World Gutty Championship off to a cracking good start

MacDuff reports:

The match in the low handicap Braid Division of the SoHG World Gutty Championship (WGC) ended with thunder in the background and lightning horns blaring. A missed stymie negotiation settled the matter. The players left the field as gusty rain squalls roared in only minutes later.

Such was the dramatic conclusion for the inaugural playing of this newly launched match play event using replica gutty balls, smooth-faced irons and splice-necked woods. 

Thirty golfers, intrigued by the thought of capturing a medal in this first WGC, traveled from throughout the U.S. and Canada to Winter Park, Florida, March 14-15, to try their games on the circa 1914 9-hole Winter Park golf course.

Dressed in stylish takes on vintage golf apparel, the players captivated and astonished passers-by who stopped to stare in wonder and amusement. Unbeckoned, local photographers were drawn to the colorful parade of gutty golfers. The chairperson of a Winter Park “historic charm” committee came by to talk to golfers and organizers. Even long-time veterans of gutty golf admitted that this was a most unique occasion – the launch of a world championship. Gutty golf and its colorful cast highlight the game’s historical roots, evoking a sense of nostalgia and admiration for the sport’s enduring traditions.

The players gathered with their tournament hosts in the old Winter Park clubhouse for a Friday night soiree and blind draw party for the beginning matches on Saturday. Tournament host and SoHG Competitions Chairman Bill Geisler was a capable and articulate emcee who patiently explained the long-abandoned rules under which the tournament would be conducted for this modern breed of hickory stalwarts. 

The stymie rule garnered the most attention, beginning with a toast to the stymie led by the tournament’s undisputed fashion-plate Mr. Greg Smith of Alabama. Mr. Geisler followed, doing his best to allay fears and set minds at ease. As it turned out, the stymie, though rarely encountered over the two days of play, nonetheless offered a little spice to the event. Balls, too, were not to be touched until holed. Rather than intimidated, the players seemed excited to give it a go.

Overall, the excited talk and infectious energy of the evening foretold an eagerness to participate in this newest gutty tournament and win one of those lovely new medals created for the WGC. (Thanks are due to Mr. Scott Staudacher for handling this aspect of the competition.)

Over five nine-hole matches in two divisions, Braid (lower handicaps) and Taylor (higher handicaps), the players would earn points for each hole won and another for each match won. At the end of 45 holes, those four with the highest totals in each division would square off for a deciding match over nine holes with holes won, rather than points, determining the winners.

Unlikely as it may seem, the marking of scorecards, a normally simple process, was difficult for some. Clubs often followed their own styles for stymie scoring throughout the years when it was in play. For this event, a method was adopted from an 1920s-era scorecard created for the Cascade Country Club in Grand Rapids, Mich. That system employed the symbols  +, 0, and –  for holes won, lost and tied. It might have been ancient Greek as several players were either unable to comprehend the markings or, in many cases, willfully ignored it. (One match simply wrote down the medal scores they each shot on each hole.) Fortunately, as the cards came in, the official scorers were able to decipher even the most egregious departures from the tournament’s requested method. Those scorers, by the way, deserve a round of applause. Elizabeth Geisler and Julie Staudacher were key to keeping the entire event on track and operating smoothly, and not just for scoring. Without them, Mr. Geisler and others would have been hopelessly adrift.

The tournament committee is considering another scoring method for 2027 that will help even the most scoring-challenged handle their cards in a uniform and consistent fashion.

Stamina as well as golfing skill (or scorekeeping) was a keen factor in the competition. The first day was played to 27 holes with temperatures in the low 80s. Clouds came and went and a modest breeze helped, but 27 holes was at the upper limit of endurance, especially for older members of the field and those from the North who had not played much golf lately, their courses just beginning to thaw. Neckties were shed in the later going as energy diminished, perspiration increased, and walking became a slog of doggedness.

Thank goodness a splendid lunch had been arranged from a local caterer and the players took advantage of needed break in the clubhouse between the morning matches and the final nine holes on Saturday. They were grateful for the sustenance and the opportunity to rest sore feet.

Sunday’s finale involved two 9-hole matches to identify the eight top point-getters. It was another warm day, even more humid. Florida’s skies often build to a climax throughout the day and Mr. Geisler, who stationed himself near the ninth green, arms crossed, kept one eye on the weather as he waited for the later groups to finish.

Following the welcome lunch (hail to those who chose this caterer!) the final contestants were called to the tee. The final results:

Braid Division
Joey Piatek (38 pts) def. Frank Flood (35.5 pts) by 1 up
Bill Andrews (28 pts) def. Scott Staudacher (28 pts) by 3 and 2

Taylor Division
Rich Grula (34.5 pts) def. Rachel Weaver (35.5 pts) by 2 and 1
Bill Hamilton (29.5 pts) def. Ross Snellings (26.5 pts) by 2 and 1

The Grula-Weaver match was highlighted by a stymie negotiated deftly by Mr. Grula with a niblick and a nifty hop over Mrs. Weaver’s ball. (Mr. Christian Williams, aka “The Hickory Hacker,” is known for his YouTube videos of hickory golf and was on hand to capture the rare maneuver on video. Look for his posts on Instagram.)

The Piatek–Flood match was a back and forth affair that saw Mr. Piatek take a 1-up lead after a miracle downhill 25-footer found the cup on No. 7, only to fall back to all square with a careless 3-putt on the par 3 8th. 

That match coming to the final hole All Square, the skies had been contemplating armageddon for some time, growing ominously black. Weather apps predicted only minutes before the arrival of storms and lightning. As the two golfers approached their balls in the middle of the fairway on No. 9, a warning siren sounded. With only slight hesitation, the two finished while lighting flashed in the far distance. As it turned out, a lengthy putt by Mr. Piatek laid a dead stymie for Mr. Flood who failed to negotiate this cruel lash of fate. His putt struck Mr. Piatek’s ball in the attempt, the resulting 5 to Mr. Piatek’s four ending a well-played match.

Thus was the final medal determined under stormy skies punctuated by lightning flashes and rumbles of thunder. A dramatic end to a truly wonderful event.

Mr. Geisler and his committee – Marci Likens, Scott Staudacher, and Jim Davis – thank all competitors for a brilliant beginning to the World Gutty Championship. 

“This championship will continue to expand the base of players, making this one of the the premiere gutty events for hickory golfers, those who are intent upon experiencing the gutty age of golf history,” Mr. Geisler said. “The Winter Park Golf Course administrators and superintendent were generously supportive in every measure and we are looking for a return next year. Perhaps to an earlier start in March and improvements in the format.

“We must not forget to thank Greg and Beverly Wise, and Dr. Michael Jones for their brilliant photographs of the event (Mr. Jones on Saturday, and the Wises on Sunday). Be sure to look for more of their photographs in the Spring/Summer 2026 edition of A Wee Nip. We will also post links to galleries of these photos when available.”

The WGC championship committee is already laying plans for next year and invites comments and feedback from players. These can be sent to Mr. Geisler at: hickorybill1@gmail.com. One player has already weighed in. Mr. John Crow Miller (Dallas, Texas), a veteran gutty player with years of experience at the National Hickory Championship and other gutty events, has contributed several valuable insights that will help with the conduct and format of next year’s event.

This observer has attended several dozens of hickory events over the years and may say without fear of contradiction, that this was one of the finest launches of any event in his experience. If I may offer a word of advice… get your applications in early when next year’s competition is advertised.

Below are a few advance photos from the event including the final point totals for each player.