HICKORY GOLF NEWS

South Carolina’s Harman takes 2023 U.S. Pro & Amateur title
February 21, 2023

It was Florida in February and the weather was as the chamber of commerce ordered it – magnificent. Just right for the 13th annual U.S. Professional Amateur Hickory Golf Championship and the preceding casual hickory golf outings. The weekend is hosted by hickory golf champion and professional golf teacher Mike Stevens. On Sunday, five teams competed in a shamble format […]

Armstrong and Hayden winners at Winter Park
January 25, 2023

A full field took to the historic 1914 Winter Park 9, listed as one of the top ten 9-hole golf courses in the United States. The course played firm like a links that you would find at the home of golf. The two-day event, Jan. 21-22, consisted of 18 holes on day one and nine holes where only four clubs […]

Scott Nakase is 2022 Japan Hickory Players Champion
January 16, 2023

There is a beautiful but mysterious lake in front of the first tee box at Naruo Golf Club called the ‘Ijiwaru Ike,’ which means ‘mean-spirited lake’ in English. The mysterious part is that it’s small and picturesque. But when you tee up with your hickory golf clubs, it grows larger and meaner…and…I will leave the rest for you to discover […]

World Hickory 2022
January 4, 2023

January 2023 In this cautious world of post-covid recovery, golf-related activities in 2022 continued to enjoy support as the largely outdoor sport can be played with minimal precautions against the wily virus. Hickory golf was no exception and the planet’s hickory golf enthusiasts came out in large numbers to play their favorite events, meet with friends, and explore the nuances […]

European organizations unite to promote hickory golf
January 3, 2023

3 January 2023 – Davos, Switzerland Leading proponents of hickory golf from several European countries have formed the Society of Hickory Golfers – Europe for the purposes of providing support and guidance in promoting growth of the ‘royal and ancient’ game as it was played from its origins. Meeting in late October at Ducks Inn in Aberlady, Scotland, the group […]

Idaho’s Sue Tracy runs away with 2022 WHO women’s title.
December 16, 2022

By Tom Tracy with Jim Davis Belated, but nonetheless cheerful news for U.S. hickory golfers: Susan Tracy, of Star, Idaho, playing out of River Birch Golf Course, captured the Ladies Division of the 2022 World Hickory Open (WHO), played in the Highlands of Scotland Oct. 11-13.  The WHO, founded by Lionel Freedman and played annually since 2005, draws hickory shaft […]

Video flyover of Ron Lyons golf car collection
December 8, 2022

Every August Ron Lyons of Canada hosts the annual Canadian Hickory Open Championship on his Legends Golf Course in Edmonton. He is also a golf collector of the first order with many dozens of clubs, balls, tees, books… you name it. The item that sets him apart from most others is his passion for golf cars, especially those dating before […]

One more title? Sir Bob Charles to play in 2023 New Zealand Hickory Open
November 18, 2022

By Jim Davis Occasionally, to the wondering mind of the hickory golfer there comes the thought of how fine it would be should a well known champion golfer join the field for, say, a U.S. Hickory Open. Masters champion Sandy Lyle has competed twice in the World Hickory Open, winning once, and we have seen videos of such young tigers […]

Strong start for inaugural GHSC Fall Hickory Classic
October 18, 2022

Report by George Supol, GHSC board member and tournament statistician The Golf Historical Society of Canada’s Fall Hickory Classic was held Saturday, Oct. 1-2, 2022 in the Niagara Falls, Ontario area. This inaugural event was a successor to the well-attended C.B. McDonald tournaments run by Paul Dietz and others at the historical Niagara-on-the-Lake Golf Course, in prior years. Over the two days, players generally played hickory […]

Reflections on the World Hickory Open 2022
October 15, 2022

By Rick Adams On the multiple occasions I had played golf in Scotland across the past three decades, I had – oddly – never played in what I considered “Scottish weather” : windy, rainy, cold, generally nasty. I had been cursed with only sunny, balmy days from Royal Troon to Old Musselburgh to The Old Course. (Except for waiting seven […]

Australia adds new hickory golf group
October 12, 2022

Dateline – NOW HICKORY GOLF IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA Cheers to the members of the Fleurieu Hickory Golfers, a newly formed South Australian hickory golfing society. The members held their inaugural event on Friday, Aug. 26 at Victor Harbor Golf Club. On a beautiful mid-winter afternoon, eight players participated in a 9-hole non-competitive round and great fun was had by all. […]

Europe’s U3A golfers explore the spirit of hickory in the south of France
October 5, 2022

By RICK ADAMS How do you shift someone from ‘I enjoy playing golf’ to ‘I love hickory golf’? It starts with putting a hickory club in their hands. I had the pleasure this week of introducing several avid golfers to hickory. They’re among a group of friends with whom I play often when we are in the far south of […]

Hackensack impresses golfers of the Metro Hickory Society
October 4, 2022

The Metropolitan Hickory Society annual knows hot to select courses of historic pedigree and architectural distinction. Their September “Steam Shovel” event at the Hackensack Golf Club in Emerson, N.J., was no exception. Here’s Bill Martin’s take on the day and a sneak peak into next season’s lineup for the MHS, which also is our host regional group for the 2023 […]

Dr. Jay Harris – 1941-2022
September 30, 2022

Dr. Jay Harris of Burlington and Pinehurst, N.C., passed away Sept. 27. He was 81. A service is scheduled for 3 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14 at the Emerywood Baptist Church, 1300 Country Club Dr., High Point, N.C. Casual golfing attire is recommended. Knickers/Plus Fours would be a nice touch. Dr. Harris was one of the early guiding lights of the […]

A McNabb Cup victory long in the making – Scott Staudacher
September 29, 2022

By MacDuff Whitehall, Mich., Sept. 29, 2022 – There was a buzz of nervous anticipation in the great media palace located somewhere above. Groups of heavenly cognoscenti measured their time and their drinks the while casting furtive glances at the great televised contest and keeping an eye on the betting window. Bernardo Darwin glanced casually at his notepad; nearby, Herb […]

SoHG Housekeeping

The Spring/Summer 2026 edition of A Wee Nip has been mailed. Thanks to all who contributed! Click on the cover image to view the latest edition.
The PlusFour Podcast hosted by Rob Birman regularly publishes interviews with hickory golfers, leaders in the hickory golf world and golf historians. Rob is a gifted interviewer and his guests are both knowledgeable and interesting. It's a good mix. The latest is an interview with Stephen Proctor, whose recent book, Matchless, brings to life the storied careers of golf's legendary women greats, including Joyce Wethered and Glenna Collett. Click here for the latest episode (airing Monday, Nov. 17).
ADVERTISE IN THE WEE NIP – Send your message to all SoHG members in the bi-annual magazine. Your ad also helps the SoHG. Contact Dale Hallock for information on how to advertise.
The USHO at Hot Springs is now history. Check the Homepage for an article with results and photos. Next year's event is to be on the Gearhart Golf Links in Gearhart, Ore.
Support the USHO with a donation to the USHO Patrons Fund. Donations of any amount to the Fund are welcome, but a $1,000 donation earns a Lifetime Membership in the Society. Click here to learn more and donate.
Let us know about your hickory hole-in-one. Click here to check out reports from others who have managed this rare shot with a hickory club. Timothy Chenevert, of Baton Rouge, La., got his on the City Park Golf Course in late September.
Send your letters, comments, photos, and articles for A Wee Nip and website contributions to Jim Davis. Do it! Let's hear about your hickory golf travels and adventures.

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