Oct. 20-24
Dunbar, Kilspindie, Gullane No. 2 and 3
East Lothian, Scotland
The 2019 World Hickory Open Festival, one of the world’s foremost hickory golf contests, is to played on the lovely links courses of Dunbar, Kilspindie, Gullane 2 and Gullane 3. The WHO was founded by the late Lionel Freedman in 2005
Johan Moberg of Sweden was the 2018 champion. Sandy Lyle, 1988 Masters champion and 1985 Open Championship winner, won the title in 2015 and 2016. The 2019 field is to be set at 120 golfers in the Open division, and at 100 for the Archie Baird International Trophy, a four-person team event.
The WHO includes a welcome cocktail party at Kilspindie GC, Aberlady on Sunday, Oct. 20. The draw for the Archie Baird International Trophy will be announced at this event.
Archie Baird International Trophy – Monday, Oct. 21
Organizers have changed the format for this year’s Festival so that the opening competition will be the Archie Baird International Trophy in the form of a team tournament over Dunbar GC. Not to worry if you aren’t on a team, the organizers plan to draw for teams from any un-assigned players. Players will play as split pairs and better ball strokeplay scores, adjusted for handicap, will be collected from each pair in the four.
The World Hickory Open Championship (Tuesday-Thursday, Oct. 22–24)
The WHO championship will be played over three rounds on Kilspindie, and the Gullane courses 2 and 3. The whole field will play over Kilspindie on Tuesday and the field will be split into two groups on Wednesday and Thursday. This will be an individual strokeplay event with handicap adjustments. Prizes will be awarded to both professionals and amateurs.
Following the completion of play on Thursday, Oct. 24, awards at the Gullane GC Visitor Center and an end-of-festival party at Duck’s Inn in Aberlady are planned.
Check the website of the WHO for registration and additional information, which includes the possibility of an extended stay for additional golf.