All American Hickory Championship returns for 2017

May 5-7
Arsenal Island Golf Course
Arsenal Island, Rock Island County, Ill.

Announcing the revival of the “All American” Hickory championship.

After much discussion over the last few years, it was determined that gutty/hickory golf should return to the Arsenal Island Golf Course in Rock Island, Ill. Connor Lewis started this event to get more people involved in the history and the game of pre-1900 golf as played with the gutty ball. He started with an eager group at the first golf course in Chicago, the old Chicago Golf Club in Downers Grove. From there he moved it to an incredible venue to Arsenal Island, a military base and island between Rock Island/Moline, Ill. and Davenport/Bettendorf, Iowa.

The Arsenal Island Golf Course began over 115 years ago, (July 24, 1897) when Colonel Stanhope E. Blunt, the Rock Island Arsenal Commander, learned about the game of golf from a fellow officer. Blunt recruited several officers to form Rock Island Arsenal Golf Club, and they held an inaugural event to introduce the game to the Quad Cities. In the course’s first year, Blunt designed five holes, which were constructed by U.S. soldiers. They finished the initial nine holes in 1898 and marked the completion of the 18-hole course in 1902. With a convenient out-and-back, links-style arrangement in the Scottish tradition, spectators followed play from the comfort of their carriages.

Click here for an entry/registration entry form.

Mark your calendars. We hope you can join us in reviving the All American and gutty golf back on Arsenal Island.

Best regards,
All American Hickory Open Event Committee

 

Event Schedule
*Times are tentative and will be determined on participation

Friday
Practice Round:
All Day – at your pleasure and time
Welcome Reception/Club Swap:
4-9 p.m.   In the Club House – Room TBD, (if you need tables, please let Doc Eike know how many)

Saturday
*Breakfast on your own (there may be pastries and coffee at the club house).
First round of event
8-9 a.m.  (time will depend on participation)
The order of each division will be – Captain’s Tournament, Open, Senior, Statesman, Ladies, Pre-1935.
Beverages and resume Club Swap after the first Round.
Dinner/Reception
5-8 p.m. In the Club House – Room TBD

Sunday
*Breakfast on your own (there may be pastries and coffee at the club house).
7-8 a.m.: Second Round of Event (time will depend on participation)
Awards Luncheon
1-2 p.m.: In the Club House – Room TBD (time will depend on participation)

 

Lodging:
Stoney Creek Hotel & Convention Center
101 18th St., Moline, IL 61265
309-743-0101

This is a highly rated “lodge” theme setting, just six minutes from the golf course. It’s literally a minute or two from the main Arsenal entrance.

  • The rate is $109.00 a night. (Normally $124.00)
  • Reservations must be made by April 5th.
  • Our contact there is Kim Bothel. Reference our group “All American Hickory Open.

Make your reservation early while they last.  We will try to reserve more if sold out.

 

General Information
Arsenal Island Golf Course
1838 Gillespie St, Rock Island, IL 61201
There are two entrances from Rock Island, and one entrance from Davenport.
Golf Shop phone: 309-793-1604
Golf: $27 / 18 holes Cart: $14 / 18 holes

Island Access
The Arsenal Island Golf Course is located on a U.S. military base.  U.S.A. citizens must have a valid U.S./state government issued picture ID.  Participants and guests traveling from outside the U.S.A. must show their passports.

Quad Cities Visitor Bureau
Things for guests to do, visit www.visitquadcities.com