The U.S. Open Collection
There are 3 main types of U.S. Open flags: USGA flags, Embroidered flags, and Course flags.
USGA Flags: These flags are replicas of the flags actually used during
the tournament and are
sold at The U.S. Open during tournament week and through the USGA catalog while
supplies last. These are generally considered the most collectible of the
U.S. Open flags. The flags are usually yellow, with the exception of 1991,
when they were orange. They have the tournament logo in the top left
corner, U.S. Open in the lower-center, and the number 18 in the top right
corner. The screen printing is always in BLUE (not black). ALL
yellow USGA flags come with a Standard Golf copyright tag on back and the
borders are all sewn with gold thread. They are approximately 13"x20."
Fakes: Look out for no Standard Golf tag, white stitching, wide borders, black screen printing, and incorrect sizes.
Embroidered Flags: The USGA started selling these flags in 1999.
They are generally very
high quality white flags with color embroidering. These flags are becoming
very popular with collectors because they make great display pieces.
Course Flags: These flags are sold at the course hosting the
tournament. Although these flags are very rare, they
haven't been nearly as sought after as the USGA flags. Many people don't
even realize that they are legitimate flags. Course flags are very undervalued
based on their rarity and the recent prices that they have been selling for.
Undated USGA U.S. Open
This is a very rare U.S. Open flag that was sold by the USGA a few years ago. The USGA has made a minor change in their logo, so this flag will apparently not be made again. This flag is ideal for multi-signed U.S. Open winner flags.
Unsigned Value: $100
1986 U.S. Open
This is a very rare 86 Open flag from Shinnecock. Ray Floyd won the tournament.
Unsigned Value: $200+
1987 U.S. Open
Rare flag from Scott Simpson's win at Olympic Club.
Unsigned Value: $200+
1988 USGA U.S. Open
Unsigned Value: $300+
1989 USGA U.S. Open
1990 USGA U.S. Open
This is from Hale Irwin's win at Medinah.
Unsigned Value: $100-$125
1991 USGA U.S. Open
This is a beautiful 91 Hazeltine flag. For some reason, in 1991 the USGA decided to make the flag Orange instead of yellow. This flag is tough to find and the fact that Payne Stewart won the tournament makes the flag extremely collectible. I am not sure if a 1991 course flag exists.
Unsigned Value: $250-$350
1992 USGA U.S. Open
Unsigned Value: $200-$300
1993 USGA U.S. Open
Lee Janzen won this tournament at Baltusrol.
Unsigned Value: $100-$150
1993 U.S. Open Course flag
Unsigned Value: $150
1994 USGA U.S. Open
This is a very desirable flag since Ernie Els won the tournament.
Unsigned Value: $175-$275
1995 USGA U.S. Open: Picture coming soon
1995 U.S. Open Course Flag
Corey Pavin won the 1995 Shinnecock Hills U.S. Open. The flag has a Miller copyright tag. It could be purchased at the 1995 Open for $10. The size is 13 3/4 x 21 3/4. I got Corey Pavin to sign the flag at the 2002 Bay Hill Invitational.
Unsigned Value: $80-$120
1996 USGA U.S. Open
This is the 1996 Oakland Hill U.S. Open flag. Steve Jones won this tournament. You can see the Standard Golf copyright tag showing through the top left of the flag.
Unsigned Value: $80-$110
1997 USGA U.S. Open
This is a tough flag to find from Ernie Els's Congressional victory.
Unsigned Value: $100-$175
1997 U.S. Open Course Flag
Unsigned Value: $80-$120
1998 USGA U.S. Open
This is a pretty tough flag to find. Even though it is only from 1998, it is rarely ever offered for sale.
Unsigned Value: $100-$175
1998 U.S. Open Course Flag
Lee Janzen won the 1998 Open at The Olympic Club. The flag has a Miller tag and is 13 1/2" x 21 3/4".
Unsigned Value: $80-$120
1999 USGA U.S. Open
Payne Stewart defeated Phil Mickelson in one of the most memorable tournaments ever. This is a very rare flag and is often counterfeited. Over 95% of these out there are fake. Make sure it comes with the Standard Golf tag, etc. Check the information above about how to spot USGA U.S. Open counterfeits.
Unsigned
USGA Value: $150-$250 (BEWARE)
1999 U.S. Open Course Flag
This flag is actually much rarer than the USGA version, but generally not as sought after.
Unsigned Value: $150-$200
1999 U.S. Open Embroidered
Authentic ones come with a Miller tag.
Unsigned Value: $200-$300
2000 USGA U.S. Open
Tiger Woods won this Millenium Open and Jack Nicklaus said goodbye. Almost all on Ebay are fakes. Check at the top of page for how to spot counterfeits.
Unsigned Value: $90-$140 (Beware, Most are Fake)
2000 U.S. Open: Canvas
This is a very high quality canvas flag. Most that you see have already been used for autographs. The flag is fairly hard to find and seems to be getting rarer all the time. The flag is approximately 14" x 18 3/4".
Unsigned Value: $200-$300
2000 U.S. Open: Screen Printed
Tiger won the 2000 U.S. Open and Jack Nicklaus said goodbye.
All of the 2000 U.S. Open flags are highly sought after and real ones are
getting difficult to find. Watch out for all the fakes on Ebay.
There are 2 authentic versions of this screen printed flag. One has a Made
In China tag and the other has a Miller tag. All authentic ones MUST have
one of these two tags on back.
The
"Made in China" screen printed flag measures approximately 13 1/4" x 19 1/2".
The "Miller" screen printed flag measures 14" x 24".
Unsigned Value: $65-85
2000 U.S. Open: Embroidered
Authentic embroidered 2000 U.S. Open flags are getting very difficult to find. They measure approximately 14 3/4" x 23" and come with a Miller copyright tag.
Unsigned Value: $100-$150
2001 USGA U.S. Open
Retief Goosen won the 2001 U.S. Open in an 18 hole playoff against Mark Brooks. I got Retief to sign this flag at the 2002 Bay Hill Invitational.
Unsigned Value: $40-$60
2001 Embroidered U.S. Open Flag (Maroon)
Interestingly, Miller made two slightly different embroidered flags for the 2001 U.S. Open. The Maroon version of the embroidered 2001 U.S. Open flag was sold in the USGA catalog, while the Orange version was sold at the tournament.
Authentic 2001 embroidered Open flags should come with a Miller
copyright tag. The measurements of this flag is 13 1/2" x 22". I got
this signed by Goosen at the 2001 PGA Championship.
Unsigned Value: $80-$100
2001 U.S. Open Embroidered (Orange)
The Orange version of the embroidered 2001 U.S. Open flag was sold at tournament. Since the flag could only be obtained at Southern Hills during the tournament, it is rarer than the USGA Maroon version.
Unsigned Value: $90-$110
2002 USGA U.S. Open
A popular flag from one of the most popular US Open's in recent memory.
Unsigned Value: $50-$75
2002 Embroidered U.S. Open Flag
13 1/2" x 21 1/2" and a Miller copyright.
Unsigned Value: $75-$100
2002 U.S. Open Course Flag
Unsigned Value: $35-$55
2002 U.S. Open Embroidered (Color)
Unsigned Value: $50-$70
2003 USGA U.S. Open : Picture to be added this week
Unsigned Value: $40-$60
2003 U.S. Open Course Flag
Unsigned Value: $40-$50
2003 U.S. Open Embroidered (Blue)
Much like in 2001, Miller again produced two embroidered flags with only slight differences in the colors. This version (Blue) was only sold at Olympia Fields.
Unsigned Value: $80-$100
2003 U.S. Open Embroidered (Red): Picture coming soon