Your Society has been planning an international match with an European team for nearly a year. The inaugural event is to take place in conjunction with the World Hickory Open in 2014. David Brown of Omaha, Neb. has been selected to Captain the North American team. David Kirkwood, current Captain of the British Golf Collectors Society, and five-time Captain of the European Hickory Grail team, has agreed to lead the World Hickory International Select team.
Mr. Brown, an orthopedic surgeon and owner of the McIntyre Golf Ball Co., has named Rick Woeckener (Fredericksburg, Va.) to serve as his co-Captain; and Mike Stevens, a Tampa golf professional and founder of the U.S. Professional Hickory Golf Championship, as the man in charge of qualifying standards. Breck Speed has been appointed secretary to the team.
All four men played on an informal team of U.S. players led by Brian Schuman that, this past October, competed with an European squad formed by Lionel Freedman, organizer of the World Hickory Open. By all accounts, it was a most enjoyable match and has many players looking forward to future international team competitions.
Mr. Kirkwood, whose company creates distinctive golf trophies and medals, is one of Europe’s best known and well-liked hickory players. He has yet to select a co-Captain, but Mr. Freedman expects that to happen very soon.
The 2014 International Match is an inaugural event to be played each year in conjunction with WHO. Although details are still being worked out, the idea is for a friendly match to further extend our enjoyment of the hickory game as well to strengthen our international ties and friendships.
