A RECENT Saturday competition demonstrated how golf events can vary in nature. Indeed there seem to be as many different competitions as there are weeks in the year! This event was entitled the 21st Century Flag competition.

A "flags tournament”, sometimes known as Last Man Standing or Tombstone, is a competition format in which golfers begin their round of golf with an allotment of strokes, then play the course until all their strokes are used.

The game got its name from the flags that were given to each competitor before their round. The golfers can then stick those flags in the ground at the point from which their final shot is played.

At Downes flags weren’t issued, but the winning marker was placed on the 2nd green, after completing the first 18 holes of the course, that is 20 holes in total.

The overall winner was Ray Buttle whose 17 shots took him around the course, and a further two holes.

On Thursday, August 6, the Seniors at Downes Golf Club held the annual Stan Setter Salver invitational, inter club competition.

While Downes host the competition, they are not allowed to accept the Salver.

That goes to the winning visiting team. Over 40 years ago, Downes Club Captain, Stan Setter, initiated the competition.

It is contested between clubs who have friendly fixtures with us, and to celebrate that friendship.

Players are in three man teams, with two scores to count. To keep the competition compact there is a 2 tee start.

The competition is followed by drinks and a meal in the clubhouse.

Players from Honiton, Okehampton, Libbaton, Tiverton, Sidmouth, Teignmouth and Holsworthy took part in the event and on this occasion the team winning the Salver was Okehampton, though Downes had the best score of the day.