Favorite Style of Cup Protection

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By Joshua B

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  • 27 Replies
  1. Joshua B

    Joshua B

    In this strange time we are in I am glad that local courses are open to walk (my course is closed but others around are open in CT). I have seen groundskeepers be very creative on protecting us from removing the flag and touching the cup, and for that am thankful at their ingenuity. I have seen thus far: -pool noodle cut and stuffed in -the actual plastic cup raised up 1 1/2 inches -a piece of pvc pipe on the flagpole

    All to keep the ball from going in the cup . So my question is have you seen any other ways it’s been done? Which has been your favorite thus far? I know it has changed my game a bit and my putter is much more heavy due to only having to hit the cup not sink it. Love to hear some thoughts on this for those of you lucky enough to still be able to play. Stay safe and swing straight TTers!

  2. Ben A

    Ben A
    Los Gatos, CA

    I'm lucky to have a simulator in my home, but I WISH I could play outside. Zero courses open anywhere around the Bay Area CA. The PVC pipe seems like the best choice, IMO.

    Jealously,

    Ben
  3. Mark M

    Mark M

    Our club in NC has tried flipping the cups upside down and leaving the flags in them. Not a good solution as the ball would deflect very easily. A lot of heavy handed ramrod scores. Last week we moved to pool noodles in the cup. 1 inch below surface. Great alternative.
  4. Bomber3

    Bomber3
    Lake St Louis, MO

    Military
    Pool noodles are the best solution, with them you still have to actually make the putt.
  5. Mike M

    Mike M
    Marblehead MA

    Are there more lip outs or is the noodle down far in enough that it doesn't matter?

    Thanks
  6. Lance P

    Lance P
    Hillsborough, NC

    The course we play most here in NC also has the pool noodle around the pin but it totally fills the cup. A made putt is deflected away from the pin. In a nice touch the noodle is color-coordinated with the flag, i.e. a forward pin has a red flag and a reddish noodle, yellow ones middle and blue ones deep...
  7. Frank P

    Frank P
    Port St. Lucie, FL

    Military
    We have the pool noodle at our club. It's a little spongy and because of that, some curlers from the side that normally would have dropped, bounced in and out. We allowed those to count. Under the circumstances we want to exercise fairness and common sense.
  8. Alex N

    Alex N
    Florida

    Military
    My course has closed so no need for that type of measure. I think it’s great that courses have adapted to keep golfers safe so they can remain open.
  9. BCH

    BCH

    Half noodle in the cup allowing the ball to fall into the cup but easy to pick out of hole without touching flag stick.
  10. Aloha Bruce

    Aloha Bruce
    Sunnyvale, CA

    As B.A. stated all Bay Area course are closed including Pasatiempo and all Pebble Beach courses.
  11. Dale V

    Dale V
    Surprise AZ

    Agree, these are strange times. I saw the title of your post and assumed it was a question about being a baseball catcher.
  12. Chuck Z

    Chuck Z
    Mt Pleasant, SC

    Military

    Dale V said:

    Agree, these are strange times. I saw the title of your post and assumed it was a question about being a baseball catcher.

    Yeah, that title had me going until I read the post...........we think a like Dale.....
  13. Allen L

    Allen L
    Clarington, OH

    With all due respect. I'll be the one who will disagree with the cup protection and leaving the pin in while putting.

    First of all, the ball is supposed to fall into the cup. Any course worth playing will send out a greenskeeper when a cup gets damaged and move the cup location. Secondly, this leaving the pin in while putting is subject to players hoping for a bank shot in, I have one playing partner who does this for every hole, kinda funny when he misses entirely and gets a longer putt, not so funny when he hits the stick but the ball doesn't go in, he counts it as in anyway. We have all tended the flag while someone lags up, its easy, and never been a problem.

    Anyway, this old codger says let's keep the historical way the game is played. I like that unique plunk sound when a putt drops.
  14. Joshua B

    Joshua B

    Allen L said:

    With all due respect. I'll be the one who will disagree with the cup protection and leaving the pin in while putting.

    First of all, the ball is supposed to fall into the cup. Any course worth playing will send out a greenskeeper when a cup gets damaged and move the cup location. Secondly, this leaving the pin in while putting is subject to players hoping for a bank shot in, I have one playing partner who does this for every hole, kinda funny when he misses entirely and gets a longer putt, not so funny when he hits the stick but the ball doesn't go in, he counts it as in anyway. We have all tended the flag while someone lags up, its easy, and never been a problem.

