[Dunlop_White]

There are methods of restoration that contribute to “the look”, the original look of a classic design.  Lesco, Inc. used to offer the traditional, wooden-style flagsticks which golfers would have found in the early part of the 20th Century. The antique 'Woody Sticks' are thick (1.5")and short being just six(6) and seven(7) feet in height. They come in wide, green/white stripes and wide, black/white stripes. They are presently used at venues throughout Scotland and Ireland and are catching-on at classic designs throughout our country as well. Brad Klein and Ryan Blair, superintendent at Holston Hills, claim that these flagsticks contribute significantly to the traditional look.  I agree!

Lesco has discontinued the woody flagsticks though. Are there any alternatives???

[Dunlop_White]

Mark Stovall at Lookout Mountain GC near Chattanooga, TN. I believe they may have made their own flagsticks which 'look' like the LESCO brand.

Ryan Blair at Holston Hills, Chris Sykes at Cherokee, Mr.Corbit at Hilton Head all are familiar with these classic sticks as has been conveyed to me recently by email.

Everyone stresses the six (6)footers! I know that they looked great at Holston!

Just got word that Cheesebrough, Inc. makes the Lesco type which I am looking for.

[PCCraig]

Has anyone played a course that has wooden flagsticks as made by companies such as Cheesebrough (http://cheesebrough.com/)? Have any Superintendents had any luck with wooden accessories?

What does everyone else think of this style of flagstick?

[Rick Shefchik]

I have a tough time spotting the flagstick on elevated greens with trees behind, especially if there's no wind to move the flag. This one would make it even tougher to see -- but it looks cool close up.

[Tyler Kearns]

Has anyone played a course that has wooden flagsticks as made by companies such as Cheesebrough (http://cheesebrough.com/)? Have any Superintendents had any luck with wooden accessories?

What does everyone else think of this style of flagstick?

Pat,

Sutton Bay uses wooden flagsticks and bunker rakes, and they certainly give a vintage feel to such a modern golf course. I really liked them, but there are no trees at Sutton Bay, so visibility may be an issue at a parkland course.  I looked into these for my club awhile back, and they are expensive. I belong to a city course in a residential area, and invariably we lose dozens of flagsticks and bunker rakes each year to neighborhood kids sneaking on the course at night - and therefore, deemed it too expensive an option.

TK

[Ronald Montesano]

Tyler,

Why doesn't your course doesn't have a grounds crew that brings rakes and flag sticks in at night?

[Tyler Kearns]

Ronald,

Good question, I've asked this before and with the cost of labour what it is, they deem it not worth the effort. I feel that even if it is a net zero, I'de rather be paying the club staff than buying more flags & rakes, plus, it may give the kids less of a reason to hop the fence.

Tyler

[Chris_Hufnagel]

Has anyone played a course that has wooden flagsticks as made by companies such as Cheesebrough (http://cheesebrough.com/)? Have any Superintendents had any luck with wooden accessories?

What does everyone else think of this style of flagstick?

The Kingsley Club has flagsticks made by Cheesebrough - I love them.  The look great, feel great, and add to the experience.

The only downside to them for me is the last 10 inches into the cup - they are metal and don't give very much when a ball hits them with any pace.  I have had several chips (and putts during the Hundred Hole Hike) rejected due to the metal base...

Other than that, I think they are amazing and glad that the club made the investment in them...

[Brett_Morrissy]

Tyler, perhaps consider paying those 'neighbourhood' kids to pick the flags up at night - pocket money.

[Jonathan Decker]

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10100362943305524&set=a.10100362935251664.3112240.2329705&type=3&theater

The above was my attempt at posting a picture of myself and a flagstick at Arcadia Bluffs.  Have yet to see another course which featured the small ones.

[hhuffines]

Does anyone know who makes the natural type of flagpole used at Kingsley, and I believe, Crystal Downs?  Thanks !

[RJ_Daley]

You'd think this would be a good product to compliment the main production of pool cues.  I had met the owner or manager of Viking Cues years ago.  Their website says they are looking for new products to expend to.  This seems a no-brainer. 

http://shop.vikingcue.com/about-us

Certainly they have access to the wood and can lathe taper them to custom, quite easily, and it wouldn't be anywhere near as precise of work as making top quality billiards cues.

