Tournament Used Flags

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Tournament Used Flags

Tournament-Used flags: As you can imagine, the flags that are actually used in PGA Tournaments are very difficult to find. Rarely are any ever offered for sale. For every tournament, as many as 54 flags are made (a few tournaments, like the Pebble Beach Pro-Am, which uses multiple courses, would actually have more than 54 flags). If a hole number is located on the flag, then 54 are usually ordered. This allows one to be used and 2 backups for each hole. If each flag does not have a hole number, then many less are needed. The extras are used if one of the flags is stolen, gets dirty (they want them to look nice on TV), or is somehow damaged.

So why do we never see these used flags offered for sale? The winner of the tournament always keeps the flag from the 18th hole. Nowadays, the PGA Tour collects the remaining 17 flags that were used on Sunday (They have finally realized their value to collectors). What happens to the extra flags is different for every tournament. The winner occasionally signs many of the extra flags. Many of these flags are then given to top executives of the tournament's sponsors and tournament officials. Some flags make their way into the hands of PGA Tour Executives and employees. The winner also usually grabs a handful for himself. Tiger did this after the 2000 PGA Championship (Nike CEO Phil Knight, Tiger's Mom, Tiger's Agent, and Scotty Cameron are 4 people who commonly receive items like these from Tiger; Phil Mickelson, on the other hand, gives most of his flags to his in-laws) The course that is hosting the tournament sometimes gets a few of the extra flags. Valhalla has received flags both times they have hosted Major Championships, but then again they are owned by the PGA Tour, so that may be the reason. Torrey Pines, on the other hand, never gets to keep any Buick Invitational flags. So you can see why these flags are rarely offered for sale.

The Masters: The following is an actual flag used at The Masters Tournament

Tournament Used Masters Flag

This is by far the most sought after golf flag and one of the most coveted golf collectibles ever: An actual pin flag used during the Masters tournament. Why don't we ever see these flags make it to the golf collectibles market? Because Augusta National uses the flags during tournament week for an average of 6 years in a row! The same flags are used each year until they are too beat up to be used anymore. And what happens to these flags once they are too worn to be used anymore? They are thrown away!! Augusta National wants to make sure that none of these make it into collector's hands--and hardly any ever have.

The British Open: The following are actual flags used at the British Open

This is an amazing collection of 5 used British Open flags: 1974, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981

1974 Tournament Used British Open flag

One of the oldest tournament-used flags around. Gary Player won the Open Championship for the 3rd time in 1974.

1978 Tournament Used British Open flag

This is surely one of the most desired golf flags around. Not only is this a used British Open flag from St. Andrews, but Jack Nicklaus won the tournament for the 3rd and final time

1979 Tournament Used British Open flag

22 year old Seve Ballesteros wins the first of his 3 British Open titles.

1980 Tournament Used British Open flag

Tom Watson wins the 3rd of his incredible 5 Open Championships at one of the best courses in the world.

1981 Tournament Used British Open flag

Little known Bill Rogers captured the 1981 Open Championship at Royal St. George's in England.

The PGA Championship: The following are actual flags used at the PGA Championship

1968 PGA Championship Flag

This is the oldest used golf flag that I have been able to locate. This flag was used at Pecan Valley when Julius Boros won the 1968 PGA Championship.

Unknown PGA Championship Flag

I am still trying to date this flag. It has been claimed to be a 1971 PGA Championship, but I still need to find a 1971 PGA Championship photo to confirm this. If anyone knows the answer or if anyone has a book with photographs of the 1971 PGA Championship, please let me know.

1972 PGA Championship Flags

This great collection of flags was used at the 1972 PGA Championship, won by Gary Player.

1973 PGA Championship Flags

This is a collection of 4 gorgeous flags from the 1973 PGA Championship, which was won by Jack Nicklaus.

1989 PGA Championship Flag

1992 PGA Championship Flag

1995 PGA Championship Flag

1996 PGA Championship Flag

This flag was used on Sunday of the 1996 PGA Championship won by Mark Brooks.

2000 PGA Championship Flag signed by Tiger Woods

This is an actual 6th hole flag from the 2000 PGA Championship. Tiger signed the flag after the tournament, along with some others. He rarely does this. The signed flags were then given to various PGA officials (the PGA Tour owns Valhalla) and some were given to Valhalla Country Club. The course superintendent raffled some off to his crew. I was able to get this flag from a member of the Valhalla grounds crew who was one of the lucky winners of this raffle.

U.S. Open: **For some reason, used U.S. Open flags are much more difficult to find than used flags from the British Open and PGA Championship. This leads me to believe that the USGA collects the flags after every tournament and does not distribute them to the course and to sponsors: but I do not know for sure. Some further research will hopefully yield more information regarding tournament-used U.S. Open flags and some more pictures.**

U.S. Amateur: The following is an actual flag used at the U.S. Amateur

1990 U.S. Amateur Flag

This is a used flag from a young Phil Mickelson's U.S. Amateur victory at Cherry Hills. In addition to the Amateur, Phil also won the NCAA Championship that year on his way to PGA Tour stardom.

Ryder Cup: The following is an actual flag used at the Ryder Cup

1983 Ryder Cup Flag

This flag is discolored by what is most likely tape residue, but it is nonetheless a great example of a very rare flag.

Other Used Tournament Flags: The following flags are all used flags from their respective tournaments

1985 Walker Cup Flag - Pine Valley

This is one of the nicest tournament-used flags around. While it is difficult to see in this picture, this used Walker Cup flag is signed by all of the participants of the 1985 Walker Cup. The flag has signatures of 21 year-old Davis Love III, 22 year-old Colin Montgomerie, Scott Verplank, and others. The fact that this flag contains the Pine Valley logo no doubt makes it 3x as valuable as any other Walker Cup flag. The 1985 Walker Cup was the last major tournament hosted by Pine Valley.