2012 Year in Review, Hickory Golf on the Pacific Coast
Happy New Year Hickory Friends,
I hope 2013 is a great one, especially for hickory golf out here on the West. Keep your 2013 calendars open for Pacific Coast Hickory events. In mid-Feb we have the Arizona Desert Hickory; the California Hickory “North-South” is back and kicks off Friday night June 21with two days of hickory on the lovely Pacific coast June 22-23; Oct. 25-26 are the dates for the Region 9 CA Hickory Open held in Huntington Beach. Other hickory outings are planned every six weeks or so. One to look for is the annual “Bobby Jones Day” at Los Serranos CC around March 17. LS celebrates Bobby Jones’ birthday each year and, if you are dressed up in your hickory outfits (knickers/plus-fours), you play for FREE. (I will email you all in late February to see who is in for the free round).
• 2012 was a good year for hickory golf in California. For the first time, multiple hickory tournaments were held in the state in one year. Hickory outings from 4-10 golfers took place five times throughout the year (not counting the North-South and the GCS California Hickory Open). We had 60 different people tee up and play hickory golf clubs during the year over the course of seven outings/tournaments, with 19 people at two or more of the events. We had a great showing from our out-of-state hickory friends, and look forward to seeing them again, as they are always invited back to make our events more enjoyable.
I am hoping that we can all build on this momentum and keep the game of hickory golf growing here in our region. This past year I have talked with more people about hickory golf than I had the previous four years combined. You never know who may be interested in it, or who might LOVE it but has yet to be introduced to the sport. Wherever you are visiting this part of the country, please introduce hickory golf to a friend or a golf buddy. Maybe have a back-up or extra basic play set handy and ready to go. I would love to see that number of 60 people go up much higher.
Although it is just more than five months off, the North-South may be bigger and better than the inaugural based on what I’m hearing. I have spoken with a handful or more who missed last year but are planning on this year. Also, there is brisk interest from out-of-state players. I am pushing for the Southern Cal guys to make the event this year (I have heard more are planning to). I would like to even the match after the North Team eked a 1-point victory last year. I truly hope if you can make just one event this summer, that you make the North-South. You will not be disappointed.
Always remember that information is on our Web site at www.pacifichickory.com
Find us on Facebook, too, at Pacific Coast Hickory Golfers.
Yours in Hickory Golf,
Eddie Breeden