The World Hickory Open Was This Week...

I'm a bit horrified to have acknowledged this cash grab in Turkey when soulful golfers were teeing it up in the World Hickory Open. The event was Monday and Tuesday at Monifeith and Carnoustie Burnside, reports the Scotsman.

The World Hickory Open Championship was established in 2004 and played at Musselburgh Golf Course, the oldest surviving playing surface in the world, according to the Guinness Book of Records.

Hickory clubs are available on the day, which is primarily to encourage parties of all abilities to participate.

According to regular hickory golfers, one of the main attractions of using hickory clubs is being able to ‘feel’ every shot - and also allowing classic golf courses to be played as intended.

A BBC preview story featured this:

This year's event has attracted about 100 players from more than 30 countries.

Competitors are limited to clubs made before, or made to replicate those manufactured before, 1935.

The World Hickory Open Championship was first held in 2005 and has become popular across Europe and the United States.

The event's chairman, Lionel Freedman, said: "It is a lot to do with the fact that the game has changed out of all recognition in the last few years and there are people who enjoy the challenge of playing with clubs that were made after the Great War.

"It brings back into play the courses that are far too short for the modern club and ball."

The official website didn't have scores but it did have this fantastic featurette with the sweet-swinging Perry Summers and Randy Jensen talking about the joys of hickory golf, a famous challenge match between Old Tom Morris and Willie Park, and showing off the magnificent Musselburgh.

Comments

[Ivan Morris]

I was there! And, it was great fun. Even the Scottish weather is kind to hickory players. I like hickory golf because of how it feels. When I hit a good shot (surprisingly often!) I feel responsible. When I hit a poor one I blame the club.

[Ivan Morris]

May I add that most of the players had no more than seven clubs. That makes the game delightfully creative. For 24 consecutive holes, I swear that I played as well as I have done with 'modern technology' at any time in recent years but the other 12-holes put me out of business score-wise. Isn't that REAL golf?

[Ivan Morris]

Finally, Perry Somers is the most stylish golfer I have ever seen. When he applauded one of my shots that he just happened to see, I was chuffed! Unfortunately, my good play suddenly evaporated a few holes later.

[chico]

we had 2 members play in a recent medal using pre 1934 hickories!
Sadly they both no returned and wont tell how they really got on!!

[Ryan]

Great featurette. The choice of Enya is a bit clichéd though

[Chris]

Do you have to use old balls? Or just old clubs?

[ol Harv]

Good stuff. I'm on an email list for an association that holds monthly events and sadly it looks like they only get between 12 and 18 participants at some really good courses throughout NC. Have never done it but I'm intrigued and enjoy hearing about people that do this.

[Ivan Morris]

Go for it, Harv! At least give it a try. Hickorites = An eccentric tribe of nomadic, golfing warriors that eschews modern developments, preferring to commune with nature and the way golf was always intended - using imagination and creativity rather than technology.
If their beloved, harmless pastime is cried down by some 21st century whippersnapper who hits an aerodynamically engineered ball nigh on 400-yards they can become very agitated. Mostly though, hickorites are kind hearted, placid and friendly souls that will allow you to sample their beloved weapons. There are no limits on the ball one uses but a 'soft, low-compression ball' is preferable.

[dgs]

My introduction to the game was with hickories, so many moons and strokes ago. Still have a mid-iron, which I should take out with me one of these days.
The Wilson Duo ball would probably be a good fit for anyone interested, comes in both 40 and 50 compression.

[Ludell Hogwaller]

Thanks for posting this, Geoff.

I especially like the "click" as opposed to the cartoonish FX clank noise.

[OWGR Fan]

Is this the course that Geoff played a year or two back with Huggan, Townsend, et al?

[Michael]

Fantastic Geoff. Thanks for that.

[KLG]

@OWGR: I think that was Kingarrock.

[OWGR Fan]

@KLG... Thanks.

[mh.morrow@sky.com]

The Scotsman article is very enjoyable, the family still remembers the actions of the Musselburgh crowd! St Andrews folk must be
more refined!!!!!

[redneck]

Completely ridiculous. Do these guys role play at Renassaince Fairs too?

[mh.morrow@sky.com]

Redneck What is'completely ridiculous' is riding a cart and using aids then having the nerve to say you are playing golf.

[Mike Stevens]

Redneck. Don't knock it until you try it. This is not a costume ball. These events are held on courses that have not changed for hundreds of years. Played the way they were designed to be played. People like you don't get it and probably never will. Sad actually.

[GolfFan]

Don't forget that this is the first Hickory World Open since Ralph Livingston's passing. I hope that someone had a memorial for him, either silence or perhaps more appropriately a minute's applause.

RIP my friend

[Lionel Freedman]

This years World Hickory is to be played on the 1st and 2nd October at "The Historic Links at Montrose Medal Course" Which last celebrated its 450 years anniversary.Full details are about to go on the website.An opportunity to play golf as it once was. on the course of the 5th oldest club.