International Festival of Hickory Golf and the SoHG International Hickory Cup

Temple Terrace Golf & Country Club
Temple Terrace, Fla. USA
2/20/2016 – 2/25/2016
Tournament Information

An exciting week of Hickory Golf is scheduled in the Sunshine State at the end of February 2016. To get started, Temple Terrace Preservation hosts a hickory scramble and Knickers Ball on Saturday, Feb. 20, on the historic Tom Bendelow course. The following day, Sunday, the Mike Stevens Challenge takes place, a four-person shamble counting the best two balls of the group. Monday is the US Professional Hickory Golf Championship with a $5,000 purse and the US Amateur Hickory Championship. www.usprohickory.com.

After completion of these events, play moves to the Mission Inn Resort at Howey in the Hills, Fla. for the Society of Hickory Golfers International Hickory Cup where the U.S. Team will look to keep the Trophy it won in Scotland in 2014.

The IHC is a goodwill match between the USA and a World Select Team, chosen by Lionel Freedman. The Ryder Cup format includes foursomes, match play, and singles. the first event was played at Monifieth in Carnoustie, Scotland in October 2014.

Members of U.S. Team qualify by securing points based on their finish in the SOHG Championship series. Members of the World Select Team are chosen by  Freedman, who is also director of the World Hickory Open.

IHC matches are scheduled for Feb. 23-25 at the Mission Inn resort on the famed El Campeon and Las Colinas courses at Howey in the Hills, Fla.

Timing of the IHC, as well as the location, was selected to facilitate travel for Europeans who might find Florida in February an attractive inducement. Indeed, many in the U.S. will surely find it so. That Stevens is already hosting the two aforementioned competitions and is an accomplished international player himself, was no small factor in the choice.

Practice rounds for the international teams are scheduled for Feb. 23 on the El Campeon course. The following day, Wednesday, will feature four ball and foursomes matches. Thurday brings the singles matches.

USA Contact – Mike Stevens
Phone: 813-244-7619    Email: ams1127@msn.com
European Contact – Lionel Freedman
Phone: (44) (0) 131 665 4861   Email: info@worldhicoryopen.com

The U.S. Professional & Amateur Championship – Feb. 22, 2016
The annual playing of the U.S. Golf Teachers Federation-sponsored events at historic Temple Terrace Golf & Country Club will take place on Monday, Feb. 22, 2016. The tournaments are open to male and female golf professionals and amateurs, and hosted by Mike Stevens, a member of the USGTF. These championships are a testament to the history and heritage of our game as it was first played in the country. It honors the memory of John Shippen and Oscar Bunn, America’s first golf pros, and the 1925 Florida Open in which all the prominent pros of the day played.

Information and entries can be obtained at: www.usprohickory.com.
Professional Purse – $5,000
Hickory clubs are provided to players who may not have their own sets.

Temple Terrace Preservation Annual Hickory Hacker and Knickers Ball – Feb. 20, 2016
This 4-person scramble is a great way to kick off the historic week of play. Form your own team or sign up and be placed on a team. A great way to meet new friends and enjoy a gala dinner and trophy presentation following play.
Entry Fee: $125 (With Knickers Ball)
Knickers Ball Only: $35

Mike Stevens Hickory Challenge – Feb. 21, 2016
This is a 4-person Shamble that provides a perfect warm-up prior to the Monday Professional and Amateur Championships. Teams are organized by host Mike Stevens and the winning team is awarded the Spirit of Hickory Trophy. Entry Fee: $60

Florida Hickory Golfers Challenge
The FHG Challenge is for those who are not involved in the SOHG International Hickory Cup matches but want to enjoy the Florida sun for some additional competition at the fabulous Mission Inn Resort. The competition will include a practice round and two tournament rounds on the El Campeon and Las Colinas courses, hotel fee and breakfast. It is open to all hickory golfers from across the world.

Contact Mike Stevens at ams1127@msn.com for details on how to enter any of the Temple Terrace events.

Travel Information

The International Festival of Hickory Golf
Feb. 20-26, 2016
   Temple Terrace Hickory Hacker
Mike Stevens Challenge
US Professional & Amateur Hickory Championships
   SoHG International Hickory Cup

Temple Terrace Golf & Country Club, Tampa, Florida
Mission Inn Resort, Howey in the Hills, Florida

The best airports to fly into are Tampa or Orlando. Orlando is about an hour and 45 minutes to Tampa. Hotels near Temple Terrace are listed below. Orlando has several hotels with closest to Temple Terrace by Disney World or Kissimmee.

For those coming to play in the SoHG International Hickory Cup, Feb. 23-26…

Mission Inn Golf Resort
Howey in the Hills, Fla.
Group Reservation No. is 0615G09

A deposit in the amount of $154.29 is due by 1/10/2016

As reservations will be made on an individual basis. Each person should call the reservations department at 800-874-9053. A credit card deposit is required.

Listed here are prices for Mission Hills golf packages…

Two-Night Package
$588.51 Single Occupancy Deluxe Package
$420.90 Double Occupancy Deluxe Package
$209.04 Double Occupancy Deluxe Package *Non Golfer

The two-night package includes:
Two (2) Nights in Deluxe Hotel Accommodations
Nightly Resort FeeTwo (2) Hot La Hacienda Breakfast Buffets
Three (3) rounds of 18 holes of Championship Golf
Bag Tag, Club Cleaning and Storage
All applicable service charges
All applicable taxes

Three-Night Package
$776.84 Single Occupancy Deluxe Package
$525.42 Double Occupancy Deluxe Package
$313.56 Double Occupancy Deluxe Package *Non Golfer

The three-night package includes:
Three (3) Nights in Deluxe Hotel Accommodations
Nightly Resort Fee
Three (3) Hot La Hacienda Breakfast Buffets
Three (3) rounds of 18 holes of Championship Golf
Bag Tag, Club Cleaning and Storage
All applicable service charges
All applicable taxes

Recommended Hotels near Temple Terrace, Florida

Days Inn West of Busch Gardens 

  • Tampa, 3.4 miles to Temple Terrace
  • priceline.com ‎$48
  • Hotels.com ‎$51

Ramada Tampa 

  • Tampa, 1.0 miles to Temple Terrace
  • priceline.com ‎$96
  • Hotels.com ‎$96

Extended Stay America – Tampa – North 

  • Temple Terrace, 1.6 miles to City center
  • Official hotel website ‎$81