HICKORY GOLF NEWS

On May 19 the Nebraska Hickory Golfers were looking forward to their Opening Day event at the Elmwood Park Golf Course, but the skies were looking iffy. Black clouds and heavy rains came early and later in the day, but in between the players – a record field of 36 – got in a great round to start the season. […]

The Kohler golf courses always create an interesting challenge for a hickory golfer. While extremely fair, the courses can be very challenging and unforgiving of the slightest of misses. This year was no different. Congratulations to all the winners of the 2024 Kohler Hickory Challenge. Our champion this year was Bill Pedersen (172), winning on his first trip to Kohler. […]

Still looking to gain some traction, World Hickory Golf Day, selected for the first Sunday in May, was celebrated by a few regional groups who got into the spirit of the day. Turns out there are a few other “national days” that were celebrated on May 5 this year, most notably Cinco de Mayo, the Mexican celebration of freedom. But, […]

Mike Needleman reports: A cool 55 degree day found 28 golfers, eager and ready to play in the 4th annual Kansas Sunflower Hickory Match-Play event held Saturday, April 20, 2024, at the Falcon Lakes Golf Course in Basehor, Kan. The two-person teams were comprised of participants from seven states including Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, Arkansas, Texas, Arizona, and Kansas. At the […]

It was special time at the 2024 Southern 4-Ball Hickory Championship for Taylor Jones and his father, Ed. The two won the Open Division of the annual championship with a 134 total, besting runners-up Peter Flory and Ted Kopec by one stroke. Taylor, especially, was happy about the outcome as he really wanted to win the event in partnership with […]

The 4th Florida Hickory Open concluded Wednesday, April 3, at the Dubsdread Golf Course in Orlando. The course, celebrating its 100th year, was in excellent shape and the weather, though bordering on hot, was great for the entire tournament. “A big thanks to the Florida State Golf Association who conducted the event and for their support of hickory golf and […]

Kenosha Country Club and the Wisconsin Hickory Golfers have collaborated to produce a short video that showcases the 1921 Donald Ross-designed course that will host the 2024 U.S. Hickory Open. The YouTube video below is just over 3 minutes long. Enjoy!

Host Steven Miller reports: Twenty-one players gathered for the second annual Chautauqua Hickory Open held at the Eagle Springs Golf and Recreation Center in DeFuniak Springs, Fla. Eagle Springs (formerly the DeFuniak Springs Country Club) recently celebrated its 100th anniversary. Players came from Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Mississippi and Florida, a five hour or more trek for many. Jimmy Wilkins of […]

Playing pre-1935 hickory shafted clubs, 88 players celebrated the 12th Arizona Desert Hickory in Sun City West, Ariz. Equipped with vintage equipment, and attired in knickers, argyle socks, woolen caps and vintage outfits, they challenged Grandview & Pebblebrook Golf Courses in grand style over a two-day competition. During the last weekend of February, players from across the USA and Canada, […]

Win Padgett Jr. passed away on March 6, 2024. He was one of the original co-founders of the Society of Hickory Golfers, a gentleman and a strong influence on the early growth of modern hickory golf. Win was 78 and had been in poor health for several years.  “Win loved hickory golf and was a giant for the hickory game’s […]

The cold that settled on much of the country during the weekend of Jan. 20-21 did not overlook Winter Park, Fla. Despite the chilly, and at times drizzly, conditions the players delighted in the classic Winter Park Golf Course, a 9-hole beauty on the Florida Historic Golf Trail. The field was once again maxed out at 48 players on Saturday […]

“The impetus for this tournament is really all the great events I have been able to attend through my short time as a hickory golfer, says Christopher Hawes. “Everyone is welcoming and full of character, and the emphasis, while being competitive, is on the pure enjoyment of the game.” Though he enjoyed the sport so much, there were few people […]

As this snapshot of global hickory activity shows from 2023, tournament fields are growing and players continue to enjoy this fascinating sport which brings pleasure on so many levels. It’s hoped these brief summaries will serve as a document, of sorts, certainly not to be considered exhaustive, of the sport in the various countries in which it is played. We […]

Alex Bruce reports: The PGA Hickory Golf Tournament TAIHEIYO CLUB CUP 2023, Japan’s first PGA-sanctioned hickory golf tournament (total prize money 8 million yen) was held at the Taiheiyo Club Yachiyo Course on Dec. 8-9. The tournament was played with hickory shafted golf clubs; all players wore knickerbockers. The competition format was a two-day pro-am tournament, with 30 professionals playing […]

Saturday/Sunday – December 9 & 10, 2023 – Mount Dora GC The 2023 Florida Hickory Golfers Championship was contested Dec. 9-10 at the Mount Dora Golf Course. It was a great weekend on which to close out the year. Once again, Will Peterson captured the Stevens Trophy. Carlos Debarros took home the Heritage Trophy, and Natalie Wells bested all the […]