Newsletter of the Society of Hickory Golfers • Autumn 2012 • www

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Newsletter of the Society of Hickory Golfers • Autumn 2012 • www.hickorygolfers.com
Down the
Fairway...
from the
President
I
want to extend a hearty welcome to the
46 new members of the SoHG. We’re
delighted that you have elected to join our
group of hickory golf enthusiasts and look
forward to seeing you at future tournaments.
The Mid Pines Hickory Open was our
final sanctioned tournament for 2012. Roger
Andrews maintained consistent play all
through the season to earn enough points
to secure this year’s Championship Series
Trophy. Max Hollon won the Senior Division
with another strong finish.
This was the second year of the SoHG’s
Championship Series sponsored by Mountain
Valley Spring Water. We saw an increase of
more than 40 percent in the number of players who participated in at least one of the
CS tournaments. Next year’s schedule will be
announced in the near future and, with the
changes that are planned, we look forward to
even greater numbers competing in the series.
The tournaments are a wonderful opportunity to renew old friendships and make new
acquaintances of people who have caught the
“bug” for hickory golf.
During the awards ceremony at Mid Pines,
Bill Engelson was announced as this year’s
recipient of the Mike Brown Award. Bill’s
dedication and passion for hickory golf are
recognized by all Society members who have
had the pleasure of meeting him. His work
on the SoHG board and executive committee, along with his founding of the Carolina
Hickory Golf Association, makes him a worthy honoree. Job well done, Lang Willie.
2012 was a successful year for the SoHG.
A lot of the programs that have been initiated
and completed would not have been possible
a wee nip
Autumn 2012
Editor – James Davis
Contributors
Isao Abe, Gordon Beggs, Bob Bieszka, John Fischer III,
Four Degrees, Pete Georgiady, Roger Hill, Max Hollon,
Randy Jensen, Tom Johnson, Mike Just, Connor Lewis,
Doug Marshall, Kevin Mendik, Hamp Munsey,
Mungo Park, Brian Schuman, Greg Smith, Mike Stevens
The Wee Nip is the printed newsletter of the Society of
Hickory Golfers. It is published twice yearly.
Articles, comments, correspondence are gratefully
accepted, though publication is not guaranteed.
Address all correspondence to:
Editor, Wee Nip
338 Gladstone Ave. SE
E. Grand Rapids, MI 49506 USA
or via e-mail to: [email protected]
For information about
the Society of Hickory Golfers,
visit the website at: www.hickorygolfers.com
Copyright © SoHG 2012
society of hickory golfers
without the help of our primary sponsor, Mountain
Valley Spring Water. We also are most grateful to
Belfor Property Restoration for its sponsorship of
the Southern 4 Ball, which very much helped us
promote and conduct that event. As always, many
thanks to Tad Moore Golf, Louisville Golf and
Woodford Reserve Distillery who were there to
help with the U.S. Hickory Open.
The support of all of these companies is greatly
appreciated.
I offer a great deal of thanks on behalf of the
SoHG to all those who volunteered their time and
energy this year. Hearty congratulations to all of
the winners of this year’s events and thanks to all
who participated.
To all the members of the SoHG, have a Joyous
Holiday Season and Happy New Year.
Chris
Deinlein,
President
Society of
Hickory Golfers
SoHG Board of Directors
2013
President – Chris Deinlein
Membership Secretary – Roger Hill
Treasurer – Mark Wehring
Secretary – Bob Caston
Board Members
Rob Ahlschwede, Bob Caston, Chris Deinlein,
Matt Dodds, Jay Harris, Roger Hill,
Tad Moore, Breck Speed, Mark Wehring
sohg executive committee
Chair
Chris Deinlein – [email protected]
Long Range Planning
Breck Speed – [email protected]
Equipment
Rob Ahlschwede – [email protected]
Events
Hamp Munsey – [email protected]
Marketing and Communications
Matt Dodds – [email protected]
Membership
Roger Hill – [email protected]
A greeting card
from a phograph
taken by Ralph
Livingston III.
from the editor
T
his issue reads almost like a hickory
golf travelogue, taking us to Finland, Scotland, Argentina and Japan.
From the Scottish Hickory Championship to the World Hickory Open, players
from the U.S. share their experiences and
observations.
Ohio teaching pro Shawn Auguston, an
American veteran of the war in Iraq, shares
his story about hickory golf on page 23.
There’s more on gutty golf, too, as several players/tournament directors discuss
the merits of currently available gutty balls.
One surprise came in the form of a hefty
parcel from Japan. Inside were numerous
carefully wrapped photographs, magazines
and photocopies from Isao Abe, a Japanese
hickory player who wrote, in careful English, looking up words as he wrote, about
his enthusiasm for hickory golf. Mr. Abe
owns “The Nostalgic Golf,” a shop of golf
collectibles and memorabilia and clearly
has some fun with the sport. I hope we can
encourage him, and a few friends, to join us
for one of the U.S. tournaments.
Another bit of fun was tracking down
the right nomenclature for the photo of
a club provided by the USGA to accom-
2
International
Lionel Freedman – [email protected]
pany John Fischer III’s article on Vardon’s
clubs. Pete Georgiady, that font of hickory
wisdom, had the answers.
May the winter be mild wherever you
live and golf with good friends be ever at
hand.
See you on the course.
Jim Davis
on the cover
This edition’s cover features the top portion of a nearly 8-foot tall banner that was
prepared for display in an exhibit of Dr.
Gary Wiren’s golf collection at a museum
in Delray Beach, Fla. More than 2,000
images were reviewed to build the display
that represents many different faces of
modern hickory golf.
And on the back cover, an assortment of photographs from this issue’s
feature stories. Clockwise from upper left:
Japanese sushi chef Mr. Murata looks
over a couple of pre-1900 clubs; U.S.
players at the World Hickory Open; Isao
Abe in Japan; Jorgen Isberg on the practice green in Gullane, Scotland; the 10th
hole on Gullane No. 1; meditating before
a round of golf in Japan; signposts in
Gullane; and, in the middle, Japan’s No. 1
hickory golfer, Isao Abe.
autumn 2012
Andrews caps winning
year with CS trophy;
Hollon is Senior champ
T
he season ending Mid Pines event
at Southern Pines, N.C. experienced
one of the largest hickory golf fields to
date, perhaps a record for this type of
event outside earlier GCS nationals which
may have come close, if not over. The
total was 105 players, and this after a
handful of cancellations, some caused by
Hurricane Sandy.
SoHG President Chris Deinlein reports
that the mornings were cool, but the days
were just right for hickory golf. “It was
great,” he said. “We had people from all
around the country, Canada and from
Scotland.”
On Friday evening, a large group gathered in the pub at the Mid Pines clubhouse
to raise a toast to departed friends Ralph
Livingston III and Frank Boumphrey. Two
great golfing spirits whose wisdom, friendship and passion for hickory golf will long
be remembered.
There was some grumbling about
bumpy greens, as they had been recently
aerated, still the overall course was in fine
shape. Any sting caused by errant putts
may have been ameliorated by a wee nip
courtesy of Rick Schmidt whose large
bottle of Glenmorangie on the 11th tee
was well received.
At stake during the competition was the
trophy for the Championship Series. Several players were in the running, though
Roger Andrews came through with solid
play to nip Richard Bullock and Tony
Smarrelli for the prize.
Andrews, of Jenks, Okla., who won
the Iowa Hickory Classic and the Homesteader tournament in Beatrice, Neb., felt
he was bit too aggressive at Mid Pines,
finishing out of the top four. Still, it was
enough to capture the CS trophy. It had
been a challenging season, he said, with
great competition.
“I think that the most fun that I had
was either winning the Southern 4-Ball
with Joe Hollerbach, or trying as hard as
I could to catch Richard in the Heart of
America championship after he had posted
a terrific 68 in the first round. I couldn’t
catch him, by the way.”
Andrews also noted that, thinking he
autumn 2012
was out of the running,
he got a bit too casual
with a birdie putt on the
17th hole at the U.S.
Hickory Open this year.
“It just kissed the lip,
but didn’t fall,” he said.
photos/courtesy jan tellstrom
“Then I birdied 18
roger andrews, left, captured the 2012 Championship Series title. Max
Hollon, right, took the Senior title with year-long steady play.
only to find out that I
finished one shot out of
pre-1900 golf this next year.
a playoff with Tony and
Ben (Hollerbach). I don’t know if I could
As for Mid Pines, Rick Woeckener (Fredhave had success in the playoff against
those two great players, but, oh, how fun it ericksburg, Va.) finished first with a 150
total followed by Tony Smarrelli of Pinewould have been to try.
hurst at 154. Ted Kopec (Niceville, Fla.)
“In both the Mountain Valley Chamtook Open net honors with 138, followed
pionship and at Mid Pines I had two
by Mike Heller (Madison, Wisc.) at 142.
competitors help me a bit with my game –
In the Senior division, Ken Holtz (Sun
Richard Bullock with my swing, and Tony
City
West, Ariz.) won with 154, followed
Smarrelli with my putting. Now what
by
Rusty
Wells of Pinehurst at 159. In the
other sport will you find your competitors
Senior
net
division, Ron Dunn (Guelph,
actually caring enough to help?”
Ontaria, Canada) won the day with 135
Another player who did well was Max Hol- followed by Max Hollon at 136 in a tie
with James Clawson (Charlottesville, Va.).
lon who won the CS Senior title.
For more results, check the TournaHollon, from Evansville, Ind., said it
ment
Results page on the SoHG website at
had been an “interesting, and rewarding,
www.hickorygolfers.com.
season.”
He said he loves playing golf with the
many people he’s met, and with his son,
Chris, at the Southern 4-Ball. “That was
the first time we played a hickory tournament together, and it was a thrill to have
him as a partner.”
Hollon said his toughest event was the
U.S. Hickory Open, partly for the challenging course, but more for the heat. He
took the Senior Open title at the USHO
and began to think he had a chance to win
the CS Senior title.
“Bill Sewell and I were almost tied in
the point total,” he said. “Bill is an accomplished player as well as a gentleman,
and we both knew the series would go to
the person who played the best for the last
two events.”
After the Belvedere Hickory Open, he
focused on his short game and paying
attention to the shot at hand. And, like
Andrews’ swing and putting tips, the work
paid off. Beyond his success in the CS
series, Hollon said he’d like to play more
3
Lang Willie is 2012
Mike Brown honoree
Bill “Lang
Willie”
Engelson of
Pinehurst was
awarded the
2012 Mike
Brown honor
for his many
years of hickory golf promotion, both as a
member of the
SoHG board
and for his founding and development of the Carolina Hickory Golf
Association, one of the country’s
most robust hickory playing groups.
www.hickorygolfers.com
Handicaps and ESC
news, notes,
correspondence
Philadelphia Cricket
Club to host 2013 NHC
Peter Georgiady, organizer of the
National Hickory Championship, has announced that the 16th edition of the NHC
is scheduled for June 6-8 at the Philadelphia Cricket Club’s (PCC) historic St.
Martins Course.
It is a bittersweet move for Georgiady
who had formed a wonderful relationship
with the Lewis Keller family, former owners of the Oakhurst Links, for nearly 15
years the home of the NHC.
“Over the years since 1998 the NHC
has been the mother ship for competitive
hickory golf in America,” Georgiady said.
“Our memories and friendships made in
White Sulphur Springs will never fade
and we look forward to working with the
new stewards of Oakhurst, the Greenbrier
Resort.”
Georgiady added that he looks forward
to returning to Oakhurst for future hickory
golf events.
The Cricket Club is the oldest country
club in the United States, founded in 1854.
All American moves
to Rock Island Arsenal
Golf Club in 2013
Connor Lewis, tournament director for
the All American Hickory Open, has announced that the tournament will be held
May 17-18 at the Rock Island Arsenal
Golf Club in Rock Island, Ill.
Lewis, who hopes to develop a rota
of AAHO courses, said the Rock Island
course is on an island in the middle of
the Mississippi River with a history that
goes back to the Civil War. The country’s
second-oldest munitions factory is on the
island as is its second oldest war museum.
As for the rota, Lewis says, “There has
not been a decision how many courses will
be included in the Open Rota, but we will
have as many as three over the next three
years starting with the 2013 AAHO. The
society of hickory golfers
The St. Martins Course, laid out in 1897
by Willie Tucker, hosted the 1907 and
1910 U.S. Open Championships as an 18hole layout. It has since been reduced to
nine holes, four of which remain virtually
untouched from those Opens. “The course
has recently undergone a restoration to
older conditions, perfect for hickory play,
by architect Keith Foster,” Georgiady said.
