This is one of the most frustrating things a person can do without the courtesy of leaving a practice area the same or better than when you arrived! I feel that many up and coming players are seeing this as a "norm" and thus it seems like we are seeing more and more of this behavior as typical vs. isolated instances.... bummer!

I see it all the time. I attribute it to poor etiquette and laziness. I think it falls into the same category as not repairing ball marks...

I always take them out then replace at the end of my session. That is just disrespectful to leave the green any other way than you found it. The holes usually get cut on a schedule, unless there was a major problem (cup got ripped out of ground), I don't think this is any type of signal to the maintenance crew.

Some Folks are just plain LAZY!
Same for Raking Traps, Repairing Ball Marks & Replacing the Turf they just mauled on their practice swings and shot attempts. LAZY is taking over America!

Don't be LAZY!

Dr. K

See it all the time! I just chalk it up to the "me" generation and move on. Another favorite is leaving the practice bunker looking like a herd of elephants ran through it. "No problem - I'm happy to spend my practice time raking up your tracks!"

Total lack of etiquette, but, at the same time, they may not know that it is. The best to continue the time honored etiquette of golf is to hold those around us accountable. You don't have to be mean or rude, but point it out as to help that person in the future.

While I think about it, I'm not sure why we have those little flagsticks in the holes of the putting green anyway. When I putt on the course, 95% of the time, I am looking at only a hole. Maybe we should just have putting greens with just holes and no flagsticks?

Hi Travis,

Unfortunately I was walking back to the clubhouse from the 18th when I saw this and no one was around. Other times I am usually too engrossed in my own putting practice to notice offenders around me.

I usually use the practice flag as a ball pick up and lob the balls to a new putting position. Saves my back from having to constantly bend to pick them out. I'm sure there are safety reasons for them as well. Nothing like randomly placed holes in the middle of the ground.

Spud

When you see someone walking off the practice putting green that does not replace the flag call them out to put it back in. That is the only way to stop this poor etiquette behavior. Unfortunately for me I usually arrive and find the flags out and no one in sight. When I have seen it, it is usually youngsters who just don't know any better. Just call them out to put the flag back in but do it with a smile. If you see any golf etiquette being broken you have to speak up or just live with it. I usually try to say something in an humorous way as an example, "There goes Chuck walking in my line, just thinking about himself as usual." I am smiling when I say this. The message does get across.