Notajedi: 1) Yes I had removed the pole before the shots.
Still possible that you clicked twice, re-inserting the flagstick.
New game flaws notwithstanding...
Notajedi: 2) Both times where wedge into the green and one of them bounced 30 yards into the rough,I've never seen that from hitting the cup, have you?
WGT's flagsticks have a reputation of being tremendously stiff, and Merion's real-life flagsticks ARE thicker and stiffer than normal to hold the wicker.
Here, we have seen instances and replays which left the impression that the ball might be loaded with energy on impact, 100 yds shots bouncing off 200+ yds.