The NHC format and the ThursdaySaturday schedule developed over the past
six Championships will be maintained.
The Cricket Club is excited to partner
with the NHC to host this prestigious
championship one week before the USGA’s U.S. Open Championship at nearby
Merion Golf Club.
“Just over 100 years ago, the hallowed
grounds of Philadelphia Cricket Club hosted the finest golfers of the era to compete
in the U.S. Open not once, but twice,” said
Tim Muessle, general manager and COO
of the PCC. “How fitting that we would
host this great event that uses the same
equipment that was used back in 1910. At
PCC, our members love our traditions and
history. The whole club is very excited to
welcome the NHC to PCC.”
idea is a simple one, I want to take gutty
golf to new locations. I want our players
to enjoy different venues and I want new
communities to grow gutty golf from within. I liken it to the early days of professional baseball and the days of barnstorming. My hope is to expand our numbers
by encouraging gutty golf and sharing our
history and heritage of the game.”
Lewis says that he and hickory champion Randy Jensen played a practice round
at Rock Island about two months ago.
Jensen, he said, declared it to be “a perfect
gutty course.” Many original bunkers are
in play and the course is well suited for the
run-up shot.
Other changes for the AAHO include
the allowing of both the McIntyre Gutty
as well as the NHC ball. Under the 1888
Rule Book of the R&A, used by the
AAHO, there were no rules prohibiting
multiple balls in a tournament, but a player
must finish the hole with the same ball. In
4
purposes, ESC should be applied to the score before you post it to the
website. That way, your handicap index for tournament scores is, as
the USGA says, “...more representative of a player’s potential.”
T
hroughout the year, the SoHG website receives dozens of
inquiries. One about the use of “Equitable Stroke Control”
for managing one’s handicap index seemed important enough that
the SoHG board requested it be shared with all members.
The original question was a simple one: “Should I use ESC
when I post scores, both tournament and regular rounds?”
The answer is: ONLY when you are posting handicap scores,
NOT when you are turning in your scorecard.
Hamp Munsey, SoHG Tournament Chair, shared the pertinent
section from the USGA Handicap Manual, below. “We should
use these rules to post all scores, including tournament scores,”
Munsey says.
These rules are available on the Internet at: http://www.usga.
org/Rule-Books/Handicap-System-Manual/Rule-04/
photo/duncan pearson
7th hole, st. martins course
This aerial photo of the 7th at the Philadelphia
Cricket Club’s St. Martins Course is courtesy of
photographer Duncan Pearson.
Georgiady will share additional details
as they are available. NHC contestants
from prior years will be provided further
e-mail notifications with entry and accommodation information.
To see a video about the history of the
St. Martins course, visit the following
link: http://www.philacricket.com/Default.
aspx?p=DynamicModule&pageid=305411
&ssid=192328&vnf=1
theory a player would be able to switch the
style of ball between holes to fit the needs
of the shot.
The All American will provide each
player with a bound version of the 1888
R&A Rule Book and customized score
cards with no mention of “par.”
New trophies are being considered
for the outright winners of the Open and
Senior Open Divisions; trophies that they
will be allowed to keep.
Finally, Lewis says he is planning a
West Coast visit for the 2014 AAHO.
“The All American is a tournament
that was founded in the Midwest and will
continue to be played on pre-1900 Midwest courses,” he says. “But in the hope
to expand the game of gutty golf we will
play the 2014 AAHO in the West.”
He notes that he is exploring different
venues, including the Gearhart Golf Links
in Gearhart, Oregon, founded in 1892.
autumn 2012
To use the table above, you’ve first got to figure out your
course handicap on the course you are playing. That involves a
bit of math involving your current established handicap index and
the Slope Rating of the course (formula below). Once that’s done
you’re all set.
Let’s say, for example, that your handicap is 18. During a
recent tournament you had an unfortunate series of incidents that
left you with a 10 on one hole. That’s what you put down on the
scorecard and that’s what you turn in at the tournament.
Later, when you prepare to post the tournament score to establish your tournament handicap index, you would use the ESC
table to discern that the 10 you shot on that blasted hole should
be counted no more than 7. With a handicap of 18 (per the chart
above), you can post no more than a 7 for any given hole to establish and maintain a tournament (or regular) handicap index.
From the USGA:
4-3. Equitable Stroke Control
All scores for handicap purposes, including
tournament scores, are subject to the application
of Equitable Stroke Control (ESC). This mandatory
procedure reduces high hole scores for handicap
purposes in order to make handicaps more representative of a player’s potential ability.
A handicap determined from scores to which
ESC has not been applied may not be termed a
Handicap Index.
ESC is used when a player’s actual or most
likely score exceeds a maximum number, based
on the table below, for the player’s Course Handicap from the tees played. (For nine-hole Equitable
Stroke Control table, See Section 10-5c.)
Course Handicap Formula
So, are you ready? Here we go.
To calculate a course handicap you take your handicap index, multiply that by the Slope Rating of the tees
you are playing and divide that by the Standard Slope
Rating, which is 113. That will give you your handicap
for the course you are playing (round to the nearest whole number). Unless you’re a real math whiz, a
handy calculator will help. Most smart phones have
such an app. And, most courses have a chart of these
numbers posted in the locker room.
One player asked whether ESC should be applied BEFORE
turning in his tournament scores. Please don’t do that. You turn
in to the tournament director exactly what you shot, with no ESC
or other manipulation applied. Later, however, for handicap index
Welcome, new
SoHG members!
Welcome one and all! (If your name
was overlooked, please let us know
and we’ll correct the oversight in the
next newsletter.)
Philip Barber, Minneapolis, Minn.
Jim Bernhold, Minster, Ohio
King Bond, Elberta, Ala.
R. Scott Bowles, Temple Terrace, Fla.
Beau Boyd, Selma, Ala.
autumn 2012
John Breslow, Scottsdale, Ariz.
John Buraceski, Burlington, Conn.
William (Buddy) Carpenter, Louisville, Ky.
Jef Carr, Boras, Va.
Michael Cline, St. Augustine, Fla.
Gary Cole, Sarasota, Fla.
Jim Conine, Dallas, Texas
Dave Dickman, Leesburg, Va.
Gregg Dress, Omaha, Neb.
Thomas Dunne, Mamaroneck, N.Y.
Bill Ellington, Riverview, Mich.
Joe Frey, Bryn Mawr, Pa.
James Gels, Charlevoix, Mich.
Lyle Graham, Louisville, Ky.
Michael Harmon, Beaufort, S.C.
Pete Hittle, Sioux City, Iowa
Michael Hobson, Stafford, Va.
Dave Hough, Wheaton, Ill.
Christopher Hufnagel, Ada, Mich.
Tom Irving, Cicero, Ind.
Denny Lane, East Peoria, Ill.
Mark Larson, Rushford, Minn.
Kevin Lynch, East Aurora, N.Y.
Jurgen Muller, Zurich, Switz.
Larry Pinchback, Oakland, Mich.
Glen Rapoport, West Hartford, Conn.
Parker Reeves, Elkton, Va.
Don Rinehart, New River, Ariz.
5
Rob Robbins, Newland, N.C.
Paul Royka, Lunenburg, Mass.
Shelley Russell, Marquette, Mich.
Robert Schosser, Greenville, N.C.
Michael Shiff, Parkland, Fla.
Steve Simer, Cottage Grove, Wisc.
Grant Smith, New Albany, Ohio
Claes Svahn, Goteborg, Sweden
William Tanner, Dunfermline, Fife,
Scotland
Jim White, Prospect, Ky.
Randy White, Tomahawk, Wisc.
Chris Williams, Alpharetta, Ga.
David Wylupek, Lasalle, Ont., Canada
www.hickorygolfers.com
Harry Vardon…
vardon cleek
This photo comes to us courtesy of the USGA and Rob
Alvarez. The label on the club in the museum gallery says:
Cleek used by Harry Vardon, 1900 U.S. Open
Made by Tom Stewart, St. Andrews, Scotland
Vardon used this cleek at Chicago Golf Club to win the
1900 U.S. Open by two strokes over fellow Englishman
J.H. Taylor.
His clubs and yours
H
by john fischer iii
arry Vardon is one of the legendary greats of golf. He
won six Open Championships and one U.S. Open in
addition to numerous other events and countless exhibition
matches and was the dominating player of his era.
Moreover, it should be noted, his victories spanned a
major equipment change with three Open Championships (1896 at Muirfield, 1898 at Prestwick and 1899
at Sandwich) and the 1900 U.S. Open at Chicago G.C.
with the gutta-percha ball, and then three more Open
Championships (1903 at Prestwick, 1911 at Sandwich
and 1914 again at Prestwick) with the rubber-core ball.
Many players adapted to equipment changes –
hickory to steel or persimmon to metal – but the difference between the old gutty to rubber core ball was a
dynamic change in the style of play and in the courses
themselves.
Like many great players, Vardon understood the swing
and, of course, the “Vardon” grip which he popularized
but did not invent (Scottish amateur champion Johnny
Laidlay has that honor), and had a keen interest in equipment.
In 1905, Vardon listed the clubs he regularly had in his
bag and cautioned that they reflected what was appropriate
for a man of his size: 5 feet 9-¼ inches tall and 11-½ stone
(161 pounds).
Club
Driver
Brassy
Brassy (more lofted)
Cleek
Iron (mongrel)
Mid-iron
Mashie (running)
Mashie (pitching)
Niblick (Logan’s)
Putter
society of hickory golfers
6
Harry Vardon Spalding Niblick (18991903) on display at the USGA headquarters in Far Hills, N.J.
photo courtesy usga/john mummert
mashie in my bag, but this has to a large
extent taken the place of it.”
For those starting out in golf, Vardon
suggested six basic clubs – driver, brassy,
cleek, iron, mashie, and putter. The inclu-
LengthWeight
(inches) (ounces)
4212¾
4212½
42
12½
3713½
37
15
36½
15¼
36½
15¼
36½
15¼
37
19
33½15
Vardon noted, “It will be seen that I have what I call a mongrel iron in my bag, and by that I mean a club which does not
conform exclusively to the idea of any other club with a definite
name of its own. Some mongrel clubs are often very excellent
things, and this one of mine has become a great favourite. It
was given to me once by an American gentleman, and it might
be described as being a cross between a mid-iron and a driving iron, and is very powerful. At one time I carried a driving
photo courtesy of the USGA
vardon niblick
autumn 2012
vardon driver and brassie
This photo of Vardon’s driver and brassie are
courtesy of the British Golf Museum.
autumn 2012
sion of the brassy instead of a spoon or
wooden cleek, suggested the conditions of
courses at the beginning of the last century,
conditions that demanded a club with a
heavy sole to cut through heavy lies and get
the ball airborne.
His comments on the mashie also reflect
on course conditions: “The mashie-iron is
another kind of club which has become a
favourite with many players. As its name
indicates, it is an established kind of mongrel, generally with a deep face and the loft
of an iron club. It is a powerful club, and
is useful for many shots, and especially for
play from rough and grassy lies and from
long grass.” The grassy lies and long grass
referred to were frequently in the fairway.
For the beginner, Vardon suggested
buying clubs one at a time, as he “fancies,”
with the thought that over time, while there
may be some inadequate clubs selected,
“occasionally it will happen that a veritable
treasure is discovered in this haphazard
manner.”
Vardon also warned new players not to
select a set of clubs from a department or
sporting goods store since the result would
be a set “poor in themselves and quite
unsuited for his purpose.” Perhaps ahead of
his time, Vardon suggested a custom fitting
by a golf professional based on the player’s
height, build and reach.
With respect to the driver, Vardon suggested against a shaft too whippy and
erring on the side of stiffness because,
while a shaft with whip may produce a
longer drive, “when the stroke is not made
perfectly there is a much greater tendency
to slice with a supple shaft than a stiff shaft
7
one, and the disadvantage of the former are
especially pronounced on a windy day.”
As for the brassy, Vardon suggests the
same shape head as the driver, but a little
smaller, and with a shaft the same length as
the driver (see the chart detailing Vardon’s
clubs with both the driver and the brassy
having 42-inch shafts). In addition, the
driver and brassy should have the same lie
angle, and the swing with the brassy should
be the same as that with the driver.
