AdamTurner: Besides, the stick will stop the ball from rolling 5 yards if you hit too hard and will leave it by hole. It's a life saver.
Apparently you've never hit the stick on an approach.
If you had, you would have never posted this.
I have a replay that shows how hitting the stick on the fly can propel the ball completely off the green.
Funny though, when I hit the stick at my local muni, it pretty much knocks the ball down.