Under sunny skies and rising temperatures, the 10th annual Wisconsin Hickory Players’ annual charity event was held June 21-22 at Thornberry Creek at Oneida, Iroquois course. Iroquois is gutty- friendly and allows an unspoiled walk or cart. The Pay It Forward Gutty Challenge offered a unique weekend of “Auld Gawf” spanning three centuries of golf equipment.
Contestants sported Auld Gawf attire and played from sand buckets to the special holes cut in front of the regular greens.
Saturday witnessed 23 contestants battling it out for three championships.
Open Championship contestants played the McIntyre Park gutty ball. At the end of the day, past champion, Joe Guerard, totaled 78 and was crowned the 2025 Champion and handed the coveted traveling trophy. Defending champion, Ernie Ernst, and his sidekick, Doc Eike, were hot on his heels, a mere two shots back.
Our McIntyre Braid-Vardon Championship was captured by James Griffen, who played his normal, steady game and finished with a nice 81. Fred Boetcher was only three shots back while the defending champion, Keith Hanson, was overheard whispering “Just wait til next year.”
All five teams in the “Modern Ball” scramble championship recorded scores of 80-83. When strokes were tallied, George “Iron Man” Galligan and Lori emerged with the championship, a nice 80. Defending champs, Rob “King of Swing” Kress and Jen were a few strokes back and have already thrown down the gauntlet for next year.
We extended a warm welcome to our new players, Patrick Zinuticz and our first international player from England, Christine Smith.
The afternoon was dedicated to legendary tales (some which were true), congrats to the champs, and unequalled comaraderie. All gathered at Jim and Judy Koss’ home for another memorable afternoon of tasty BBQ, wee nips, and a special Shirley Ernst dessert. And the grand finale was once again, priceless prizes for each player.
Our gratitude to our photo historian, Jenn Conger-Koss; to our chef, Connor Dunning; and our organizer and guardian angel, Judy Koss.
Sunday featured the 333 challenge: three centuries of Auld Gawf in three hours. Eight Auld Gawf contestants played the Lane Feathery on one-shotter holes; McIntyre Park or Braid on two-shotters; and McIntyre JH Taylor soft compression or similar on three-shotters.
The lead seesawed all morning. It was a dramatic and intense three centuries. Finally, Jim Rood emerged as our champion with 78 while Pat Zinuticz was one shot back with a 79.
Everyone played very well. Recording scores in the 80s were Dave Long; Rob Kress, George Galligan, Denny Olson, and Tom Gassner.
Next year’s 11th annual Charity Challenge was announced as the weekend after Father’s Day: June 27-28.
The Auld Gawf Clan approved our local rule for next year’s 333 competition and will incorporate the stymie and play the ball down.
Specifics will be posted on the SoHG World Tournament page during the winter.
Click here to see the wonderful photo gallery from Jenn Conger-Koss.
All the photos below were taken by Jenn.
Golfing couples at the 2025 Pay It Forward Gutty Challenge. From left: Jim and Ellen Rood, Dave and Karen Long, and George and Lori Galligan.
The players at the 2025 Pay It Forward Gutty Challenge.
Classic photo of Wisconsin’s hickory golf leaders. From left: Ernie Ernst, Doc Eike, Ken Holtz, and Joe Guerard.
Enjoying the 2025 Pay It Forward Gutty Challenge were, from left: Denny Olson, Patrick Zinuticz, Christine Smith, and Mike Brown.
Mike Brown has discovered how to fill in those moments while others are looking for his ball. (Just kidding, Mike.)
New hickory golfer Patrick Zinuticz shows off a classic swing.
Event host James ‘Wally’ Koss – a man of class and vision. And he knows how to run a hickory golf tournament, too.