With respect to the mashie, Vardon suggests carrying two different ones, “one for
pitching the ball well up with very little run
to follow [which] will have a deep face,
will be of medium weight, and be very stiff
in the shaft... and will also have plenty of
loft on it. The other one, for use chiefly
in running up to the hole, will have a
straighter face, but will otherwise be much
the same.”
Vardon realized the vagaries of the game
and golf’s mental side and suggested keeping an extra driver and brassy as reserve
clubs to be used when play falters, noting,
“of course it is not the fault of the club, but
I think that nearly everyone gets more or
less tired of playing the same implement,
and at length looks upon it with familiar
contempt.”
Vardon was not so keen on the niblick
noting only that “it must be strong, heavy,
and well fitted.”
Noting two new clubs being introduced
– the “sammy” described as “a sort of
specially lofted cleek,” and the “jigger,” a
narrow-bladed iron with a heavy sole, and
see VARDON, page 8
www.hickorygolfers.com
VARDON
continued from page
7
good for running shots, Vardon commented
that “it takes time and experience for
players to find out their needs in regard to
them.” He carried neither club in his bag.
Chick Evans, whose career overlapped
that of Vardon, carried three putters in
his bag because he was a poor putter and
wanted to be able to switch when one failed
him. Vardon frequently carried two, but for
different reasons: he wanted a putting cleek
for shorter putts and a wooden head or aluminum putter for approaching putts because
they required less effort in stroking the ball
longer distances.
Vardon gave few details on his putters
and noted “there is an infinite variety and
a new one invented almost every month
[and] I believe in a man playing with just
that kind that he has most confidence in and
which he fancies suits him best.” In many
ways those thoughts are valid today.
Vardon’s style, at least with his putting
cleek was to putt from a crouch, bent over
at the waist and with his knees bent also.
He suggested no particular style of putting
except that which suits the player best.
He believed the right hand controlled the
putt and the left wrist should be held more
loosely than the right which is contrary
to modern instruction that decrees the left
wrist should not break down.
At times Vardon used his mashie for
putting, again giving an idea of course
conditions, but he also felt he could reduce
overspin with the mashie.
Vardon did not believe in using the same
stroke on all putts. For example, on a putt
with a good deal of break left to right, he
suggests cutting across the ball so that it
spins against the break allowing a straighter
putt with less borrow. He notes that the cut
putt requires “much practice,” probably a
great understatement.
Vardon was the dominant player of his
time but his thoughts about club selection
and their use stamp him as a golfer for all
time. Much of his commentary is as apt
today as it was more than 100 years ago.
A parting comment from Vardon that
all hickory players can appreciate: “I like
to see a golfer play with bright irons, and
shafts that give evidence of tender and affectionate care.”
Harry Vardon quotes are from “The
Complete Golfer”, 1905
society of hickory golfers
news, notes,
correspondence
Cleek or jigger –
a club by any other name...
While working on this story, John Fischer
III wrote to both the British Golf Museum and
the USGA for permission to use a photograph
of such Vardon clubs as they might own.
Both responded, the USGA’s Rob Alvarez
photographing what that musuem’s label
says is a Vardon cleek.
While Fischer and Alvarez were thus engaged, your editor secured additional photos
of Vardon clubs from the USGA’s photo archive. One was a niblick, the other, described
as a jigger, showed the reverse of a clubhead
that looked very close to the face that Alvarez
photographed. These photos were taken by
John Mummert in 2007.
A couple things occured to your editor,
alarming in itself, but nonetheless; first, there
was the discrepancy in the terminology – a
jigger in 2007 and a cleek in 2012. Second,
the “jigger/cleek” bore no resemblance to a
cleek, with the classic narrow and long face,
familiar to your editor. In fact, he posited
sagely, it looked like a mashie niblick. Third,
as Fischer noted in his article, Vardon is said
never to played a jigger
The great man of hickory lore, Pete Georgiady, was consulted. After considered lucubration, the sage produced several photos
from his digital storehouse. Thus he spake:
“I think that you can tell from the photo I sent
that there were some non-traditional shaped
cleeks. I remember seeing one or two that
were almost shaped like sickles – somewhat
like the Vardon example you sent. The first of
those came out in about 1891 and that would
certainly fit the rise of Vardon. It was patterned after a mussel shell so its shape would
be very similar to the club in the photo.”
Georgiady was suprised by the lack of
a pipe mark on the club described by the
USGA as a Stewart. “How would you know?”
he asked. He noted, kindly, that the USGA
staff is getting better at cataloging clubs, but
still has some distance to go when it comes
to exact labeling. “They do a lot, but they
can’t be pros at everything,” Georgiady says.
Even the hickory club experts of today are
stumped by this or that example that crops
up in a collection or on the display tables.
“AHA! Look what I just found in my
‘unsorted’ photo file,” Georgiady came
back with. “The same darn club marked
Hutchison/N. Berwick. And two more round
sole cleeks – the O’Neil club is a MacGregor
and the Forgan was obviously made as a
competitor to the Morris.”
So, a jigger became a cleek and your editor
is brought up to speed on the existence of
round-sole cleeks.
Can the world now rest at peace?
8
jigger and cleek
The club at right was photographed by John Mummert
of the USGA in 2007 and
called a jigger. The photo
below is of the same club,
recently photographed by
Rob Alvarez, and is now
labled a Vardon cleek (see
caption, previous page).
Book documenting Argentine
golf restored for posterity
above photos
courtesy of
the usga
morris patent round sole cleek
This photo was sent by Pete
Georgiady to confirm that early
cleeks existed in this form.
a rich history of Argentinian
golf, dating from the earliest
formation of a Championship
Committee in 1897. He knew
at once that here was a significant find in the shared history rare book. The restored volume. The Open Championship
Committee of the River Plate, dates back to the early 1900’s and
of golf in Argentina and in
Europe, deserving of attention is a rare glimpse of how golf developed in Argentina. The tournament would go on to be the Argentine Open and is one of the
and research.
oldest national golf open championships. Previous winners include
The book, however, was in Angel Cabrera, Craig Stadler and Roberto De Vicenzo.
delicate shape, its pages badly
he story started when I visited my worn, some of the cover turnfather’s cousin, now deceased,
ing to powder. It needed attention and soon.
in East HampPark negotiated
ton, Long Island,
with Argentine
where he had been
authorities,
born, the son of
in particular
John Archibald
Dr. Guillermo
Park, Willie Jr.’s
Rosa, a golf
brother,” Mungo
historian, to
Park says. “That
bring the book
was really the start
to Britain
before restoration. The book was nearly lost
of my historical
where expert
before Mungo Park arranged for its restoration.
delving, which
restoration
eventually lead
could be
At a presentation of the book on July 19,
to the finding
conducted.
at the Open C hampionship in Lytham, to
and restoration
Moira Buick,
AAG’s Lawrie, Park said “I am very happy
of this extraordia specialist
that we were able to protect this rare book.
nary book, which
book and paper It offers a rare insight into the growth of the
records the begin- going home. Mungo Park, left, presents the restored volume conservator in
game at that time. It is of personal signifito Mark Lawrie, director of the Argentine Golf Association.
nings of golf in
Bristol, was
cance for my family and I am happy to see
Argentina, itself a
consulted.
that the heritage of the game in Argentina is
fascinating topic.”
Financial assistance was generously con- now preserved for future generations.”
After that visit, Park, in 2007, traveled to tributed by the R&A Heritage Committee,
Park thanked the R&A for its “long reBuenos Aires to celebrate the centenary of
through Angela Howe, director of the Britcord of protecting the heritage of the game”
San Andres Golf Club, the course that his
ish Golf Museum, and Howard Schickler,
and Masterworks Golf, which specializes
grandfather, Mungo Park, had designed in
owner of Masterworks Golf.
in rare golf photographs, for its generous
that city in 1907; the same year the older
By July 2012, the book was fully resupport of the restoration.
Park had won his second Argentine Open
stored and re-covered in its original form,
(then referred to as the Open Golf Champi- retaining and binding in as much of the
Park, who now lives in Gloucestershire,
onship of the River Plate). During his visit,
original material as was possible. This inis a golf club house architect, golf historian
Park learned of the existence of a book
cludes all of the original manuscript pages,
and occasional contributor to the British
that chronicled the earliest days of golf in
the end papers and the re-use of the original Golf Collector Society’s “Through The
Argentina. Mark Lawrie, director of the Ar- embossed cloth cover. It is now safely
Green.” The Wee Nip is also honored to
gentine Golf Association (AAG), arranged
returned to Argentina. Digitally recordings
share Park’s writings when they make their
an inspection of the book.
are available at the British Golf Museum
way this side of the Atlantic.
Park discovered that the book contained
for research.
Mungo Park, architect, great grandson of
Willie Park Sr., the first winner of the Open
in 1860, and the grandson of Mungo Park
Jr., the first winner of the Argentine Open
in 1905, shared with the Wee Nip several
thoughts on the future of hickory golf in
the 2012 spring edition. For this edition,
he shares with us a glimpse of his grandfather’s history that includes a rare book and
Argentinian golf.
“T
forgan round sole cleek
According to Georgiady, a club
that was made as a competitor to
the Morris cleek above.
“the same darn club”
Identical to the USGA’s
Vardon club, this
one is marked with
Hutchison/N. Beriwck.
macgregor round sole cleek
Apparently, round sole cleeks
were not that uncommon. Not
as prolific as mashies, but several examples are out there.
autumn 2012
autumn 2012
9
www.hickorygolfers.com
news, notes,
correspondence
F
or only the second time in his hickory golfing experience, your editor
tried his hand at gutty golf at the 2012 All
American played at Downers Grove near
Chicago. The previous experience was at
the NHC in 2010 at Oakhurst Golf Links.
During each event there was much talk
about the ball, could do, couldn’t do, why
it was good, why it was bad, etc.
It is very difficult to exactly duplicate an 1880-90s golfing experience.
Equipment varies; event directors are
hard-pressed about acceptable golf clubs;
and the golf ball itself varies.
According to Pete Georgiady, whose
National Hickory Championship set the
early standard for authentic early hickory
golf, the original Oakhurst ball was made
From Greg Smith
Greg Smith of DeForest, Wisc. is a
long-time pre-1900 golfer who has played
in six NHC’s; two All American’s; and two
CB Macdonald’s.
the gutty ball
by Penfold in England. Later, when a
Japanese company bought Penfold, this
ball was no longer made. Lewis Keller,
who owned Oakhurst, then switched to
a small rubber company in the north of
England that occasionally makes balls on
special order. This was the Oakhurst ball
so familiar to later NHC players. It’s the
lively one, the so-called “putty” that can
bounce about the green. This ball will be
in play at the 2013 NHC, All American
Hickory Open and the C.B. Macdonald.
As for the “Oakhurst” ball, Georgiady
says, “I wouldn’t call the Oakhurst ball
(now marked with ‘NHC’ rather than
‘Oakhurst’) a guttie. It is more a limited
flight ball with an old-style cover pattern.
It is guttie-style, though.”
no matter what equipment or ball we use
is the friendships we develop each time
we participate.
I wish there was a way to compare to a
true gutta percha ball. Is gutta percha still
available?
(Eric Wolke says gutta percha is available
from China for about $100 a kilo – IF you
buy at least 10 kilos at a time. So, it’s out
there, but very expensive.)
Six years ago when I started playing
with hickories I played in my first gutta
percha event at Oakhurst. I had purchased
a replica gutta percha from Scotland
prior to playing at Oakhurst. At the time
Oakhurst Ball
I didn’t know there was another ball
PROs – Good distance, consistency,
{the McIntyre} until I played in the All
putts well, will spin (sometimes to
American last year.
your disadvantage), little less
The two balls have very
cost.
different characteristic.
CONs – Will break apart,
They vary in how far
hard to clean, hard to see
they travel, how they
in the grass when dirty,
putt, how they chip
can take an odd bounce
and in their durabil(due to spin).
ity.
I prefer the
McIntyre Gutty
Oakhurst ball because
PROs – Putts well
I have more experi(when new), chips well
ence with it.
(when new), consistency,
But I like the fact the
floats, looks good
all participants play
when new
the same ball at each a new name. Formerly stamped “Oakhurst,”
CONs – Hard to
event. This is an
the ball for 2013 will be stamped “NHC.”
play from the rough,
equalizer that brings
quickly goes out of round, distance is not
the competition down to skill and mental
as good, not durable, costly.
ability.
