the wrong spot (by failing to replace the ball where it was marked), you’re subject to a two-stroke penalty in stroke play or loss of hole in match play. Always double-check your ball is back where it started.

Repairing Damage on the Green

One of the most golfer-friendly rule changes in recent years allows players to repair almost all damage on the putting green — a big help for anyone who has been frustrated by spike marks or scrapes in their line.

What You Can Repair

You are allowed to repair:

• Ball marks (also called pitch marks)
• Spike marks and shoe indentations
• Old hole plugs
• Animal damage, like hoof or paw prints
• Indentations from maintenance equipment

These repairs can be made without penalty and should be done quickly to keep the pace of play moving.

What You Cannot Repair

Even with the relaxed rules, there are still a few things you can’t fix:

• Natural wear of the green (from foot traffic or mowing patterns)
• Damage you cause intentionally
• Lines created by rolling or dragging the mower
• Normal imperfections that don’t affect the ball’s path

Repairs must also be done using reasonable methods — a tee, divot tool, or your fingers — without delaying play.

Why It Matters

A smooth putting surface can make or break your score. Knowing you’re allowed to repair imperfections gives you more confidence over the ball and helps maintain the integrity of the course for everyone behind you.

Flagstick Rules

For decades, golfers were taught to remove the flagstick when putting — but since 2019, that’s no longer required. The rules now give you the choice, and understanding how the flagstick works under today’s guidelines can help you make better decisions on the green.

Leaving the Flagstick In

You’re allowed to putt with the flagstick in the hole without penalty. This can help you visually frame the target and may even reduce the chance of a putt lipping out.

Many players — including tour pros — now leave the flagstick in for long putts, especially on fast greens where speed control is critical.

Removing or Attending the Flagstick

You can still choose to:

• Remove the flag and lay it down safely
• Have another player attend the flag (hold it and remove it as your ball approaches)

When attending the flag, the person must remove it before the ball hits it — otherwise, the player who made the stroke may incur a penalty if done intentionally.

What Happens if Your Ball Hits the Flagstick?

• If it’s left in the hole and your ball hits it: no penalty
• If someone is attending the flag and your ball hits it before it’s removed:
  • No penalty if it was accidental
  • Penalty if it was left or attended deliberately to affect the ball

Pro Tip: On short putts, some players feel the flagstick can make the hole seem “smaller” or add deflections. Try both ways and decide what feels best for your game.

Ball Moved on the Green

It’s a common question: what happens if your ball moves on the putting green — either from wind, your hand, or something else? Fortunately, the rules are much more forgiving than they used to be, especially when the movement is accidental.

Accidental Movement by the Player

If you accidentally move your ball or ball marker while:

• Reaching down to mark it
• Replacing it
• Lifting your putter behind it
• Brushing debris nearby

There’s no penalty. You simply replace the ball on its original spot.

This was a major rule change in 2019 that removed unnecessary penalties and confusion.

Wind or Natural Causes

If your ball moves after you’ve marked, lifted, and replaced it, and the wind or gravity causes it to roll away:

• Play it from the new spot where it came to rest
• No penalty, even if it rolls farther from the hole

However, if the ball hasn’t been marked and replaced yet, and the wind moves it, you play it from its new position unless it was accidentally moved by you.

Replacing the Ball

If you know the ball was moved accidentally (by you or anyone else), always replace it to avoid penalty.

Pro Tip: When in doubt, mark your ball before doing anything around it — it keeps things simple and protects you from avoidable mistakes.

Interference Near the Green

Sometimes your ball might not be on the putting surface, but you’re dealing with obstructions or conditions near the green that affect your stance, lie, or line of play. Knowing when and how to take relief can save you strokes — and frustration.

Relief from Sprinkler Heads and Obstructions

If your ball is in the general area (not on the green), and a sprinkler head or other immovable obstruction interferes with your stance or swing, you’re entitled to free relief.

• Find the nearest point of complete relief that’s no closer to the hole
• Drop within one club length of that spot
• The relief area must also be in the general area — not on the green

“Line of Play” Relief for Short Grass Just Off the Green

Some courses and tournaments apply a Local Rule that grants free relief if an immovable obstruction (like a sprinkler head) interferes with your line of play, even if you’re just off the green. This is common when players want to putt from the fringe.

• You must be within two club lengths of the green
• Your ball must also be within two club lengths of the obstruction
• Relief is optional and not part of the official rules unless adopted by the course

Abnormal Ground Conditions (Like Temporary Water)

If water, animal damage, or another abnormal condition interferes with your lie or stance, you may get free relief, even near the green. Just be sure to:

• Identify the nearest point of complete relief
• Drop within one club length
• Ensure the new spot is no closer to the hole

Other Golf Balls on Your Putting Line

It’s not uncommon for another player’s ball to sit directly in your putting line — especially when multiple balls are on the green. Fortunately, the rules make it easy to handle this situation with courtesy and fairness.

Asking for Ball Marking

If another ball is interfering with your:

• Line of putt
• Stance or stroke

You can (and should) ask the other player to mark and lift their ball. This is part of normal golf etiquette and is required when there’s a reasonable chance of interference.

There’s no penalty for either player when this happens.

Moving a Ball Marker

If a ball marker is in the way after the ball has been marked and lifted, the player can temporarily move the marker one or more putter-head lengths to the side. Just be sure to replace it to its original spot before replacing the ball.

For example:

• You say, “Can you move your marker one putter head left?”
• They move it temporarily
• After your putt, they move it back and replace their ball

Hitting Another Ball on the Green

In stroke play, if you play a putt and your ball hits another ball at rest on the green:

• The putting player receives a two-stroke penalty
• The other player does not get penalized
• Both balls must be played from their new positions unless local rules say otherwise

In match play, there’s no penalty for either player — but the opponent can cancel the stroke and have you replay it.

Pro Tip: Always check for other balls before putting — especially in casual rounds when everyone is eager to finish out.

Conclusion

The green may be the smallest area on the course, but it’s packed with rules that can impact your score in big ways. Whether you’re marking your ball, repairing damage, or dealing with interference, having a solid understanding of what’s allowed gives you a huge advantage — and helps you avoid penalties that can sneak up on even experienced players.

By learning how to handle situations like flagstick contact, ball movement, sprinkler head relief, and interactions with other players’ balls, you’ll not only protect your score — you’ll keep the game flowing smoothly and respectfully.

Next time you’re near the green, remember: small details matter. Clean markings, smart relief decisions, and proper etiquette can turn three-putts into tap-ins and confusion into confidence.

Golf Practice Plans to Follow

• How to Score in the 60’s Golf Training Plan
• How to Score in the 70’s Golf Training Plan
• How to Score in the 80’s Golf Training Plan
• All Access: Get Every Practice Plan (Lifetime Membership)

Thanks for reading today’s article!

Nick Foy – Golf Instructor