Resist sand traps placed by the flag (5,3,7)
I believe the answer is:
stars and stripes
'the flag' is the definition.
(Stars and Stripes is an example)
'resist sand traps placed' is the wordplay.
'placed' indicates an anagram (placing the letters).
'resist'+'sand'+'traps'='resistsandtraps'
'resistsandtraps' with letters rearranged gives 'STARS AND STRIPES'.
'by' is the link.
(Other definitions for stars and stripes that I've seen before include "indications of rank" , "indicators of military rank" , "Standard" , "American flier" , "The US flag" .)