The most important part of these events
society of hickory golfers
10
Chris
McIntyre,
of the
McIntrye
Golf Co., has
documented
his style of making modern gutta percha golf balls (Wee
Nip, Autumn 2011). The four Gutty Slam
tournament directors have been listening
to their players and gathering information
about the different playing characteristics
of the available pre-1900 golf balls.
The Wee Nip asked several gutty players and tournament directors for their
analysis of these balls. Their comments
are presented here in the interest of
enlightened discourse. JD
From Randy Jensen
Randy is an eight-time NHC champ and
has long experience in various events with
the gutty ball.
Oakhurst ball
PROs – 30 yards longer than the
McIntyre, more durable, easier on the
wood head clubs, very good vintage size
and weight (1.60-inch diameter and 42
grams).
CONs – Doesn’t have the “gutty” click,
short game shots are more challenging.
Cost of a modern gutty
Eric Wolke sells his gutty balls,
made laboriously each one by
hand, at GCS trade shows for $25
each. Chris McIntyre offers gutties
at $19.95 each from his website
www.playhickory.com (cost is
lower for tournament directors
who order in volume and can then
offer the balls to their participants
at a lower cost). The 2013 “NHC”
balls from England will be offered
for about $9 each. Again, these
are estimates, actual prices may
vary a little by the time the tournaments are held.
autumn 2012
McIntyre Gutty
PROs – Great, authentic sound and feel
of “gutty” golf, easier to play on short
pitches, chips, and putting.
CONs – Poor durability (after a few
holes the out-of-round ball will not putt
true), the hard ball tends to crack vintage
wood head clubs, the ball is much shorter
in distance (about 30 yards in driver distance for longer hitters), and this ball is
larger and lighter (1.68-inch diameter and
37 grams) than the best gutty-era players
preferred.
From Mike Stevens
Mike is a long-time NHC player, golf
teacher, and hickory golf champion. He
currently serves on the SoHG board.
tles down in the fairway requiring more of
a chop swing to get it airborn, and on firm
greens it’s one bounce and “thar she goes.”
Wish I had a nickel for every shot I landed
on Number 3 green only to end up in the
thick collar beyond. If this is an example
of the “putty ball” that has been refered to,
then I see why it never became a popular
choice among elite players. Give me gutta
or give me percha, but putty – keep it on
the windowsills.
From Tom Johnson
Tom is the organizer of the Foxburg
Hickory Championship, one of the four
events in the Gutty Slam.
McIntyre ball
PROs –
Realistic look, sound and, especially,
feel. Cleans easily.
CONs – Not sure it flies as far as the
original gutties. Marks up or dents on
mis-hit shots (which is what the original
gutties did).
I have played in all NHC events. I did
not know gutta percha from maple syrup
until I showed up at Oakhurst. In the
inaugural year we played a rubbery ball
with a mesh pattern that I found to be
most enjoyable. Year two brought in the
line-scored ball, which I felt was inferior
to the mesh ball. However, as it
Oakhurst ball
was the only ball available
PROs – Does not mark up, flies further,
and everyone would
bounces and rolls farther
be using it, there was
CONs – Difficult to control on
little to complain
regular greens as it backspins more
about.
than it should (being so soft). It
My initial
does not clean easily.
experience with
the McIntyre gutty
Both balls have self correcting
was at the first All
tendencies, as I believe balls back in
American Hickory
the day would have. I am confident
Open. During the
the featheries had similar flight
the mcintyre gutty is made
of synthetic gutta percha.
practice round I
characteristics.
wasn’t sure about
Neither ball is perfect, but the
it, but the more I played it the more
McIntyre ball is closer to my perception
enjoyable it became. I found myself
of the real thing. Course conditions now
overly comparing its flight and feel to
are much different from 130 years ago, so
the Oakhurst ball in the beginning and
it is proper to monitor course length and
thought it to be to light and not carrying
set up using the McIntyre ball. Foxburg at
as far. However, when I started making
4,900 yards is just perfect. A strong test,
better contact, the ball flew just fine and I
but the rough is cut down to 3-4 inches
got satisfactory distance. I really like the
as I request, so you can get a club face on
sound of the ball coming off the club and
the ball.
it sits in the fairway nicely. It rolls very
The Oakhurst ball is a good 30 yards
nicely off the putter on the faster greens
longer off the tee, and maybe 20 yards
of Downers Grove, but I have no idea
with the irons. At Niagara-on-the-Lake
how it would move on the slower turf of
{the C.B. Macdonald}, I expect the course
Oakhurst. I suspect just fine.
to play at 4,500 yards, so using this ball
My overall assesment of the two balls is
makes it an easier play, for sure.
that only torture would make me play the
None of us play pre-1900 golf for easier
Oakhurst before the McIntyre. I have never play, we do it to re-enact the period style
liked the Oakhurst ball, but it was all we
of play.
had, so “who knew.” It sounds awful, nesOne last note – the ball I felt was the
autumn 2012
11
best for playability for the gutty events
was the original ball that the NHC used in
the 1990s. The compound was perfect, but
the Penfold and Bromford square dimple
pattern was not period.
If this ball had been a line cut style, it
would have been the best of the above,
without the longer carry, and ability to
keep clean.
Pre-1900 golf is truly a game requiring
passion, which is why the ball issue does
not die until another ball comes along,
and even then, there will be complaints.
After all we are modern humans, not
accustomed to learning to live with challenges.
From Doug Marshall
Doug is also long-time fan of gutty
golf and one of the organizers of modern
hickory golf in Canada. He is one of the
original organizers of the C.B. Macdonald
championship. Doug writes articles about
golf history and is a keen proponent of
finding the “perfect” gutty ball for pre1900 play.
The first balls were made by the Dunns,
the Gourleys, Willie Park and brothers,
Old Tom Morris and a few others.
Most balls were originally made by
hand to suit the maker. Very early in the
1850s it was discovered the ball performed much better with nickings on the
surface. By 1860 Robert Forgan initiated
a cross nicking pattern.
In the 1870s patterned molds replaced
smooth molds and eliminated the need for
hand hammering.
As to weight, until the 1880s balls were
marked with weights of 26 to 30 drams,
similar to feather balls. Thereafter the
pennyweight (1/20 oz.) was the standard
measurement with the average ball weighing about 32.
By the last days of the 19th century
individual ball makers had been replaced
by factories that could produce hundreds
of thousands of gutty balls.
Too bad. For within two years the
Haskell “Bounding Billie” came on the
scene and made the gutty ball obsolete. The last gasp of the gutty ball was
Spalding’s Vardon Flyer that Harry
Vardon used in 1901 in his tour of the
U.S. followed by his U.S. Open victory of
that year.
see GUTTY, page 12
www.hickorygolfers.com
GUTTY
float, while others will sink, because they
are heavier than the others. Floaters are
continued from page 11
too light; they leave the club quickly and
their carry is soon exhausted... Of course
The important point for we “gutty
it requires more strength to play with
reenactors” is the use of a ball that comes
a big heavy ball than a light one, and I
close to the true gutty used at the time.
would say to golfers, ‘Play with as big of
When Peter Georgiady started the NHC
a ball as you are able to manage comfortat Oakhurst he had a ball from British
ably’.
A golfer who is not a hard hitter
sources that suited the rough terrain of the
will
probably
play best with a ball that
Oakhurst layout.
floats, but a strong player will knock such
It flew well and could be counted on to
a ball out of shape in a very few strokes.”
perform as a competent player wished. A
I say that any hickory player, usually
few years later that source was gone and a
a long-time golfer, is competent enough
new ball was found. It was more rubbery
and strong enough to handle a ball heavier
but, arguably, still did the job.
than water. And I believe that such a ball
At about this time Chris McIntyre
would be the ultimate answer to our probstarted making replica balls for the 1920
lems in management of gutty events.
game. This ball has been a great success
I don’t buy the argument
and is widely used.
that we should accept the
He then began to experivery limited flight of any
ment a pre-1900 gutty repball in golf. You may
lica. After several incarbe sure that from the
nations he has come up
earliest days the Scots
with a ball that is very
certainly did not. The
close to the real deal!
gutty improved in
Except for one thing.
every decade of its
It needs enough weight
use; even Harry Vardon
so it will sink in water.
gave it up reluctantly
Here is my argument...
when the Haskell made it
Further research tells me
a competitive necessity in
that in the gutty era from the
the early 20th century.
very beginning, ball makers
gutty by eric. This ball was
made of organic gutta
Chris, you have made
did a lot of experimenting to
percha by GCS member
a really good ball. Please
produce the best ball possible.
Eric Wolke at one of that
add some weight and you
They made balls of various
Society’s trade meets.
will control the market!
sizes and weights to come
up with their ideal ball. This continued
through the 50 years of the existence of the From Mike Just
gutty ball.
Mike, owner of Louisville Golf, is a
The early makers were the best playstrong proponent of modern hickory golf as
ers in Scotland and had a great motive to
well as pre-1900 golf. His company makes
make a ball that would make them sucreplica golf clubs for each era.
cessful in the money matches that were
I have played both balls in tournament
their escape from the grinding gritty povplay. The McIntyre ball was used at the
erty of Scotland in the 19th century. Also,
C.B. Macdonald last year (2011), the past
their success in matches meant more sales two All Americans at Downer’s Grove,
of their clubs and balls.
and every year at Foxburg. The Oakhurst
Though they made balls of all sizes and ball has been in use for several years in
weights they soon figured out the type
the National Hickory Championship. Both
of ball they needed for their own use.
balls are limited flight balls that are used
Whether it was small or larger, one thing
with 19th century golf clubs (longnose
was a given – it had to have enough mass
woods and smooth face irons).
to fly in the Scottish weather as far as was
The balls are both limited flight, but
aerodynamically possible. Without quesafter that they are completely different.
tion it did not float on water.
The Oakhurst ball is soft, it does not
Here are the words of Willie Park Sr.,
damage the face of woods. It goes further.
the dominant player of the first 20 years
It is very lively around the green. I have
of the Gutty Era:
seen it hit the back of the cup and pop right
“Some balls when placed in water will
back out of the hole. It won’t cut if you
autumn 2012
12
hit it “thin,” but might break in half if you
don’t orient the ball properly on the tee.
The McIntyre ball is hard and will damage the face of a wood that doesn’t have
an insert or isn’t made from hard persimmon. It doesn’t go as far as the Oakhurst
ball. It doesn’t bounce as much after it
hits the ground, so errant shots don’t go
as far off line. I’ve never seen one bounce
out of the hole. A thin shot will definitely
crease the ball and I think they will eventually go out of round.
I’ll play whatever ball the tournament
director chooses. If we were given the
choice to use either ball in an event, I
would choose the Oakhurst ball because I
can hit it further and believe I could shoot
a lower score with it.
Which ball to use depends on your goals
for the event. If the goal is to have an event
for 19th-century clubs, either ball will do.
If you are trying to replicate gutty golf,
I think the McIntyre ball is the definite
choice. My experience with playing a real
gutta ball is limited but I have compared
the weight, size, distance, and feel of a
real gutta to both the Oakhurst ball and
the McIntyre ball and there is no doubt the
McIntrye ball is more like a real gutta.
If I was the tournament director of an
event using 19th-century clubs, my goal
would be to replicate the experience of
playing gutty golf and would use the
McIntyre ball. I would just make sure the
course was set up short enough so everyone could enjoy the experience.
All American OKs two balls
for use in 2013 event
Connor Lewis reports that
the All American Hickory Open
will allow both the NHC and the
McIntyre gutty for play in 2013.
“The decision was not made
lightly on our part and was based
on what I believe to be historically
accurate data,” he says. “The All
American’s Rule book is actually
the R&A Rule Book from 1888,
which every player in next year’s
tournament will have on hand. In
1888 the only stipulation regarding the golf ball was that you
finish the hole with the ball you
started. So, in the All American,
players will have the opportunity
to change the style of golf ball
from hole to hole.”
www.hickorygolfers.com
Gutty or Putty?
Merits to both, says All American’s tournament
director, who offers an historical perspective
by connor lewis
tournament director,
the all american hickory open
G
oing into 2013 the four tournaments representing the Gutty Slam
will give gutty lovers an opportunity to hit
two types of pre-1900 golf balls, known
now as the McIntyre and the Oakhurst
ball. In my research I have discovered
many things about both balls, but perhaps of greater interest is the division
between those who prefer the McIntyre
Gutty and those who prefer the Oakhurst
Gutty (referred to from this point on as a
“putty”). I hope this article sums up both
balls well, as I enjoy both balls for what
they give the golfer.
