Thanks to everyone for your input. I have summarised my findings follows:
Due to Newton's first law, no object can gain speed unless energy is put into it. The hole gives no energy to the golf ball - it is a passive object, sitting still doing nothing. Therefore, a golf ball would not normally...
Good point Penguino. I think that is probably the right explanation.
One of my friends has just suggested one possible way a ball could actually gain speed - if the ball had a lot of sideways spin, it could covert the rotational energy into straight line speed as it strikes the edge of the...
When a golf ball goes round the hole and doesn't drop (bit like an orbit), it often appears to leave the hole faster than it went in. My understanding of physics tell me that this is not possible, as any speed gained from gravity when it dips slightly into the hole, is lost when it gains height...