10th annual World Hickory Open returns to Carnoustie

Carnoustie Country* Press Release
March 31, 2014

   This October, the World Hickory Open 2014, an international golf competition celebrating golf’s hickory heritage, will ensure the east of Scotland remains in the global media spotlight after the Ryder Cup.

   This is the third year Carnoustie Country has hosted the World Hickory Open, with this year’s tournament being played Oct. 7-8 across the famous links course at Panmure, on the outskirts of Carnoustie, Angus.

   “The  World Hickory Open 2013, which was at Montrose, was an outstanding success,” said Lionel Freedman, co-founder and director of the World Hickory Open.

   “The Carnoustie Country courses have a fabulous golfing history which complements hickory golf perfectly,” Freedman said. “The golfers who travel from across the globe to compete in the World Hickory Open really appreciate being able to play golf as the game was played in days gone by on such historic courses.”

   Carnoustie has a long golfing heritage, having been home to the Open Championship seven times since 1931, and home to Montrose Medal, the fifth oldest golf course in the world, which has celebrated its 450th anniversary.”

   Freedman explained that, following the highly-favourable response to the informal tournament held immediately after the 2013 World Hickory Open between a team of American hickory golfers and a team of international hickory golfers, it had been decided to make this tournament a regular part of the hickory golf calendar.

   “As a result, we’ll be holding the first World Hickory Grand Match, the International Hickory Cup, at Monifieth Medal on 9/10 October,” continued Lionel. “The International Hickory Cup will follow a Ryder-Cup-style format, with two teams – Team USA and Team Rest Of The World – competing for a trophy donated by the Society of Hickory Golfers.”

   Scotland’s David Kirkwood is the Captain of Team Rest Of The World. “The Grand Match will be a wonderful international occasion – but with a very competitive element,” Kirkwood said. “Ideally, Team Rest Of The World will come out on top – just!”

   David Brown, Captain of Team USA, is traveling to Carnoustie in May for a few practice rounds of hickory golf at Panmure and Monifieth. “I’m sure Captain David Kirkwood will assemble as fine a group of players and gentlemen as we hope to bring,” he said. “The competition in both the International Hickory Cup and the World Hickory Open will be fantastic – and the camaraderie will be even better, as that’s the hidden secret of hickory golf!”

   The World Hickory Open 2014 is for amateur and professional golfers and, although experience of hickory golf is helpful, it’s not compulsory. Entries cost £240 per golfer, which includes the warm-up competition at Forfar Golf Club, two rounds on Panmure Medal, hire of hickory-shafted clubs and the gala prize dinner, with an additional cost of £120 for the two-day International Hickory Cup at Monifieth Medal.

   To find out more about the World Hickory Open 2014, or to download an entry form, visit www.worldhickoryopen.com.

   For information on golf in the Carnoustie area, visit www.carnoustiecountry.com, ‘like’ the Carnoustie Country Facebook page or follow Carnoustie Country on Twitter.

   Information on the International Hickory Cup will be posted on the SoHG website and in e-newsletters to SoHG members.

   *Carnoustie Country hosts golf tournaments, events, and works with the golf industry in Angus, East Perthshire and North Fife to promote golf as a visitor activity.