In addition, I hope to dispel some
misconceptions regarding these balls
by offering some commentary from our
golfing forefathers – Willie Park, C.B.
Macdonald, and Horace Hutchinson – and
actual notes from the 1898 U.S. Amateur.
First, some pros and cons:
McIntyre Gutty
PROs –
• The McIntyre Gutty is actually made
from gutta percha {it is actually a synthetic gutta percha, ed.} which was the
primary ball used during the era we now
call the gutty era (1848 to roughly 1903).
• As Harry Vardon once said, “Golf
without a click is not golf, but a waste
of time.” I shared this quote with Chris
McIntyre and I believe it appears on every
one of his golf ball boxes.
• In this golfer’s opinion, the McIntyre
gutty responds better on short game shots
and putting. It is a ball with better feel.
CONs –
• The McIntyre ball is not as long off
the tee as the Oakhurst ball.
• The McIntyre ball is not as durable
as the Oakhurst ball, not that it breaks,
rather, it can go out of round after a few
rounds of play.
• Being a lighter ball, the McIntyre ball
autumn 2012
is more apt to be effected by the wind.
In summary, the McIntyre ball is a gutty
and as such it is the ball that has better
feel for short shots and putting. The ball is
not as long off the tee nor is it as durable
as its softer counterpart.
Oakhurst Putty:
PROs –
• The Oakhurst ball is longer and in
this player’s opinion reaches the distances
players hit to at least in the mid- to late
1890s. (see quotes below)
• The ball will break; however, from
round to round it is much more durable
and keeps its shape longer than its gutty
counterpart.
• The ball is smaller and heavier, which
is why it holds up favorably in the wind.
Some contend it is easier to putt with
because of the weight and its smaller size.
• I believe that the Oakhurst ball is
easier on original long nose woods. The
fact that the Oakhurst ball is softer allows
it more “give” when struck.
CONs –
• The Oakhurst ball is much more
likely to fly on you. Every once in a
while the gutty golfer comes across
an “Oakhurst flier.” That is a shot that
seemingly springs off the face and travels
an unusually long distance, usually when
you least need it to.
• I feel that the ball’s softness is a detriment to putting.
• In Vardon’s words, the ball does not
“click.” In Hutchinson’s words, “It goes
off like a thief in the night.”
These are the pros and cons as I see
them.
Now there are people out there who
hate the Oakhurst ball and they certainly
have that right, but I disagree with those
who characterise the ball as “historically
inaccurate.” I have said as much before,
but there were balls like the Oakhurst ball
in the gutty era. One such ball was called
13
the Eclipse. I do not pretend to know
whether the two balls are identical, but try
on the following quote and tell me if this
ball sounds familiar.
“Finally there is the ball called the
Eclipse, but more commonly known
among golfers as the “putty” because it
is of softer substance than the gutta percha ball, and because putty rhymes with
gutty. It is a soft india rubbery ball, and
goes off the club with a silence of a thief
in the night. It will not carry so far as the
ordinary gutta percha, but on good running ground it will make this up on its
run. It is a very good ball in the wind, for
not soaring like a gutty, and being heavier
size for size, the wind affects it less, and
it is less susceptible to the erratic influences of toeing or heeling. It is far easier
to keep straight. It is a fine ball for putting, though it requires a harder knock to
start it, for it recovers itself from any little
roughness or obstacles it may encounter
with india-rubbery light-heartedness.
It is a very economical ball, showing
scarcely any sign after the most severe illtreatment upon the head… one could go
on driving away at an Eclipse for months,
and the face of the club looked as smooth
and innocent as if it had never seen a golf
ball.”
The Badminton Library, 1890
Horace Hutchinson
So how far were golfers hitting the
gutty in the 1800s? I believe better players were hitting the ball 200 yards. Those
who disagree reply, “Maybe in Scotland
where the fairways are hard and fast.”
Below are a couple of quotes from
this side of the pond. The first is by C.B.
Macdonald who refers to the “average”
drive and why, in 1899, players were hitting it farther than 20 years prior.
“While 20 years ago 180 yards was
considered the average length of drive
for professional champions, today 200
yards is nearer the usual distance. This
can be attributed neither to the clubs nor
to the balls. In my opinion, it is due to the
scientific manner in which every muscle
of the body is made to utilize weight and
momentum at the moment of striking the
ball.
180-200 yards is a long drive.
see LEWIS, page 18
www.hickorygolfers.com
Book Review
Member Profile
Introductions by Bernard Darwin
Roger Hill
Being an Anthology of his Writings
as Introductions to Books Mainly by Other Authors
Edited by Dick Verinder
Grand Rapids, Mich.
R
oger Hill did not come to golf early. But when he did, he
jumped in with both feet.
“My dad played a little in a company league, but I was too busy
playing every other sport when I was a kid and just wasn’t interested
in golf,” he says. Roger later played with Chuck Koscis, who was
Michigan amateur player of the century and 88 years old at the time.
“Chuck regailed us with stories of his days at Red Run (a Willie
Park Jr. course) and matches with all the greats of the day including
Sarazen and Hagen,” he says. “I knew somewhere that I had missed
out on a great thing.”
It wasn’t until he was 35 and well into his career as a commercial
photographer that Roger started golfing after a location assignment
in North Carolina with a client. “All it took was a shot or two, especially the shot over a pond to a picturesque par 3 and I was hooked,”
he says. “Lessons followed, then practice, then club membership
and later trying out hickories with Ralph Livingston. I joined the
Golf Collectors Society, played in “Hickory Hackers” and eventually helped start the SoHG when it became clear that a serious players group needed to be formed.”
Roger now plays mostly with hickories and helped form the
Michigan Hickory Tour, which meets monthly around the state.
“My wife, Christine, plays (not so much hickories) but has
encouraged my participation all along,” he says. “We have two
Abyssinian cats named Uncle Mungo and Young Willie.”
How often do you play hickories?
All the time. Play in organized Michigan events every month and
a couple of national events. Hoping to get back across the pond
next fall for the English Hickory and Grail, and my home course
in Scotland – Machrihanish.
What’s in your play set?
I collect George Nicolls so there’s mostly Nicolls. I’m experimenting with a new flanged niblick from Martin and Kirkaldy.
Here’s what’s current:
Nicoll niblick
Nicoll deep deep groove Mashie Niblick
Nicoll weak Mashie
Nicoll Braid Mashie (my first club!)
Grand Rapids Jigger
Nicoll Iron
Nicoll driving Iron
Sunderland 1 1/12 iron (aluminium)
Jack White spoon
Carnoustie driver
All my back up woods are Nicolls, but I’d rather save them than wear them out.
Favorite club?
Nicoll Zenith Driving Iron. Straight, long, best club I’ve ever
owned. Has served me very well in Scotland on links courses.
Favorite course for hickories?
Machrihanish and Troon are both fabulous with hickories. In the
U.S., probably Mid Pines.
society of hickory golfers
review by jim davis
L
Roger Hill is one of the driving forces in modern hickory
golf and a long-time golf collector.
What ball do you play?
Wilson 50 or Duo…very soft, the Duo is more durable.
Favorite hickory tournament?
Belvedere Hickory Open, followed closely by Mid Pines.
Any particular player or aspect of golf history
you especially enjoy?
Best player who never won a major but with 29 tour victories:
Mac Smith. His name was on the first club I found and I’ve
researched him almost to the point that I feel like I know him.
Best thing about hickory golf?
Everyone’s so excited about golf when playing with hickories. So
completely different than the post-mortems with modern gear.
Ideas to promote SoHG, hickory golf?
Everyone needs to bring a friend, start a regular group. Regional
groups are the way.
Most recent book on golf that you read?
I read and reread “To the Linksland” by Michael Bamberger. It’s
how I found Machrihanish.
Note: Roger is one of the original modern hickory players in the
U.S. He is a former president of the Golf Collectors Society, a
founding member of the SoHG and a member of the U.S. Hickory
Grail team. He continues to serve on the SoHG board. Roger coauthored a book with Pete Georgiady about George Nicoll. He
collects clubs and other memorabilia of Willie Park Jr. He and the
late Ralph Livingston were Mike Brown honorees in 2011.
14
autumn 2012
ike sitting down with an old friend.
That’s what it’s like to spend a little time with Bernard
Darwin. I first met the man through the Classics of Golf edition
of his “Golf Between Two Wars.” Dated though the subject was,
Darwin’s amiable prose introduced me to players and matches of
the time in a way that made me feel that this somehow mattered
and that I, for reading it, was accorded admittance to a society of
men whose pastime and whose achievements therein were worthy
of historical record.
Later, through “Golf Courses of the British Isles” and Jeff
Silverman’s wonderful anthology “Bernard Darwin on Golf,” I
moved snugly into the great writer’s embrace. I cannot read Darwin without smiling, such is his good humor, and without learning something more about my own connection to golf for, I am
pleased to admit, we share some of the same opinions with regard
to our beloved hickory sticks and our approach to the game.
I am reminded of the late Ralph Livingston III when I hear
Darwin say (I’m paraphrasing), “It takes a man many years of
diligent experimentation and research to assemble a set of clubs
that suit him. And, once having found them, should he chance to
lose one or break one, he feel’s keenly the loss of its society.”
Now comes a new anthology of Darwin’s work thanks to the
work of editor Dick Verinder. His “Introductions by Bernard Darwin” is a very welcome addition to the Darwin library. Verinder
has assembled nearly 60 pieces penned by Darwin as introductions to both his own and other books.
Here we see Darwin at his friendliest, drawing upon anecdotes
from his past and a seemingly endless familiarity with writers and
literature of his time, especially Dickens. Through personal references, memories of relatives and special places, his introductions
enlarge his authors’ characters and whet our own appetite to read
further.
The introduction to “Children and Gardens” by Gertrude
Jeykll, is a gentle work made altogether remarkable for his ability to write engagingly about the author and her devotion to the
special charms that gardens have for children. Weaving memories
of his own grandmother and a secret garden shared by boyhood
chums, Darwin showcases the sense of wonder and romance she
brings to her message.
Of course golf; several introductions, among them a piece written for Guy B. Farrar and his “The Royal Liverpool Golf Club –
A History 1869-1932. In it Darwin recounts his own experiences
at the club, Hoylake, and his admiration for its stern test of golf
– “the golf of men rigorously brought up.”
Mr. Verinder has compiled a thoughtful and noteworthy collection and we are grateful to him for the effort it took to patiently
secure the necessary approvals and permission to publish them.
His short introductions to the introductions convivially bring
us to the works as a friend would share a treasure with others.
autumn 2012
Each sets the context for the entry at hand as well, in their way, as
Darwin’s introductions did for their authors. We are given a taste,
and then entry into the larger and delicious meal to follow.
Darwin, too, was conscious of his role as a carnival barker who
remained outside the caravan while shouting “Walk Up!” for
views of the giant within.
From food – “Receipts and Relishes”, to Dickens, billiards
and fox hunting, Darwin writes with a learned, but never heavy,
touch. I love his many literary references and the casual inclusion
of Latin phrases, like a bit of spice to flavor the dish. A friend
once said that he liked to include at least one “fifty-cent word”
in every story he wrote, believing that readers could benefit from
the mental exercise of consulting a dictionary. Darwin’s Latin
phrases were not, one senses, written for this purpose, rather, they
please as bon mot references in themselves. And, really, literary
men of the day knew their Latin and Greek from school days.
Mr. Verinder’s compilation is a pleasing range of the scope of
Darwin’s writing, and of his character, as we sense, through his
introductions, his admiration and respect for the authors and their
subjects. Plus, it is pleasing to follow Darwin’s thoughts on matters
other than his beloved golf.
Introductions by Bernard Darwin
Being an Anthology of his Writings
as Introductions to Books Mainly by Other Authors
Edited by Dick Verinder
Dormy House Press, 2012
15
Enjoy this
unique
collection!
Introductions by
Bernard Darwin
Limited Edition
Foreword by Daniel Wexler
Edited by Dick Verinder
“. . . Verinder's put together a marvelous
selection from a marvelous wordsmith . . ”.
