In honor of National Flag Day on June 14 our Tournament Director planned a Flag Day tournament on Wednesday June 11th. She had colorful sign up sheet with a flying flag so members would notice to sign up. The Social Director had a hamburger meal planned after the tournament and we had a good group who participated.

A Flag tournament is organized around our Director making individual American Flags with the person’s name, her handicap along with a score card for her to total up her score. This tournament is scored by taking the par for the course and adding your handicap to this amount. When you reach that number up place your flag in the ground on your last number shot you made. The purpose of the game is to see how long you can play before you have to place your flag.

Usually you just play your game and total up your score. You do not have to be too concerned during the first nine as it usually happens someone has to post their flag about the 16 hole. That is what happened to me but I was not the first. I had some trouble mid-the first nine. We had one member quite ahead of our foursome so I hurried up to join them as they just had a threesome. When you hurry up things happen and none of them are good. I usually don’t let these things bother me as it is just a game and want to see that everybody is included and enjoying the game.

As our games unfolded we had several that completed the full 18 holes and had points left. They had these people start teeing off on Hole One again to see how far they would go. When they reached the green they had a winner as she by passed her handicap and par for the course plus five extra strokes. That is fine playing and deserves to be the winner of the Flag tournament as she finally had to place her flag in 19 holes played.

After all were finished playing a lunch of Barton Burgers, chips and ice tea was enjoyed by all while the winner, second and third places were announced. We all decided it was a great tournament as we congratulated the winners. Our tournament director has a Fourth of July Event planned she calls the Firecracker Tournament. We have not heard just how she plans to work this one. These types of events are a great way to create some enthusiasm for the golf membership. This keeps things exciting with some new and different ways to enjoy the game of golf.