Robert Birman reports:
The inaugural Oddball West took place on Aug. 24 at the Lake Cushman Golf Course in Hoodsport, Wash. It was not without some challenges.
The Northwest Hickory Players NWHP’s opportunity to bring the popular Oddball feather ball tournament to the West Coast occurred in the midst of nearby forest fires and a severe heat advisory for the region. The dedicated merry band of players prevailed, however. (It was 95 degrees at 5 p.m. when we left the course!) The weather forced us to be liberal about the dress code, but not before co-host Chris McIntyre named Woody Winter “best dressed” and presented him with a handmade iron divot tool. Mr. Winter led us with a driving-in ceremony with a very stout replica spur toe iron; a fitting start to what was a fun-filled date of nine holes gutty golf and 12 holes of feathery golf with feather balls from Hickory Lane Featherie, hosts of the original Oddball.
Robert Birman and Seth Williams were other co-hosts, with Williams presiding over course set-up and craft services, whilst Birman handled registration, scoring, and prize-giving. Williams leaned on club pro, Ryan Cook, for a custom-routing for the back side, dividing the “championship nine” into 12 somewhat manageable holes for feather balls, replete with a handful of custom-cut holes to better emulate the conditions of 1840s Scottish links golf.
Thirteen players competed after a few were forced to drop out, with Cook posting the low gutty round of 46 and three players (McIntyre, Pool, and Laboa) tying for second at 47. A scorecard playoff awarded the gutty runner-up prize (a High Camp custom-engraved flask) to Pool.
With 12 holes of feathery golf, McIntyre was our leader in the clubhouse with a score of 57 (an average of 4.75 strokes per hole over 1,872 yards). Cook technically placed second in the feathery round, but since he had already been awarded a flask for the gutty score, Leboa took second for featheries.
In the end, McIntyre and Cook both scored 104 for the day, but since “Auld Mac” donated the overall champion’s prize (a miniature spur toe iron and commemorative plaque), it was rightfully bestowed on our 2025 Champion, club pro Ryan Cook who – by press accounts – was competing in his first hickory event on this day. The course conditions were very good and in spite of the heat, all had a splendid day.
Seth Williams and his bride, Cori, outdid themselves with homemade teriyaki chicken, fish tacos, kimchi, boiled potatoes, pasta salad and much more, into which the field got tucked post haste.
One feather ball met its maker on this day due to the shear forces applied to it and we know of at least one gutty ball that was lost to very high rough left of the 8th fairway.
Despite these regrettable losses, forest fires and hot weather, all contestants are in favor of repeating the event (sans weather and fires) in the NWHP’s 2026 schedule.
Additional photos here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1094135712852365&type=3
Oddball West event host Rob Birman, right, awards Chris McIntyre his trophy as the best feather ball player of the day.
Following their round’s competition, the players at the 2025 Oddball West golf outing cooled off in the clubhouse from the excessive heat that day. Receiving his award as the lowest gutty shooter of the day is Ryan Cook from event host Rob Birman.
The players at the 2025 Oddball West golf outing on the Lake Cushman Golf Course in Hoodsport, Wash.
Seth Williams on the tee at the 2025 Oddball West tournament.
Woody Winter makes a resplendent sartorial statement as a gentleman golfer of the feathery era. He was playing at the 2025 Oddball West event in Hoodsport, Wash. His caddie unidentified.