Jeff Silverman, Sports Illustrated Golf.com
 291 Pages
 Leatherette hard cover
 Hard, durable slipcase
 Beautiful vintage
photos on end sheets
Book with Slipcase
$75 plus shipping
Your order may
include a customized
inscription by the Editor.
Order online: www.DormyHousePress.com
www.hickorygolfers.com
North of 60°
links to
play
The Scottish Links at Glenlaurel
SoHG member Bob Bieszka shares an
experience of golf in Finland with that
country’s resident hickory golf proponent
Antti Paatola, and, later, on an unusual
golf course.
T
by gordon beggs
he Scottish Links at
Glenlaurel offer an
enjoyable and convenient
introduction to hickory golf. The links, which opened for
play in June 2012, are offered
as an amenity to guests of
the Glenlaurel Inn, a luxury
Scottish-themed adults only
the author putts out on one of
country inn located about 40
Glenlaurel’s sand greens.
miles southeast of Columbus
in the scenic Hocking Hills
region of Ohio. Rooms in the five cottages, eight crofts and manor
house all have private hot tubs and gas fireplaces. The restaurant
provides breakfast as well as six- and seven-course dinners. The property encompasses Camusfearna Gorge, which features
a waterfall, cliffs, caves, and an extensive hiking trail.
The links, which have been established for hickory play only,
were the inspiration of Greg Leonard, the managing partner, who
is a golfer, but had not previously played hickories. He retained
Hurdzan/Fry Environmental Course Design to establish an ecoconscious course on the large rolling meadow at the front of the
property. What emerged was an eight-hole executive length links
course with sand tees and greens. The course is a traditional design laid to the topography with earth moved only to establish tee
boxes and greens. The course plays at an effective length of 1,572
yards with the use of balls produced by Point Five Golf to travel
60 percent of normal distance. In addition, the course convention
of using only hickory irons assists in creating a playable scale.
The eight holes are laid out in two circuits. One through five
are shorter holes while six to eight are a bit longer. The first
hole plays sharply uphill to a semi-blind green. The second goes
downhill to a green with a helpful collection area. The third
plays over a valley bisected by a wee burn. The fourth is a short
connecting hole. The signature fifth requires a 50-yard carry over
high rough and then uphill in two stages, crossing a low stone
wall fronted by a gravel road. The sixth is gently curving with a
wide fairway. The seventh parallels the road at the front of the
property with deep rough just right of the line to the green and a
bailout area to the left. Eight is a sweeping long hole that heads
back toward the manor house. Holes one, three, four and six are
one shot length; the rest require two.
Each tee box has a rustic wood bench. The sand greens are
fairly small and relatively level with the flag fixed in the center. The fairways are ample and undulate, having sufficient
tilt to create interesting shots. At the same time they are easily
walkable by a senior player. Grasses are meadow grass with an
over-seed of bluegrass and fescue. Grass heights vary from an
inch or so on the fairways to some serious hay in the rough. The
course has a natural appearance with wildflowers adding a splash
of color. There is a wire on poles at one side of the course that
society of hickory golfers
by bob bieszka
detracts a bit, but is not in play. The overall design is quite pleasing, which should not come as a surprise as the lead architect, Dr.
Michael Hurdzan, counts among his credits Erin Hills, which has
been chosen as the site for the 2017 U.S. Open.
The friendly inn staff makes it easy for guests to try their hand
at hickory golf. For $24 each receives a scorecard showing the
names and effective distances for the holes, a sleeve of three new
logo balls, the rental of a starter set of four hickory clubs (mid
iron, mashie, niblick, and putter), and eight holes of play. Sand
tee molds can be purchased for $10 if desired. Replays cost
$10, and replacement unlabeled balls are available for $1.50
each. Each guest is provided with a helpful four-page instruction sheet that explains the basics of hickory play on the course,
including stymies!
The reviewer played the course on a warm, sunny day with
wind speeds in the 20’s and the flags full out. With balls of floater
weight, the round proved quite a sporting experience. Adjustment
had to be made for the ball carry distances, and play to the sand
greens was very challenging. While putts rolled reasonably true,
the greens were hard, so chips required a niblick. Still it was
exhilarating to experience a style of play shared by Travis, Evans,
and Ouimet, who won the North South Amateur on this type of
green. The layout is such that even a beginner or a high handicapper will be able to enjoy this course. Given the other features
offered by the inn, it may present an ideal opportunity for an
introduction to hickory golf in a romantic context.
14940 Mt. Olive Road
Rockbridge, Ohio 43149-9736
800-809-7378 www.glenlaurel.com
Finnish Golf Part Duex
Two days later, Mary and I were in the
small country village of Loimaa, guests of
the Breitholtz family who had, for years,
the wee burn hole at Glenlaurel.
16
This past August my wife, Mary, and I
enjoyed a long-planned trip to Scandinavia
visiting the cities of Stockholm, Copenhagen, and Helsinki. Before I go further, I
must say these cities are some of the most
beautiful places I have ever experienced.
During our planning, Roger Hill, a
friend in Grand Rapids, Mich., suggested I
contact Antti Paatola, a member of SoHG
who lives near Helsinki. Following an exchange of emails, Antti graciously invited
me to join him for a round of hickory golf
at his home course, Keimola Golf, northwest of Helsinki.
Antti picked me up at my Helsinki hotel
and, while driving to the course, I was
struck by how similar the hardwoods,
pines and spruces of the countryside resembled that of Michigan, my home state.
I began to feel right at home.
Antti, who is retired, is an easy-going
gentleman who made me feel quite welcome. He’s a great player, too.
Jorma, Antti’s good friend, joined us
at the course. Keimola is wonderfully
textured with a landscape that wanders
through rolling hills of white birch and
hemlock with moss covered rock out croppings. The morning light illuminated the
landscape, creating that magical early-inthe-day spectacle with which early rising
golfers are very familiar.
My golf that morning was anything
but magical as I found myself too often
strolling through the white birches beyond
the fairways looking for my shots. Still,
I could not think of a better way to spend
such a beautiful morning. I thank Antti for
such a wonderful opportunity.
But that was only the first part of the
Finnish golfing adventure.
autumn 2012
autumn 2012
A hickory round
in Finland
hosted our son, Jim, as a high school exchange student. As we had also hosted their
two sons, we all felt like an extended family. Jim joined us for the this part of the trip.
Loimaa, which is northwest of Helsinki,
is quite small, not much more than a crossroads. Mr. Breitholtz is a retired businessman. His wife works in an insurance office
near the coast, a short commute away.
During the visit I was invited to golf
at Birch Alley, just a few miles down the
road. I had no idea of the course set up. I
was told it was on the property of a friend
and that Eero, Mrs. Breitholz brother and
a retired college professor, lived next door
to the course. Five of us made plans for
golf the next morning. It would be interesting and not what I expected.
About 10 a.m. the following day, our
chipping from birch alley. Jim Bieszka, the
author’s son, prepares to chip back on to the
playing field at the “Birch Alley” golfing field.
group drove to a farm house where we
parked and were met by Eero, a tall man
with glasses and a grey mustache, who
immediately took charge, ushering us to
Birch Alley’s “clubhouse,” which was
about the size of a farm pump house.
Inside, Eero, who serves as the “official”
score keeper of Birch Alley, explained the
local rules. It would be much different
from golf as I knew it.
First things first. Eero lined up five
17
golf in finland. Antti Paatola, left, and Bob
Bieszka are shown before their round at the
Keimola course near Helsinki.
small glasses and poured a shot of strong
local brandy for each of us. He then consulted a small spiral note book in which he
had documented all the scores for recently
played rounds. A hat with numbered golf
balls was passed around. The number on
the ball indicates the order of play. After
we became familiar with the local rules,
and I with the local drink, we walked to
the course. Here was the real treat.
Birch Alley is a flat, long and rectangular pasture (40 yards wide and 180 yards
long) bordered on one side by a road and
the other by a narrow, birch-lined farm
lane from which the course derives its
name. Its surface was closely mown grass.
A pin was placed about 50 yards from
each end of the field.
We would tee off from nine different
points on the field, each one a different
angle and distance to a pin. We all would
hit our initial shot and then the golfer with
the ball marked “1” – mine, thanks to the
luck of the draw – would finish out, then
golfer No. 2 and so on for each hole. The
longest shot required at Birch Alley was
about 120 yards.
It was a lovely, sunny day and I was on
vacation with not a care in the world. Here
I was on a truly interesting “course” with
great people. It was pretty uplifting.
After five “holes,” Eero declared a break
and we took a seat around an outdoor
table. He produced some crackers, peanut
mix and raisins – and more brandy.
see FINLAND, page 18
www.hickorygolfers.com
Personally
Speaking…
Play up; Play up. And Play the Game
A
s the curtain is drawing over
another year of Hickory, with the
final hurrahs going to SoHG and HGA
– those Colossae of hickory golf – for
Pinehurst and Old Kinderhook – we
are left to ponder what our pastime will
have to offer next year.
Although sad to say goodbye to
Oakhurst, as it passes into the hands of
Greenbriar, the Czar has had a long and
illustrious reign, and will be re-invented
(which is only cricket!) next year at a
different venue; not having given up
hope of a future return to the Sheep
Pasture.
Happily, hickory golf is bucking
the trend of politics and economics
and is growing healthily year on year,
with more players and more Regions
and Events. As big money and media
continue to despoil the modern game
and make paper heroes out of ordinary
young men with a talent not hitherto
associated with fortunes, it is little
surprise that the older and wiser retreat
to a bygone era to celebrate the sport of
golf in its proper form, as a convivial
leisurely pursuit.
The reverse of the coin has now been
LEWIS
continued from page
13
Conditions, of course, direction and
velocity of wind, and the slope of the
ground, go toward creating distance in the
drive.”
CB Macdonald, 1899
While C.B. Macdonald’s comments
give us an idea why the ball was being hit
farther in America, I think that a report
on an unusual ruling made in 1898 really
opens our eyes.
“There is one rule enforced on many
links that seems to have a degree of right
on its side, that when a straight true drive
of 210 to 220 yards is trapped in a bunker,
the player shall lift and drop clear of the
hazard without paying any penalty.”
society of hickory golfers
shown in official hickory form this year,
with “National Events” being combined
to produce worthy champions for the serious and accomplished golfers – hopefully appearance and prize money will
remain distant dreams for the rainbow
chasers!
At all events, we now have a two
tier system, with its delineation of the
“Players” from the “Gentlemen.” For
now, we Hackers are still welcome at
these National Events, if we live locally,
or have the means and desire to travel –
there must come a time, however, when
the entries will have to be limited to low
handicappers when they become over
subscribed. Rub shoulders with greatness while you may!
Fortunately, it will probably take half
a generation before swelling fields result
in most of our Regional Events following suit, and Tyros are discouraged from
taking the plunge at a Tournament – fair
warning to those with aspirations of
attracting the younger generations “en
masse” – they will not be content with
conviviality and hip flasks, and will
probably not have been brought up to
a code of honour while they strive for
those low scores!
4 Degrees
Send your “Personally Speaking”
commentary to the Editor.
[email protected]
featured
club(s)
by max hollon
evansville, ind. usa
C
hoosing one favorite hickory golf club
is quite a challenge, but I have managed
to narrow it down to three favorites. I play
both replicas and original clubs, but I began
my hickory golf club playing with a replica set
from Louisville Golf, which was a great set to
get me started. So, my favorite clubs include
replicas and originals.
the club house at birch alley
FINLAND
continued from page
17
Following the break we returned to Birch
Alley for four more holes.
Although this was not a round of hickory
golf (we shared a set of modern clubs), as
we played on that old pasture I had a sense
of what the early game of golf might have
been. It was not an engineered environment,
not a manicured golf course. It was just a flat
pasture set up so that the local players can
enjoy their game. By the way, I think I shot a
39 at Birch Alley, but the score really didn’t
matter at all.
Between Antti’s hospitality, Keimola and
Birch Alley, golf in Finland provided an
experience I will never forget.
“The local reason for this rule is usually that, in the early days when the course
was laid out it was impossible for anyone
in the club to carry such a bunker except
on the second play, and when the ratio of
skill was so advanced that to drive into it
is not unusual, a decree is framed to free
the long stroke from a penalty.”
“The third hole of the championship
course, 234 yards, has a cop bunker just
at the putting green, which is generally
made by a drive, and a wee pitch. Smith
in the finals with Douglas, drove into this
bunker, taking two to get out… Some half
dozen players drove into this bunker during the week, all of whom felt they had
been unduly punished. W.H. Sands, of the
Country Club of Westchester, made the
green on the drive.”
