remember the stick prevents a strait bounce off the flat surfaces...and the stick and sides of the hole absorb much of the balls energy.. Force = mass * acceleration, both the stick and the hole (sides) have far more mass than the ball, so they absorb and dissipate its energy very effectively. Sort of like those water filled yellow tubs at the ends of some offramp guard rails. someone was paid a lot of money to design those holes.... " Though the holes were rather small, they had to count them all.." all the dollars that they pay out in pro golf that is..