[Patrick_Mucci]

I tend to like flagsticks that are very stiff and as such more sensitive to indicating wind direction

[Jon Wiggett]

Tyler, perhaps consider paying those 'neighbourhood' kids to pick the flags up at night - pocket money.

Wow, BINGO

The simple and very obvious ideas are often the best one

Chris,

as a boy quite a few of the moorland course used to have full metal flagsticks, thick at the top and thin at the bottom. They not only didn't have any give in them the ball seemed to ricochet of them at a higher speed and a decided clang. I can however tell you the biggest challenge to a 6-7 year old golfer was their removal and replacement in the hole due to their incredible weight.

Jon

[Adrian_Stiff]

In the UK it would cost a ridiculous amount of money at many golf clubs to have someone go out and collect the flags, probably the equivilant of £30 per year on the subsciptions. Greenstaff are long gone so it needs someone to come in collect, open up store, shut store. An hours job, but what a pain in the ass. To be considered only when your losing two flagsticks a day.

[Chris_Hufnagel]

I tend to like flagsticks that are very stiff and as such more sensitive to indicating wind direction

Mr. Mucci, that is now painfully obvious to me once you stated that, but I never had made the connection before - thanks for sharing...

[Lynn_Shackelford]

At one time Los Angeles Country Club made their own flagsticks, they are wooden with the smaller in diameter metal attachment at the bottom. 

Does anyone know of a good metal attachment that would allow some balls upon being struck to drop into the hole?  At my club they just bounce off.  Are there wooden ones which go all the way down into the cup so that the ball strikes the wood.  If so are these more forgiving?

[Patrick_Mucci]

I tend to like flagsticks that are very stiff and as such more sensitive to indicating wind direction

Mr. Mucci, that is now painfully obvious to me once you stated that, but I never had made the connection before - thanks for sharing...
Chris,
Years ago, at a club where i was the Green Chairman,  I wanted both sides of the flags to have the club logo, which was rather distinctive with historical significance.  The problem was the weight of the double sided flag and the lack of effect the wind had on it.
But, when I combining inflexible, thick steel flag poles and the double sided flags, the flags responded more than adequately to any wind.

[Jim_Kennedy]

At one time Los Angeles Country Club made their own flagsticks, they are wooden with the smaller in diameter metal attachment at the bottom.  Does anyone know of a good metal attachment that would allow some balls upon being struck to drop into the hole?  At my club they just bounce off.  Are there wooden ones which go all the way down into the cup so that the ball strikes the wood.  If so are these more forgiving?

A Superintendent in the NE conducted an experiment to see if there was any difference in how various flagsticks, 1/2", 3/4" tapered, and 1" (which sounds like the same ones that you have at your club)  reacted to chip shots.

They sent 100 balls (at each flagstick) down a 10' piece of PVC pipe that was elevated 2' feet off the green at the loading end, and the end touching the green was set 14" from the hole. This simulated a direct hit at a medium pace.  

The results: 72% went in using the 1/2" flagstick, 67% went in for the 3/4" tapered flagstick, but the absolute worst was the 1" pole, not one ball went in during the test.

[Patrick_Mucci]

Jim,

That makes sense, the thicker the flagpole the further the surface is from the center of the hole, or put another way, the closer the surface is to the perimeter of the hole, effectively reducing the available space in he hole.

[Jim_Kennedy]

Pat,
All the poles were standard issue and all were the same diameter (1/2") at their bases.

[Tony Ristola]

What type of wood is being used for the wooden flagsticks?

[Jim_Kennedy]

Pat,
I haven't been able to find the original article, but here's another super's findings that are similar:

http://vbccgrounds.blogspot.com/

[Patrick_Mucci]

Pat,
All the poles were standard issue and all were the same diameter (1/2") at their bases.


Jim,

The base isn't where the ball enters the hole, and the point of deflection is closer to the perimeter of the hole, which will, when combined with the angle of incidence and the angle of refraction, will cause the ball to be further from the center of the hole.

[RJ_Daley]

Maybe you guys are saying the same thing, but I think the issue is the firmness or dulled impact forgiveness of the pole at the point of where the ball hits the pin, caused by the weight and girth of the shaft going up which is reduced vibration the thicker the pole above the POI.  Thus less vibration, more recoil off the impact of the strike, repelling the ball away from the hole.

Or it is the angle of the dangle. 

My lack of a hole in one lifetime may be that I'm employing too much LOFT.... 

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