1898 U.S. Amateur Championship
as reported by H.L. Fitzpatrick
18
Wood-headed cleek
Butchart jigger
Wright & Ditson mashie
This quote really puts things in perspective when you combine it with
Macdonald’s comments about players’
advancing skills. As the sport advanced
in the States, so did the players’ ability to strike the ball more efficiently.
Fitzpatrick’s report adds weight to
Macdonald’s observation that 200+ yard
drive were, at least, somewhat commonplace for better players.
I have never taken a side in the great
“gutty vs. putty” debate because I think
each ball brings something to the table
that the other does not. At the end of the
day you have to play the ball as it lies…
putty or gutty, the goal is to get the ball in
the hole in the fewest strokes.
autumn 2012
My second favorite club is
an original C.S. Butchart jigger (above). I purchased it on
eBay, but don’t recall the seller.
It has a 31-degree loft and is 37½
inches long. I usually hit this club
distances of 130 yards or less,
depending on the terrain. I like to
use it around the greens when there
is little or no rough. As with the
cleek, when playing with replicas,
the Louisville Golf jigger (above,
right) is similar to my original
jigger. I starting using the Butchart
more at the U.S. Hickory Open and
it proved to be the difference that
allowed me to win.
First, I really like my wooden
cleek (right), which has a
21-degree loft and is 42 inches
long. The name on the club is
F. Rickwood, Summit G.C. I
purchased this club on eBay
from Bob Georgiade, and had
it re-weighted by Russ Fisher.
Because my drives are not long,
this club helps me make up for
that with my second shot. It allows
me to easily hit the ball different
distances, which certainly helps with
that second shot. When playing with
replicas, my Louisville Golf cleek
(below) is similar to the original cleek.
I hit so many good shots with my cleek
at the Southern 4-Ball that one of my
competitors told me that I had better
sleep with it.
Obviously, it is difficult for me to choose
one favorite hickory club, whether original or replica. But it is not hard for me to
choose between playing hickory clubs or
“regular” clubs as I play almost exclusively
with hickories. I love the challenge of
playing with hickory clubs, but I especially
enjoy the camaraderie of others who love
this game as much as I do.
autumn 2012
A third favorite is a mashie 8, a Wright Ditson original (above), of 39-degree loft and 36
inches long. It is a ladies club and one of my
first eBay purchases. I use this club from 100
yards and shorter when I wish to get the ball
more airborne. At the Mountain Valley Open
this club was the go-to club to get up and
down from 100 yards and closer.
19
www.hickorygolfers.com
Two New England Yanks visit the U.K. for a visit to the
Scottish Hickory
Championship
brian siplo, left, and kevin mendik at Gullane
during their visit to the 2012 Scottish Hickory
Championship.
Brian Siplo, my golf guide, driver
and mobile golf historian for all matters
associated with U.K. golf, won the prize
for first handicap with a net score of 62.
Airline carry-on note: No worries for
framed golf paintings or SHC trophies.
T
the gullane clubhouse
from the 18th green.
photos by
kevin mendik
society of hickory golfers
by kevin mendik
hey came from across the globe, from Austria to Australia, from
Sweden to New Zealand, from Gullane to Germany, from Continental
Europe to the Colonies. They played over the course at Gullane No. 3
into a brisk wind or, as my caddie put it at the uphill 135 yard par three 11th – “a
half bag wind,” meaning that the spade mashie I hit to the back of the green two
days earlier in relative calm would require a well struck driving iron off the tee
this time. I hit it square and got the McIntyre Flash pin high, but the breeze took
it well right.
Among the many joys of playing in the Scottish Hickory Championship (SHC)
(held each year over Gullane No. 3) was our Honorary Starter Archie Baird,
author of “Golf on Gullane Hill.” At the post-tournament dinner Mr. Baird gave
one of his wonderful and most amusing rhyming toasts. Participants are all
members of the British Golf Collector’s Society and included Hilary Dennes,
the granddaughter of Willie Park Jr. Mr. Park
Jr. would have been proud of his descendent
who claimed the prize for first Lady with a net
adjusted score of 73. All dressed for the occasion
with knickers, collared shirts and ties, which
was quite a contrast from the threesome wearing
bright pink and orange checked John Daly pants.
The clear consensus was that the early costume
fit in far better on the course. Upstairs in the
clubhouse is a wonderful set of eight framed
maps that show the evolution of the courses,
from the original seven holes from 1844-1866 to
the current layout that dates to 1910.
Sweden’s Jorgen Isberg, who won the trophy
jorgen isberg with the tropy as the
in 2011, shot a fine 73 to repeat as first scratch.
2012 Scottish Hickory Champion.
His reward was to keep the trophy he had just
returned to Gullane and take it back home where it will again take up residence
on its customary shelf.
20
autumn 2012
As with all three courses at Gullane,
the predominant play is uphill, with a
late-in-the-round hole or two resembling
a ski slope to get back into town. Two of
the quintessential holes in this fashion
are Gullane No. 3’s par three 15th (site of
our closest to the pin contest, which can,
and has been, parred with a putter off the
tee), and Gullane No. 1’s par 4 17th with
its large diagonal fronting bunkers and
equally well placed pot bunker sited in
what would be the bailout area in many an
American course.
ball retrievers were most appreciated at the
burn at North Berwick.
autumn 2012
Many Americans may balk at the idea
of playing courses of well under 6,000
yards, but they’d be missing many of the
most beautiful and challenging courses
in the U.K. As primarily an iron player,
the only wood I brought was my Tom
Auchterlonie driver. Sadly, the head went
its own way on the 17th at North Berwick,
followed by the whipping streaming out
like a wire-guided torpedo. Playing irons
off the tee the rest of the week worked
fine, just as it did for Tiger a few years
back when he was thinking about golf.
Unless you are confident hitting a wood
off the tee or fairway (I should mention
that Mr. Siplo uses woods quite successfully even out of the heather), leave them
in the bag or better yet at home.
Among the many advantages of golf in
the U.K. compared with that in the U.S.
is that even the most exclusive of clubs,
Royals and Open Championship venues
included, with few exceptions, welcome
the public to visit their clubs, play their
great courses and enjoy food and drink in
the clubhouse. Although there are varying
degrees of access (the Gullane clubhouse
is only available for those who book to
play the Gullane No. 1 course), visitors
are treated as members for the day. Also
present are the dog walkers (many players have theirs accompanying them on
the course), hikers and beachgoers who
routinely traverse the courses on their way
to and from the beach or to access the
National Coastal Path (www.nationalcoastalpath.co.uk/).
There is no real concept of trespassing
in the U.K. as we know it in America.
Since most of the true links courses are
on common land, they are open to the
public from dawn to dusk. Although
one does have to pay or otherwise have
permission to wander about with clubs
and balls, there is a truly welcoming feel
to the coastal courses. That is in stark
contrast to the American model of prohibitions on even unescorted play at most
private clubs, and virtually no access
without some type of connection. This
also makes it a bit of a challenge to properly reciprocate when our U.K. friends
visit here in the States and hope to play
not only USGA championship venues,
but any of the great American courses.
My personal solution would be to allow
any player using equipment as old as the
club’s course(s) to play there. Naturally,
21
the
11th hole at gullane no. 3
this favors hickory players, but that could
make up for the loss of distance and spin
control. Needless to say, this topic has and
continues to be debated both publicly and
privately. See the following two links for
such discussions:
• www.golfdigest.com/magazine/2011-07/david-fay-private-clubs
• www.travelgolf.com/departments/
clubhouse/newport-country-club-us-openaccess-1307.htm
Once Mr. Siplo and I had the date and
location for the 2012 SHC, we planned
around it. Our initial idea was to simply
spend a week in and around East Lothian,
perhaps venturing into Edinburgh. I soon
learned that Mr. Siplo had tacked on a few
days in and around London and the English Midlands. Having never played golf
in England, he thought it best to visit one
each of the heathland, parkland and midlands courses. There is of course, plenty of
great golf to be found south of Hadrian’s
Wall in what the Scots refer to as England.
Our timing was rather fortunate in terms
of weather: England had seen well over a
month of continuous rain up until a day or
two before our arrival. (They subsequently
had the wettest June on record)
We started our trip at Sunningdale on
the New Course, new being a relative term
in the U.K. as the Harry Colt layout dates
to 1923. Much has been written about the
course, most recently an article about its
lost holes (6-10) in the April issue of Golf
Course Architecture. Several can still be
seen from various places and the club is
considering bringing them back into play
to allow for an alternate routing as was
see SCOTTLAND, page 20
www.hickorygolfers.com
14th hole at Royal Blackheath.
SCOTLAND
continued from page
19
done at one time shortly after they were
taken out of play. The terrain is described
by the club as “the most glorious piece
of heathland winding [its] way through
heather, gorse and pine,” each hole having
“its own individual charm.”
For those with even a passing interest in
the history of the game, a visit to the Museum at Royal Blackheath is a must. The
venerable golf club is the first in England,
dating to 1608. Inside the clubhouse are
many of the most recognizable paintings associated with the game, as well as
an extraordinary museum with many of
golf’s most important artifacts, such as the
original Claret Jug and the oldest medal
ever awarded. The golf course is a beautiful stroll through the park if one does not
mind hitting around large specimen trees
in the middle of several fairways and over
hedgerows in front of a few greens.
Our first three days in and around
London were under overcast but dry skies
and comfortable temperatures in the low
60s, but we woke up on the fourth day
near the border city of Carlisle to bright
sunshine and for the rest of the week, saw
nary a cloud while temps reached the 80s
by tournament time. Even the wind was
modest by Scottish standards. If it doesn’t
move your ball on the green, ’tis just a
breeze. I’d like to take a bit of credit, having brought several sets of raingear and
opting to leave my wide-brimmed golf sun
hat behind. The real dilemma was trying
to find sunscreen; a dusty old bottle on
the back of a pharmacy shelf helped, but
by then I looked more like I’d gone to the
society of hickory golfers
From Iraq to niblicks
- a vet’s journey home
includes hickory golf
1st hole at North Berwick with Bass Rock and the town beyond.
Caribbean than what turned out to be the
warmest country in Europe all that week,
even besting some temperatures in North
Africa!
We spent a challenging day at Silloth
On Solway Golf Club, the site of the 2012
British Amateur. Located relatively out of
the way (not for us Yanks used to driving
several hours each way to play) on the
West coast, the course is the quintessential
links laid out over and through the dunes
and stands of gorse.
Our route from Silloth to North Berwick
wound through the border counties with its
haunting stone towers, hill climbing stone
walls and, of course, sheep. We stopped to
play at the Innerleithen Golf Course (Willie
6th hole at Innerleithen.
Park Junior’s first layout, dating to 1886),
a charming if rather tight course with an
assortment of burns and road crossings. The
course motto is “Watch and Praey.
While there are several true classic
era links courses in the U.S., along with
the wonderful layouts at Bandon Dunes
complete with Scottish weather, there is,
in my humble opinion, no golf experience
comparable to playing the seaside courses
sculpted by nature’s hand and gently massaged by the likes of Willie Park Sr. and Jr.,
James Braid, Herbert Fowler, Dr. Mack-
22
enzie, Colt and Alison. Scotland has also
given the U.S. so many great club makers
and players, well over 50 coming out of
East Lothian alone. There is North Berwick’s Golfing Heritage Trail that offers a
glimpse into the area’s rich golfing past.
Numerous non-golf attractions can also
be found for the non-golfing significant
others, such as the Scottish Seabird Centre
in North Berwick (www.seabird.org). Just
two miles offshore is Bass Rock, home to
the largest rookery of Gannets in the world.
At certain times of year, the rock appears
almost white. That being said, no visit to
the area would be complete without a visit
to Archie Baird’s “The Heritage of Golf
Museum,” next to the Pro Shop at Gullane.
One could easily spend a week in and
around East Lothian playing the likes of
the North Berwick West Links (home of
the original Redan), the three fabulous
courses at Gullane, pure links tracts like
Kilspindie and Dunbar, not to mention
Muirfield. Across the Firth of Forth is
County Fife with St. Andrews, the great
old clubs along its south coast (Elie, Crail,
Leven and Lundin Links to name a few),
and Kingarrock, which simply should not
be missed by any hickory player, whether
pure or occasional. Then of course, there is
Royal Aberdeen to the north and the wondrous and beguiling Cruden Bay. Farther
north still are courses that to me still exist
in name only, such as Royal Dornoch,
Nairn and Brora. My tour guide and I have
already begun discussions on including
them on our next U.K. adventure.