    Anyway, this old codger says let's keep the historical way the game is played. I like that unique plunk sound when a putt drops.

    I was referring more to the Covid protection methods rather than leave the pin in or out debate. Right now, if you are lucky as many courses are closed throughout the US, playing a round of golf needs to be different as we cannot touch the cup, flagstick, or anything else that can host and transfer germs.
  15. Rooster

    Rooster
    West Wareham, MA

    Military
    Seen this online. It is in use at Cobblestone Golf Course in Georgia. This is the way to go. Full use of hole (except having to leave stick in). Did play last week in CT. They had pool noodle in hole at bottom of stick. If you hit it ball is deemed holed. I chipped one that hit it hard. No way that should of counted as in.
    Post Image
  16. Nick T

    Nick T

    We made a modified version of this and tested it on a par 3, someone got a hole in one the first week we had it out. It is nice to have the ball fall in the hole
  17. Darron K

    Darron K
    Fate, TX

    LoL Dale and Chuck...I thought the same! For me as much as it pains me and I want to get out...the best method for me is not going out. The risk is not worth it to me. I chip in the back or front and putt in the garage. Sometimes I'll hit wedges into my neighbors yard across the street. . Hope you're all safe and staying healthy!
  18. Dr. Kovatchian

    Dr. Kovatchian
    Carlsbad

    I like to putt with the flag out.
    All these protective measures will be annoying to my game when we get the OK to play.
    Just wondering why we are not asked to wear plastic booties when we play after courses have sprayed???

    Cheers,
    Dr. K
  19. Dale V

    Dale V
    Surprise AZ

    Dr. Kovatchian said:

    I like to putt with the flag out.
    All these protective measures will be annoying to my game when we get the OK to play.
    Just wondering why we are not asked to wear plastic booties when we play after courses have sprayed???

    Cheers,
    Dr. K

    To quote the Joker, "Whatever doesn't kill you, simply makes you stronger". Okay, Friedrich Nietzsche said it first but who remembers him?
  20. Speedy

    Speedy
    East Coast, NH

    At this point, I'll play whatever rules are in place. Could careless. Just being out there, swinging the clubs and enjoying a round is all I care about. Just be thankful you're getting to play during these tough times.
  21. BMaddigan

    BMaddigan

    I managed to get 3 rounds in before they shut down courses in Ontario. The course I played used the noodle so the ball only fell into the hole a couple inches. Flags were left in, and there were not rakes for the bunkers. We walked, but if you did take a cart, there was one person in it. Clubhouse was closed, and one person at a time in the pro shop. Social distancing was practised everyone. I see no reason why they can't re-open soon.
  22. Mike r

    Mike r
    Amherst, OH

    My mind went to a weird place there for a second, but pool noodles works good
  23. Jerry M

    Jerry M
    Dallas, TX

    I'm just happy to get the opportunity to play. The current rules for the cup are fine....whatever. It won't last forever and at some point we will all be back to normal. I really like the configuration Rooster displayed at Cobblestone Golf Course!
  24. peter g

    peter g
    NH or FL

    Military
    In The Villages FL pins are left in with PVC inserts. This led to much lower scores, many cut skins, and an occasional hole in one claim. Now we keep a separate points sheet and are not posting to GHIN. Some are not counting a "tick" of the pipe if ball ends up more than 18" from hole. Putt again please. We are lucky to be able to play at all with everyone in there own cart and social distancing.
  25. Matt B

    Matt B

    Most of the courses I have played are using the swim noodles, some left 1" down & some totally filled. Played 1 course with pvc pipe inside the cup raised up about 3" above the cup, fun for scoring however doesn't feel like real golf, just bang your putts. Another course I played turned the cups upside down, it left about 3/4" down from green surface, I thought that was a nice no cost option. My favorite option is the swim noodle left 1.5" below the ground so you can still hole out, this reduces the arguments in our pot game.
  26. John M

    John M
    Aiken, SC Lakewood, NY

    Here in SC, we’ve been fortunate to have kept our course open. We were walking only for several weeks, it was a real return to the roots of the game. We have noodles to within an inch of the top of the cup and we are holing putts. Instead of a full flag, we have a 3’ garden stake with a little survey tape on the top. I rather like it and have been walking almost every day, sometimes 36 a day!! We’ve now allowed single person carts, but I’m happy to report that the walking ranks have increased. In this unprecedented time, the course has been a real sanctuary. I hope everyone is staying safe.
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