HICKORY GOLF NEWS

2017 marks 40th anniversary of historic championship July 2017 – Des Moines, Iowa By Bill Reed The Heart of America Hickory Championship began in 1978 with Warren “Ole” Olson, the tourney originator. Olson was from Denison, Iowa, and was a previous president of the Golf Collectors Society. This year’s tournament was the 40th edition and another GCS past president and […]

Gutty players keep hickory spirit strong in Wisconsin Organizers at the Wisconsin Gutty Challenge have a great time, but they also remember a keen friend of hickory golf – the late Mike Just, owner of Louisville Golf. Each year, tournament organizers present three first-place traveling trophies that are exact replicas of the Keeper of the Spirit trophy presented to Just […]

July 21, 2017 – For all players considering the SoHG’s Long Island Special Sept. 22-24, now is the time to book rooms. On Aug. 10, the host hotel, the Holiday Inn Express Stony Brook, will release the room block being held for this outing. You are encouraged to make your reservations soon to get the discounted rate of $139 for […]

2017 USHO Champ finds a lot to like in hickory golf By Jim Davis Many eyes were on Jeremy Moe in Del Monte for the 10th annual U.S. Hickory Open. Most knew he had won the previous four in a row, and it would have been hard to not root for the likable pro from Florida, where he is now […]

Hickories in the mountains at inaugural White Mountain Classic July 8, 2017 – The inaugural playing of the White Mountain Hickory Classic was met with curiosity and enthusiasm at the beautiful and historic Omni Mount Washington Hotel.  Seventeen players teed it up in knickers and button-down shirts under the Stableford scoring system. After a 20-minute rain shower, the weather cleared making […]

2017 USHO first-class from the start By Robert Birman Exasperating. Astonishing. Taxing. These words characterized so many players’ rounds at the 2017 U.S. Hickory Open. I suspect that many who traveled to Del Monte links in Monterey in mid-July presumed the 1897 design would be less than a “major” challenge. After all, how hard can an old track, and the […]

California resident Nico Bollini of Laguna Beach claimed the 2017 U.S. Open title in a one-hole playoff with early favorite Cliff Martin of Los Angeles. Both players shot 153 to earn their way to the playoff. For Martin, it is the second playoff loss in a row as Jeremy Moe of Boca Raton, Fla. claimed the 2016 title over Martin […]

July 3, 2017 By Jim Davis I am not from “these here parts,” as they say in some of these here parts, but I do enjoy hearing about passion for life and Texans are nothing if not passionate about many things. The state’s motto, the Lone Star State, though, I believe to be in error. A brief examination of its […]

Hot Gearhart celebrates 125th anniversary of historic course June 26, 2017 – Gearhart, Ore. By Rob Birman Twenty-eight players from five states and Canada contested the 2017 Gearhart Hickory Classic, marking two historic occasions. The first was the grand links’ 125th anniversary.  The second, record-setting temperatures on the Oregon coast of 92 degrees on Saturday, June 24. Aside from the simply […]

U.S. Hickory Open site applications are being accepted by the SoHG. If your local play group has interest in hosting the U.S. Hickory Open, now is the time to contact the Society of Hickory Golfers selection committee with your proposal. The selection committee is accepting applications and is actively looking for locations and individuals to host the event. Please contact Bill […]

Where to golf next? Gotta be traditional for hickory golf. Golf writer Lisa D. Mickey has posted a story to the website Where To Golf Next, on the desirability of traditional courses for hickory golf. As well as Belvedere, she lists Chambers Bay, Bright-Grandview and Wawashkamo. Check it out here.

Charlevoix, Mich. – Chuck McMullin of Williamsburg, Va. is one of the founding members of the Society of Hickory Golfers, an enthusiastic golf collector and a summer resident in the Charlevoix, Mich. area. As well, the hickory golf veteran has a lovely swing and it was this that caught the eye of roving reporters at the Belvedere Golf Club during […]

Lefty from Missouri tames renovated Belvedere course June 19 – Charlevoix, Mich. Bill “Ernie” Ernst from Neenah, Wisc., did his best, but could not overcome a first round four-shot deficit thrown up by lefty Zach Kratofil of St. Louis, Mo. The strapping young man from Missouri mixed towering drives with accurate approaches and deft putting to take the 2017 Open […]

Lovely day for hickory golf in Philadelphia June 11 – Philadelphia, Pa. More than perfect weather greeted hickory golfers at the 2017 Philadelphia Hickory Open. They found good friends and a 1920s gem of a William Flynn course, perfect for the good old clubs. Ben Ellis, of Waldorf, Md., made it worthwhile. He shot the low medal round of 76 […]

(June 12, 2017) — The Philadelphia Cricket Club’s St. Martins course was nicely suited to Bill Geisler’s game. The Winter Springs, Fla. native and current president of the Society of Hickory Golfers, claimed the winner’s trophy in the 20th playing of the National Hickory Championship.  In the Open Division, Geisler finished with a 157, three clear of second place champ […]