One other aspect of note regarding benefits of golf in the UK: try to find a decent
Lager Shandy this side of the pond.
autumn 2012
u.s. service vet shawn auguston is shown above in his
hickory clothes and at left with a fellow serviceman during
duty in Iraq. (Shawn is on the left.)
F
rom 2004-2006 Shawn Auguston
was serving with the 20th Airborne
out of Ft. Bragg in Iowa. A communication sergeant, he drove a Humvee in Iraq
during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He maintained radio communications with the battalion, company and Dust Off (med-evac).
He was wounded during his tour and,
while going through physical therapy at
the VA clinic, learned that the motion he
was using with a medicine ball was similar to a golf swing. Though he had never
golfed, he decided to give it a try, and was
duly hooked.
“I instantly fell in love with the game,”
he says. “As I was unable to keep the military as a career, the Veterans Association
paid for me to go back to school and find
a new profession.”
Auguston enrolled in the Keiser
University College of Golf in Port Saint
autumn 2012
Lucie, Fla. to obtain a degree in golf management. He graduated just over a year
ago and was hired as the second assistant
golf professional at Riviera Golf Club in
Dublin, Ohio.
“While I was at school, durning our
History of Golf class, we were privileged
to play some golf using hickory clubs
provided by our school campus director, Master PGA Professional Dr. Eric
Wilson, who is also also a hickory golfer,”
Auguston says. “I have held that passion
for playing with hickory golf clubs ever
since. I am planning on becoming a SoHG
member.”
To get started, Auguston has purchased
four clubs from Louisville Golf, a putter, mid iron, brassie and niblick. “Every
couple of weeks I plan to purchase a club
to complete my set,” he says. “I have been
able to play from about 6,000 yards with
23
just those four clubs.”
A golf teacher who mantains a website
at www.golfingwithshawn.com, Auguston
says he wants to share his passion with
other golfers in the Ohio area.
“Next stop, as soon as I can afford the
$70 for the Society of Hickory Golfers, I
will be joining! I can’t wait,” he says.
Auguston’s also been getting several
of the members at Riviera excited about
hickory golf and they are planning a tournament.
If you are a hickory golfer in the
Dublin, Ohio area, look up Shawn
Auguston at Riviera Golf Club. Maybe
you can get some hickory golf going.
www.hickorygolfers.com
Great golf, fine weather, warm smiles –
Memories of a first visit to Scotland
Long Island resident Brian Schuman
had never been to Scotland, so the opportunity to join five other U.S. hickory players for the World Hickory Open, as well
as some additional Scottish links golf, was
just too good to pass up. He’s still smiling.
by brian schuman
There’s a huge sign right outside the
baggage area at Edinburgh Airport – “Welcome to Edinburgh, This is Home”.
Somehow, that thought stayed with me
for the entire trip. Even though this was
my first trip to Scotland, it was also my
first trip “across the pond” to Europe.
Everywhere my traveling companions
and I went felt comfortably familiar, as
though I had been there before; perhaps
influenced by TV, movies, books, British
Opens on TV and the Golf Channel; but I
think it was something much deeper than
all these.
The sensation reminded me of the first
time I picked up a hickory club, at the
Mid-Pines Open in 2010. After 40 years of
modern golf, it was familiar, yet different;
similar, but much better!
The fun actually started months before
we set foot in the old country. The expectation and excitement was felt in every
planning email between us. Even our day
and night of travel was made more interesting and exciting by the stream of text
messages we were sending each other. As
a newcomer to the U.K. it all semed very,
well, James Bond-ish. Sample text messages such as, “Just landed in Amsterdam,
heading for London…will arrive 9:30 am
your time” and “Just left NYC, landing in
Edinburgh”, made it all seem like a very
coordinated mission of some sort. I almost
expected an Aston-Martin with an ejector
seat to be waiting for me (okay, not quite).
Upon our arrival that crisp Thursday
morning, the first three of our group to
land on the old sod – Rich Grula, Mike
Just and I – made our way to Musselburgh, the oldest course in the world. We
tried to get out for a quick round but tee
times weren’t available so, after a few
moments of taking in the views and trying
to conceptualize that this course has been
here for centuries, we left to meet up with
society of hickory golfers
a bond of hickory golf. Author Brian Schuman,
escaping a bunker at montrose, Brian Schuman watches his ball head toward the green.
six u.s. hickory players pose for a photo on the historic Swilcan Bridge on the Old Course in St.
Andrews. Standing from the left: Rich Grula, Mike Stevens, John Greene and Brian Schuman (who
was out shopping at the time but added himself to the picture later). Seated, from left, are Rick
Woeckener and Mike Just.
our other U.S. mates – Mike Stevens, Rick
Woeckener and John Greene – for our
1 p.m. tee time at the Glen Golf Club in
North Berwick.
After a bit of clothes changing, removing precious hickory clubs from carefully
packed travel bags, and general pinching
ourselves in disbelief as to where we were,
we were off.
As we were preparing to tee off, I
thought back to the conversation on the
driving range at Tad Moore’s wonderful
event this past April in Birmingham, when
Rick, Mike and I casually spoke about the
upcoming World Hickory Open in Scotland... and here we were.
The views from the Glen Golf Course
were some of the more spectacular on the
trip, and the rainbow that appeared after
a very short – and only – rain we had all
24
week, just made our first round in the old
country even more magical. Our expectation level for the week, already high, went
through the roof.
After the round, it was off to our comfortable accommodations at the Landmark
Hotel in Dundee, carefully selected by
Mike for its location between courses. The
hotel was great and the staff genuinely
spoiled us.
The next morning found us at Montrose
Golf Links, perched on a scenic coast of
the North Sea. Montrose, the fifth oldest
course in the world, celebrates its 450th
anniversary this year. This is the kind of
course I was expecting, a true links course
with not a flat lie to be had, deep bunkers
and beautiful water views; just what I had
imagined as a true Scottish course.
Several of us found the huge bunkers
with no problem at all. Some of us got out
easily... some of the time.
The next few days were a whirl of
amazing golf courses with wonderful vistas and enchanting names – Crail
( Craighead Links), Alyth Golf Club
(complimentary golf that day thanks to the
Landmark Hotel), and then the Monifieth
and Carnoustie (Burnside).
Though we did visit the “Home of
Golf,” the ancient Old Course at St. Andrews Golf Links, it was on the occasion
autumn 2012
of the Alfred Dunhill Cup that was being
played over the Old as well as several
other courses throughout Scotland.
Though we could not play – and we
were dying to get out and play it with
hickories – just to visit the Old Course for
the first time was something special. And
seeing the course set up for a professional
tournament and being able to get extremely close to the action was pretty incredible.
While one of us (me) was shopping for
plus-fours at the nearby St. Andrews Golf
Co., the rest of the fellows made their
way to the famous Swilcan Bridge for the
photo op of a lifetime. Being the daring
yanks that they are, as soon as the last
Dunhill group passed through, the gang of
five quickly gained the historic bridge for
the photo.
(Someone – me – had to settle for a
Photoshop effort to be included. See the
picture top of the preceding page. And, no,
I can’t walk on water, no matter what my
Mother thinks.)
Finally, after several days of incredible
Scottish golf, came the main event – The
World Hickory Open.
The first day at Monifieth Golf Club
was a team event. Each team is comprised
patriotic colors. Though in black and white here,
Team USA wore red, white and blue argyles.
autumn 2012
of three players. Mike Stevens, Rick
Woeckener and I were one team; John
Greene, Rich Grula and Mike Just were
the other team representing the USA. How
exciting it was for a half dozen average
guys to play in an international event, representing their own country. We really got
into the team spirit. See the socks, below.
Unfortunately, our spirit wasn’t enough
to bring home the gold, or silver, or bronze
for that matter, but a great time was had
by all.
Monifieth, by the way, was another of
the wonderful courses we played where
we were welcomed into the clubhouse and
treated as if we were members. Throughout our travels we were treated with warm
welcomes and smiles, from golf professionals and starters, to the gals behind
the counters who served us fish and chips
(what else); oh, and a pint or two of the
local favorite ale. Everyone was a pleasure
to meet.
Part of the fun of the World Hickory is
its gala dinner for contestants and guests,
this year held at the Carnoustie Hotel.
Among the several entertaining speakers was the Provost of Carnoustie, who
warmly welcomed us and seemed to really
appreciate the effort we made in traveling
such a distance to their town.
Our final day of golf was the final
day of the World Hickory at Carnoustie
(Burnside). Aside from the golf, the day
afforded me an opportunity to meet two
gentlemen whom I’d long wanted to see:
(Sir) Lionel Freedman, founder of the
World Hickory Open, and Perry Somers,
professional golfer and, perhaps, the most
famous of the modern hickory golfers.
Both were true gentleman, and treated us
25
left, was looking forward to meeting one of the
U.K.’s chief proponents of hickory golf, indeed,
golf history, Lionel Freedman.
fellows from across the pond with hearty
handshakes and open arms.
My two playing partners that day were
from Sweden and South Africa, both great
guys and a pleasure to golf with. It was
uplifting to see that people from such
varied backgrounds and from all corners
of the world can find such commonality in
their love for the hickory game.
Carnoustie proved a bit too much for
our USA squad that day. But we were
delighted for the opportunity and the good
fortune to spend a week on the “old sod”
in the land that invented the “gemme” we
love, golf. To a man, I believe we felt that
the only way to truly enjoy and experience
Scotland is with the old sticks firmly in
hand and a good links course beneath your
feet.
Oh, by the way, the two things I kept
hearing for months prior to my first visit
to Scotland: One – It rains every day so
bring two rainsuits; and, Two – The food
is terrible.
Well folks, we had seven gloriously,
wonderful days in a row, virtually perfect
60-degree sunny weather with very little
wind, and someone – me – gained five
pounds, or kilo’s... I’m not sure, I’m still
confused about the conversion rates.
www.hickorygolfers.com
Hickory golf in the
Land of the Rising Sun
In 1985, Isao Abe read a story
about 1980 British Open Champion Tom Watson and
Ben Crenshaw and their exploits with hickory golf
clubs on Muirfield after everyone else had gone home.
The club’s secretary was not amused.
After reading the story about Watson and Crenshaw,
Mr. Abe and some friends gathered some hickories and
repaired to their favorite course where they conducted
a “Classic Golf Experiment.” From this was born a casual, but nontheless devoted, group of hickory players
in the ancient country of Japan.
Mr. Abe has long admired golf history and spent
some time in the U.K. where he met British Golf
Collectors Society member David White. White
introduced him to the group and to a love of hickory
shafted clubs.
After Mr. Abe returned home and retired from a career as a building contractor, he spent more time with
golf collectibles and has started his own shop called
“The Nostalgic Golf.”
Through photos on this and the following pages, Mr.
Abe, who has become the first Japanese member of
the Society of Hickory Golfers, has shared some of the
activity of he and his fellow Japanese hickory golfers.
Top, the players in the Classic Golf Experiment.
At far right, an examination of Mr. Joumura’s
swing compared with photos of Harry Vardon.
Mr. Joumura is a member of the Japanese PGA.
At right, a display from Mr. Abe’s shop at the
2009 Japan Golf Fair. Below, Mr. Abe photographed in his shop for a Weekly Golf Digest
feature. Below, middle, Mr. Abe lines up a putt.
Above, from left: Isao Abe,
Mr. Hisatomi, Mr. Hayashi,
Mr. Joumura (JPGA), and
Mr. Yamamoto. Mr. Abe
made 20 gutta percha balls
for the round and provided
the clubs for his playing
partners. “Gutta percha
never goes without good
swing and good shoot,” Mr
Abe wrote. “Hickory golfer
is more in control of his golf
than a modern golfer.”
The magazine spread at
right shows the “Classic
Golf” experimenters as they
endeavor to mimic the poses
of players in an early photograph at the upper left of the
magazine page.
autumn 2012
For those of you who still
pen a letter occasionally, Mr.
Abe would love to hear from
you. Write him at:
26
www.hickorygolfers.com
autumn 2012
Isao Abe
Nogata 5-16-7
Nakano-KJ
Tokyo, Japan
165-0027
27
www.hickorygolfers.com
Final Shots