The Purple Flag Pole golf puzzle in Big Walk is one of those moments where the game gives you a map marker and zero useful context. The arrow points to the flag pole area. There is no ball there. There never was. The ball you need is sitting on the other side of the map, at a mountain-side golf puzzle you probably solved much earlier and forgot about. This guide covers exactly where to find it, the full transport route, and the two spots where a single mistake can cost you 30 minutes.
Why is there no ball at the Purple Flag Pole?
The map arrow is genuinely misleading here. It marks the destination, not the starting point. The Purple Flag Pole puzzle requires a golf ball from the earlier mountain-side golf puzzle, where you originally pushed a ball up a small hill toward a flag. That ball is still sitting there, waiting to be carried back across the entire map.
You are not missing a hidden pickup near the flag pole. The puzzle is a long transport run, and the route involves the train, the green tower, a rope bridge, and a final climb. Budget your time accordingly. Two-player runs have clocked in at close to two hours for the full carry, so this is not a quick detour.
Where is the golf ball for the Purple Flag Pole?
The ball is at the original mountain-side golf puzzle. Head back to that location and pick it up. Once you have it, the rest of the puzzle is a transport challenge across the following route.
| Landmark | What to do |
|---|---|
| Mountain-side golf puzzle | Retrieve the old golf ball |
| Mountain descent | Carry the ball down to the train station |
| Train station (near red tower/light) | Board the train with the ball |
| Green tower | Ride to this stop, then take the ball off the tower |
| Rope bridge | Carry the ball across toward the upper path |
| Upper path and climb | Continue toward the Purple Flag Pole area |
| Purple Flag Pole | Go down, then back up to reach the final placement spot |
Use this as your landmark chain before you start moving. Knowing the next checkpoint before you carry the ball prevents you from wandering into the wrong section with it.
How to complete the Purple Flag Pole puzzle
Big Walk Guide: Purple Flag Pole Golf Puzzle Solution
Step 1: Return to the mountain golf puzzle
Go back to the mountain-side area where the original golf puzzle was located. The ball should still be there from your earlier playthrough. Pick it up and prepare for a long carry.
Step 2: Bring the ball down to the train station
Carry the ball all the way down the mountain until you reach the train station near the red tower/light. This is your first major landmark and the gateway to the rest of the route.
Step 3: Ride the train to the green tower
Board the train with the ball and ride it around the map until you reach the green tower. The ride is long. Use the time to confirm your next move on the map.
Big Walk Guide: Purple Flag Pole Golf Puzzle Solution
Step 4: Retrieve the ball at the green tower
Get the ball off the green tower and prepare for the bridge section. This is where the real difficulty begins.
Step 5: Cross the rope bridge
Carry the ball from the green tower side toward the rope bridge. Move slowly. The ball can fall all the way down if it slips near the bridge exit, which forces you to restart from the green tower side.
Step 6: Climb toward the Purple Flag Pole area
Once across the bridge, continue up the path toward the puzzle zone. The final approach requires going down and then back up before you reach the placement spot.
Step 7: Place the ball at the flag pole
Bring the ball to the Purple Flag Pole and place it to complete the puzzle. The drawbridge section just before the final placement is the last major hazard, so stay careful through it.
What are the biggest mistakes to avoid?
After carrying the ball through this entire route, losing it at one of two specific spots sends you back a significant distance.
| Mistake | Consequence | How to avoid it |
|---|---|---|
| Dropping the ball on the drawbridge | Must climb all the way back up | Walk slowly, never jump while carrying |
| Ball slipping off the rope bridge exit | Falls to the bottom, restart from green tower | Move deliberately, no rushing the transition |
| Jumping off the drawbridge | Same result as a drop | Never jump while holding the ball |
The rope bridge exit is the other critical moment. One player getting stuck on the bridge during a co-op run can result in a forced backtrack all the way to the green tower, which adds roughly 30 minutes to the attempt.
Co-op strategy: how does two-player help here?
Two players make this puzzle significantly more manageable. The most effective approach is to have one person carry the ball through the risky sections while the other waits ahead at the drawbridge or rope bridge exit to receive it.
That handoff prevents the stuck-on-bridge scenario from costing both players their progress. Station the second player at the drawbridge exit before the carrier starts crossing, and pass the ball as soon as the carrier reaches the other side.
For more puzzles across the island, the Big Walk guides collection has step-by-step breakdowns for every major challenge. If you are still working through earlier sections, the guide on how to activate the chairlift covers the Green Tower puzzles that gate access to later areas. The train activation guide is also worth checking before you attempt this run, since the train is a required step in the route and you need it fully operational before carrying the ball.
