Notice a significant difference of pace of play with flags left in the hole?

[duffer_mcmulligan]

It took a while to get used to the new rule this year, but the last few rounds I have noticed a decent pick up in pace of play with leaving the pin in the hole. Sunday we teed off around d 9AM, so there was 2 hours of groups ahead of us. Normally, the first hour of groups are quick. The first few foursomes can normally be done in 3.5 hours or less. I have played with them and it is a very comfortable pace. By the time one is a hour or two in, the pace is usually around 4 hours. The last few rounds I have played with pretty full tee sheets, we have been consistently 3:50, 10 minutes faster than previously. And we are waiting on a lot of tee boxes. So that is pretty impressive IMO.

what have you folks noticed? Any difference?

[kiedo]

I love it.
Read, set and putt. Much faster pace.
However, my buddy hates it.
He says he feels rushed to putt and it messes his game.

[dmcdam]

Haven't noticed as I'm still taking it out on almost all putts. The only time I leave it in is on quick downhill ones where I'm worried about rolling way past.

[Ignatius Reilly]

What a crappy spring.

I've played exactly 1 (one) round.

Opening day at Bigwin, pretty empty course. Took a couple of holes to get used to it, but I liked it.

I would guess that it saved maybe 15-30 seconds per hole, so maybe 5-10 minutes for 18?

[4wedges]

I've played a few rounds solo, and noticed on long putts I would leave it in, so that saved some time. However on shorter putts I take it out.

[AdiosAmigo]

No i havent. The opposite in fact. Some in geoup want it in some want it out. And an added negative is cup lips are demolished by noon. People have a hard time getting their hand around the flag to their ball. We ve staryed painting cups yo try and stabilize the lips.

[Weirfan]

I have not noticed any change in pace of play either while playing granted I usually am playing very quickly (2 hrs for 18) after work
but also when playing in a normal group or when monitoring POP.
From what I see its about 65/35 split flag in/flagout.
I do think once the season gets going more we should see a bit of an improvement....hopefully

[synergy]

And an added negative is cup lips are demolished by noon. People have a hard time getting their hand around the flag to their ball.

This for sure. Cambridge had a couple of lips torn up, causing a beveled effect. Helped at least one or two putts go in that otherwise would’ve lipped out.

Funny, this is the first I heard of that negative effect of leaving the pin in place. But yep, getting the ball(s) out of the hole is indeed a problem for big hands and sausage fingers.

Well that, and I can’t read the putt too well with the stick in the way.

[Jeffc]

Played today and we took it out twice. Like not having to take it out and it seems to speed things up

[Cdntac]

I think play is faster too.

One thing I've noticed is that I can gauge the slope around the hole a bit better with the flag in. I can often see that the flag stick and the hole aren't 90 degrees to each other.

[Big Shooter]

I vowed among my main group to keep the flag in all season, but I don't demand it.

Good point though on 'cups getting beat up'....now that I think of it, I have seen a bit of that -- but maybe it wasn't something I thought about that much (of course I always fix a damaged cup by patting around the inside edge with my ball)

[MK7GTI]

I've actually noticed that its slower. I play as a single most of the time getting paired with strangers. Always have to ask on the first green what people do. I personally still take it out for everything within 30 feet or so. I had one gentlemen go on a Bryson still scientific rant about leaving it in. He was the only one in the group who wanted it in.

I think it was in the May issue of golf digest that the science says take it out still.

https://www.golfdigest.com/story/take-the-flagstick-out

Just because the rule changed people take it out? It seems strange to me. Given the option, you would think most people who have been playing for years who still take it out.

[Fore Warned]

The pace of play of some of the people I play with might be affected by the pin being left in or taken out only if they were threatened to be beaten with it. Even then????

[nearace]

I have seen a better pace , this week with all the wind we have been pulling it out for our last putts.

[Section ThirtyOne]

Best thing to happen to golf in a while IMO. Definitely speeds up play, I haven't had a round over 4 hours all year and this is at public courses.