"See Rule 19-1, Ball deflected by anything not in play.
Exception: If the ball hits the person handling or holding up the flagstick or anything carried by them - see Rule 17-3b."².
If the golf ball is deflected in counting play by something that is not part of the game, it ultimately depends on who or what the ball was deflected by and what penalty or non-penalty the official Rules of Golf provide for this. As a rule, the ball must continue to be played as it is in the counting game after it has been deflected and the golf rules do not provide for any penalty for the player. Exception, the ball in counting play is deflected by the person handling the flagstick. This results in a golf rule penalty.
Status: 2018