[Bradley Anderson]

I am just curious what everyone's thoughts are on these subjects. And I would love to see some photos posted here with examples. 

Do you like a striped poles, or a plain colored pole?

I like a striped pole.

What color stripe?

I'll go with a color that matches the clubs colors.

Do you like the thick poles that are not flexible, or the thinner flexible poles?

The thinner poles deflect a ball less distance if you hit the pole, and for that reason I like the thinner pole. They also flex more with the wind and they hold a better vertical plain - in my opinion.

Do you like the colored flag system to designate front middle back?

I don't care either way. But if your club has strong colors, you shouldn't go with the colored flags.

Do you like a grommeted tie on flag, or a plastic tube flag?

I like the old fashioned grommeted flag that you tie on with cotton string.

What about 15O markers?

I kind of like them in the ground on the edge of the fairway painted white. And you can have them at 100 (red) and 200 (yellow), plus 250 (blue) on three shot holes.

[TX Golf]

I love this look. Actual wooden flagstick with only the number of the hole on the flag.

How am I supposed to include a picture. I can't get it to work.

[John Kavanaugh]

Does pole slap hurt the green?  I always go out of my way to either lay the flag down gently because it seems pole slap leaves a dent/shadow plus can be distracting to groups on nearby holes.

[David Stamm]

I like the wood poles and flags like LACC or Friars Head are appealing to me.

[Bill Brightly]

Besides Merion?

[Daryl David]

Wood is best.  When they snap in half due to the wind, you know it too blustry to play on.  

[David Stamm]

Besides Merion?

Majorly overlooked on my part. I'll add that to my list. I love the look of them.

[TX Golf]

Can somebody let me know how to include a photo in my post.

[John Kavanaugh]

Do any highly ranked courses use red, white and blue flags to indicate pin position?  I always like special flags for special occasions.  This fourth of July the local Elks course had American flags.  Special tournament flags are always cool.  Does Merion use tournament baskets...puke.

[Bradley Anderson]

John,

I don't know of any high ranked courses that use the colored pin position flags, but I am aware of some that have different colored flags for front and back nines.

[Charles Scalzott]

I always loved the thick striped poles.  Regardless of club colors black and white poles seem to work well and provide a great contrast from a distance.  Merion would certainly be my first choice for "flag" pole design even though the player loses that helpful indicator of wind direction with the wicker baskets.  A very fair trade for being unique in my opinion.  As far as colored flags for pin positions go, I'm not a huge fan.  I would much rather see flags consistent with the club colors/logo and/or hole number with a daily pin sheet available.  I think it adds to the mistique of the great clubs to use a consistent flag design.

Fun question.

[Mike McGuire]

1- solid white pin - solid white flag
2- solid yellow pin - solid yellow flag

both with early club logos. I have found the striped poles supposed contrast to be less visible than solid white or yellow.

A member told me yesterday he has trouble with yellow as it is a form of green - color blindness?

[RSLivingston_III]

I like the pole and wicker basket. No color identifiers.

[Tim Bert]

I prefer the checkerboard flag, or a single, highly-visible colored flag.  I'm not too picky about my pins.  The wooden ones I've seen are a neat touch, but plastic works just fine as well.

[Matt_Cohn]

America. F%&# yeah!
Coming again, to save the mother f%&#ing day yeah,
America, F%&# yeah!
Freedom is the only way yeah.



That, and USGA flags

[TX Golf]

I love the look of this flag

[Jim_Kennedy]

JaKa,
One of the guys on grounds thought that U.S. flags would be a nice touch  so they bought some and put them on the poles for Memorial Day. The first complaint came back to me shortly after I opened at 7:00 am and by 8:00 I had replaced all the U.S. flags with our standard ones.

The Vets were not too happy about seeing the flag thrown on the ground.

Brad,
A Superintendent in the NE recently conducted an experiment to see if there was any difference in how various flagsticks, 1/2", 3/4" tapered, or 1" fiberglass/aluminum, 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" tapered flagstick, 67% went in for the 3/4" tapered flagstick. The absolute worst was the 1" pole, 0% went in
when using it in the test.

I guess I like 1/2" the best, especially when I'm chipping. 

[Matt_Cohn]

I love the look of this flag

I think this flag would be annoying because the bottom foot of it is hard to see. Your depth perception would be affected and it would be hard to focus on the hole, especially against any kind of cluttered background. I consider this flagstick tricked up!

[Jay Kirkpatrick]

Jim - Glad someone did the experiment with the flagsticks.  We have thick metal poles that only accept the slowest moving shots.  I hate them... and have petitioned to have the old, skinnier ones back to no avail. 

[Jim_Kennedy]

Jay,
Have your superintendent get a hold of Rich Gagnon, the super who did the testing. He's at Segregansett CC in Taunton, Ma.

Maybe the info will convince your green committee.


p.s. don't ask for American flags

[Bradley Anderson]

This is some great information. Thank you to every one who has contributed.

Jim Kennedy, that research on the thickness of the flag pole is priceless. Thanks.

I was just out at Oakland Hills this afternoon, and the yellow flag and yellow pole really do stand out the best of any color combo I have seen.

[Josh Smith]

Matt,

        I don't think this flag is annoying.  Tricked up?  Different maybe.  The white at the bottom of the flag is way easier to see than a black bottom or wood.  For example: Put a black golf ball on the green and a white ball on the green then step back 60 yards. 

        If anything the wood is hard to see.  The only time I can imagine the color of the bottom foot messing with your perception would be in a skyline green situation.  And it is pretty much impossible even if it was glowing neon in that case.
 
        Seeing a white stick is the easiest to see against any green floor or background in my opinion.  The composite (non wood) bottoms are pretty useful for Cheeseborough Co. and their clients, pretty much the only way to go in a windy situation. 


 

I love the look of this flag

I think this flag would be annoying because the bottom foot of it is hard to see. Your depth perception would be affected and it would be hard to focus on the hole, especially against any kind of cluttered background. I consider this flagstick tricked up!

[Peter Galea]

I have not seen these in person, but I am really intrigued by them, especially the twin pennant.
I'll have to see if I can get a demo.
Paired with their wooden poles.
http://www.cheesebrough.com/Flags.html

1- solid white pin - solid white flag
2- solid yellow pin - solid yellow flag

For a modern look I agree with Mike.

[Richard Hetzel]

The Vets were not too happy about seeing the flag thrown on the ground.

Have these mini Gadsen flags made up instead, easily seen in bright yellow and none of the Vets would be upset at all!

[Brian_Sleeman]

If it's somewhere typically windy, I like the extra weight:


Otherwise I like a little contrast and simplicity:

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