2020 Foxburg Hickory Championship

Aug. 14-15
Foxburg Country Club
Foxburg, Pa.

Greetings hickory players,
The 12th annual Foxburg Hickory Championship will be played on the appointed dates.

“I had the opportunity to visit and play Foxburg on July 3,” says event host Tom Johnson. “The course was in great condition. I looked closely at the options the facility offers and feel we can hold a safe and successful event.

“I feel it is important we hold the event and contribute what we can to the club.  I am proud of the revenue we have provided the oldest current golf course in the country. As hickory golfers and collectors of ancient equipment, we owe it to future hickory golfers and collectors to assist in maintaining historic places such as Foxburg, just as the former and current members have done for years.

“That is the primary reason I am a ‘Long Distance Membership’ member at Foxburg, as several of you are. Membership information can be found on their website (www.foxburggolf.com/request-membership).  Once in a while I am able to tell a friend I belong to a nice club, then fill in the details of 130 years old and the oldest course still in existence. It always raises an eyebrow and continues the conversation, generally to hickory golf.

“We believe we have a good plan to serve and enjoy our meals while maintaining social distancing and food safety. We will have several tables on the porch. The buffet will take more room than normal, but we should have room for a couple of tables inside as well.

“Unfortunately, we will not be able to host the First Tee entrants this year.  We are proud of our association with the First Tee of Pittsburgh, we will miss them. We have every confidence we will resume their participation for our lucky 13th year in 2021.

“Guests will be welcomed, but we would like to understand the count when the entry is submitted. We want to insure we can arrange proper spacing.  Karen will understand the cost of meals as we get closer to the date, and will be able to tell you at the course

“There are several other concepts pertaining to being safe. Masks and hand sanitizer will be available for everyone. Social distancing on the practice green. Individual carts. Infrared thermometer available.

The current itinerary is as follows:

Thursday, Aug. 13
Registration – Registration opens at Noon.  Entrants will receive their customary registration packet. We will also offer disposable face masks, latex gloves, and hand sanitizer for entrants and guests. Registration closes at 5 p.m.

Practice rounds –  Members start arriving around 3:30 in the afternoon for their play day and the course gets full. So, schedule your practice round early in the day.

Thursday evening meal is still undetermined.  We generally have visited the Roadhouse next to the Quality Inn.  This is a possibility, but still an open issue.

Friday, Aug. 14
Registration opens at 8:30 a.m. First round is a shot gun start commencing around 10 a.m. We will take a short break between nines for refreshment.

The practice green is very small, we believe a four-player limit on the practice green is appropriate for social distancing. The seventh fairway is open for practice, the greens will not be available for practice.

Friday evening meal is also undetermined, but we have options in the Clarion area we will be able to confirm as we get closer to the date.

Saturday, Aug. 15
Shotgun start at 9:30 a.m., we will play straight through. Current plan is a catered meal similar to the previous 11 years. We feel we have a safe idea for a buffet – using the porch and a few tables in the clubhouse we’ll have ample room for social distancing.

Additional Notes
Entry fee remains at $250. You can send your entry form and check to Tom at 138 Waterford Way, Tallmadge, Ohio  44278.  Click here for an entry form.  For information, write to Tom at Foxburghickory@aol.com or call 330-677-8997.

We will hold off depositing checks until Aug. 1.  We will order gifts and arrange meals at that time.  We appreciate your patience; we will notify everyone again prior to depositing your checks.  If you need to cancel, no worries, just let us know prior to the end of the month.

Foxburg Country Club is in the hills of Western Pennsylvania, roughly an hour north of Pittsburgh. Foxburg Country Club was established in 1887, considered the oldest golf course in United States.

There are multiple competitions within the Foxburg Hickory Championship. The Championship’s pre-1900 categories include Open, Senior (55-65) and Super Senior (66+). Open and Senior (65+) for the post-1900 division.

The featured event is the pre-1900 Open division; the FHC is one of the few pre-1900 events east of the Mississippi, along with the National Hickory Championship, the Wisconsin Gutty Challenge.

We have a group of rooms reserved at the Quality Inn in Clarion (814-226-5230) at $75 per night, mention Foxburg Hickory Golf. The price is good through Aug. 5. This is the same hotel we have used the previous 11 years.

The hotel’s management has always served us well; it is convenient to the RRR, and one of the few properties with smoking rooms in one wing.  We have found scheduling directly through the hotel rather than the popular travel sites provides much more flexibility for guests.

Other fine places to stay include the Foxburg Inn just down the hill from the Club, as well as several additional hotels in the Clarion area.  There are also many bed and breakfast options in the Foxburg and Emlenton areas.

In Clarion, PA:
Quality Inn                   814-226-5230
Holiday Inn Express    814-226-8850
Hampton Inn                800-916-4339
Park-Radisson              814-226-8850
Foxburg Inn                 724-659-3116

Click here for a great YouTube feature on the Foxburg Country Club and the Foxburg area.

The course plays at 2,400 yards for the pre-1900 Championship. Even with the modern hickories, the small greens and tricky layout will test your patience and skill. The course has proven a fair test and tremendous fun. As with all hickory events, contestants are encouraged to dress in period attire.

There is a nominal additional cost to include your spouse/guest for either Friday’s lunch or the award buffet. We also have a nice meal the evening of the first day at a local restaurant (not included in the entry fee) you are sure to enjoy.

Activities for non-playing spouses and guests include shopping at the many antique stores and shops in the area, a very large outlet mall nearby, and the quaint Foxburg Wine Cellars at the bottom of the hill. The more adventurous may enjoy the canoe livery or the local Segway and bike rental shop.