Today we played a flag competition - first flight out took the flag and last 
to use up the shots (and brings in the flag) wins.  OK.  The strange thing, 
to me, is that it was played as a qualifying comp.  Everyone had to complete 
18 holes (for handicap) even though they had used up all their strokes in 
the flag event on earler holes.  No-one actually went down the first again 
today, but, had they done so, their first 18 holes only would have counted 
for their handicap.

When I have played this comp format elsewhere your official round ended at 
the point where you ran out of strokes.  You could play on in, if you 
wished, or walk in.  It certainly was not a qualifying comp.

It seems slightly absurd to me to have to play a qualifying 18 which is 
effectively an ordinary medal and not really the flag format.  Any info on 
how this format is meant to be played would be very welcome.

-- 
Peace & Love
Janet H
(Tee off to reply)

"Janet Homer"  wrote in message 
news:46b0af91$0$1609$ed2619ec@ptn-nntp-reader02.plus.net...
> Today we played a flag competition - first flight out took the flag and 
> last to use up the shots (and brings in the flag) wins.  OK.  The strange 
> thing, to me, is that it was played as a qualifying comp.  Everyone had to 
> complete 18 holes (for handicap) even though they had used up all their 
> strokes in the flag event on earler holes.  No-one actually went down the 
> first again today, but, had they done so, their first 18 holes only would 
> have counted for their handicap.
>
> When I have played this comp format elsewhere your official round ended at 
> the point where you ran out of strokes.  You could play on in, if you 
> wished, or walk in.  It certainly was not a qualifying comp.
>
> It seems slightly absurd to me to have to play a qualifying 18 which is 
> effectively an ordinary medal and not really the flag format.  Any info on 
> how this format is meant to be played would be very welcome.
>
> -- 
> Peace & Love
> Janet H
> (Tee off to reply)
>


I agree, Janet.

IMO, it is inappropriate to make fun games, qualifiers.

"Janet Homer"  wrote in message 
news:46b0af91$0$1609$ed2619ec@ptn-nntp-reader02.plus.net...
> Today we played a flag competition - first flight out took the flag and 
> last to use up the shots (and brings in the flag) wins.  OK.  The strange 
> thing, to me, is that it was played as a qualifying comp.  Everyone had to 
> complete 18 holes (for handicap) even though they had used up all their 
> strokes in the flag event on earler holes.  No-one actually went down the 
> first again today, but, had they done so, their first 18 holes only would 
> have counted for their handicap.
>
> When I have played this comp format elsewhere your official round ended at 
> the point where you ran out of strokes.  You could play on in, if you 
> wished, or walk in.  It certainly was not a qualifying comp.
>
> It seems slightly absurd to me to have to play a qualifying 18 which is 
> effectively an ordinary medal and not really the flag format.  Any info on 
> how this format is meant to be played would be very welcome.
>
> -- 
> Peace & Love
> Janet H
> (Tee off to reply)
>
>

Consider the position if, on the day, the first flight were to be the 
eventual winners of the competition. This would mean that they would be the 
only ones to 'carry the flag'
For all other players it would be a round of 'competitive golf' without 
purpose.
The laying over the top a qualifying competition guarantees a meaningful 
competition for all.

Denis

"M L Wadsworth"  wrote in 
message news:s8GdnS-uaLbvWy3bnZ2dnUVZ8saonZ2d@bt.com...
>
> "Janet Homer"  wrote in message 
> news:46b0af91$0$1609$ed2619ec@ptn-nntp-reader02.plus.net...
>> Today we played a flag competition - first flight out took the flag and 
>> last to use up the shots (and brings in the flag) wins.  OK.  The strange 
>> thing, to me, is that it was played as a qualifying comp.  Everyone had 
>> to complete 18 holes (for handicap) even though they had used up all 
>> their strokes in the flag event on earler holes.  No-one actually went 
>> down the first again today, but, had they done so, their first 18 holes 
>> only would have counted for their handicap.
>>
>> When I have played this comp format elsewhere your official round ended 
>> at the point where you ran out of strokes.  You could play on in, if you 
>> wished, or walk in.  It certainly was not a qualifying comp.
>>
>> It seems slightly absurd to me to have to play a qualifying 18 which is 
>> effectively an ordinary medal and not really the flag format.  Any info 
>> on how this format is meant to be played would be very welcome.
>>
>> -- 
>> Peace & Love
>> Janet H
>> (Tee off to reply)
>>
>
>
> I agree, Janet.
>
> IMO, it is inappropriate to make fun games, qualifiers.

Don't see why a 'Flag Competition' should not be 'serious'.
IIRC my first club had one as a 'board job'
-- 
Sam
He uses statistics as a drunkard uses lamp posts - for support rather than 
illumination

Janet Homer wrote:

> Today we played a flag competition - first flight out took the flag and last 
> to use up the shots (and brings in the flag) wins.  OK.  The strange thing, 
> to me, is that it was played as a qualifying comp.  Everyone had to complete 
> 18 holes (for handicap) even though they had used up all their strokes in 
> the flag event on earler holes.  No-one actually went down the first again 
> today, but, had they done so, their first 18 holes only would have counted 
> for their handicap.
> 
> When I have played this comp format elsewhere your official round ended at 
> the point where you ran out of strokes.  You could play on in, if you 
> wished, or walk in.  It certainly was not a qualifying comp.
> 
> It seems slightly absurd to me to have to play a qualifying 18 which is 
> effectively an ordinary medal and not really the flag format.  Any info on 
> how this format is meant to be played would be very welcome.

I've seen it played in my club in Australia, exclusively by women and 
largely as a 'novelty' event (it's never been scheduled into our men's 
program). But I can't see why you couldn't play a normal stroke round 
and the flag would just be a novelty 'aside' to the competition.

A couple of oddities/absurdities:

1. If the par is, say, 72, and my handicap is 20, then my understanding 
is that my 'flag point' is where my 92nd stroke comes to rest. If I've 
progressed the furthest at that point, I plant the flag.

So what if I hit it in a water hazard ... do I plant it at the point of 
entry? If it's OOB, does it then become the point at which the ball went 
OOB, or just back on the tee? There'd need to be a few guidelines for 
how to handle these situations!

2. I can imagine two players on a tee with only their last shot in hand. 
The whole format then comes down to long-drive competition! Or maybe 
even a super-long hitter with one shot in hand against a short-hitter 
with two shots. The short hitter could still lose!

:-)

-- 
Cheers
Colin Wilson
------------------------------------------------------------------
Trentham Golf Club: http://www.trenthamgolf.com
Barnbougle Dunes: http://publishing.kyneton.net.au/barnbougle
------------------------------------------------------------------

"Sam"  wrote in message 
news:f8tevm$8c2$1$830fa17d@news.demon.co.uk...
>
> "M L Wadsworth"  wrote in 
> message news:s8GdnS-uaLbvWy3bnZ2dnUVZ8saonZ2d@bt.com...
>>

>> I agree, Janet.
>>
>> IMO, it is inappropriate to make fun games, qualifiers.
>
> Don't see why a 'Flag Competition' should not be 'serious'.
> IIRC my first club had one as a 'board job'
> -- 
> Sam
> He uses statistics as a drunkard uses lamp posts - for support rather than 
> illumination

Well, I don't think that 'serious' and 'qualifying' are synonymous.  I 
certainly agree that any competition format can be played 'seriously' 
whether for a trophy, a Board mention or who buys the drinks afterwards. 
This does not, however, mean that it is always to be qualifying, does it - 
unless you are playing under the U.S. system where every round seems to 
count for your handicap whether serious or 'fun' - whatever 'fun' golf may 
be:).

The point I am trying to clarify is whether the format is inherently meant 
to be qualifying or not.  It just seems to me that, if the format has to be 
modified in order to allow everyone to play and record gross scores for a 18 
holes, regardless of whether or not they have run out of shots holes ago or 
have shots in hand for three more, you might just as well play a medal and 
have done with it!

Also, some say everyone takes out a little flag and plants it at their last 
shot point, while others say the first out take the marker and the last 
standing brings it in.  Who collects all the flags planted around the 
course??

I think it is called a flag competition because everyone gets tired of 
trying to work out what to do.....................................

Love & peace
Janet