Lionel Freedman, far left, front row, stands next to Brian Schuman. Rick Woeckner holds the Cup won by the Team USA.
Team USA won the cup at the Grand Hickory Match, on Tuesday, Oct. 1, with a score of 16-12. The event was held following the World Hickory Open, Oct. 1-2, at Carnoustie, Scotland. Team USA member Rick Woeckener reports the event was a huge success and everyone had a great time. European organizer and SoHG board member Lionel Freedman was said to be very pleased with how everything turned out. For his part, Brian Schuman was lauded by his teammates for putting all the pieces together. By all accounts it would see that a solid foundation has been laid for future international matches between North American SoHG members and a European squad, the World Hickory International Select, assembled by Mr. Freedman.
Each team fielded 16 members, immaculately dressed in golfing outfits inspired by the golfers of yesteryear, with Team USA wearing a uniform specially designed for the occasion.
“With a high proportion of the world’s best hickory golfers competing in the World Hickory Open, the Grand Hickory Match provided the perfect conclusion to our 2013 visit to Carnoustie Country,” said Freedman, who is also the co-founder and director of the World Hickory Open.
The idea of a Grand Hickory Match on one of the historic Carnoustie Country courses was initially suggested by several of the American hickory golfers, notably Brian Schuman and Rick Woeckener, who competed in last year’s World Hickory Open, which was held on two of Carnoustie Country’s 30 courses, Monifieth Medal and Carnoustie Burnside.
“Since then, there have been further developments and the 2013 Grand Hickory Match will now be the forerunner to the full Ryder Cup-style tournament that will take place following next year’s World Hickory Open, which is being held at Panmure,” Freedman said. “The Grand Match at Arbroath on Oct. 3 marks the beginning of an international team event that we hope will last for many years and will be a highly-enjoyable – and highly-competitive – adjunct to the World Hickory Open.”
North Carolina hickory golfer Mike Henderson, who is a member of Team USA, agreed. “The Grand Hickory Match could be the start of something very big,” he said. “Hickory golf is true golf, where skill and technique still matter. The Grand Hickory Match will highlight the extremely high level of golfing expertise of every member of both teams – and also the excellent spirit of camaraderie fostered by hickory golf.”
“I can’t wait to play in the Grand Hickory Match,” said English golf professional Andrew Marshall, one of the members of the World Hickory International Select team, and a regular on the European Tour circuit. “Although I had a hickory 3 wood when I was six years old, playing in the World Hickory Open was my first experience of playing competitive hickory golf so it’s a great honour to be selected for the World Hickory International Select.”
An account of the match and additional photos will be published in the fall Wee Nip, the newsletter of the Society of Hickory Golfers.
Portions of this report are courtesy of Wendy Glass, a PR consultant on behalf of Carnoustie Country.
Team USA photographed at the Tuesday night banquet following the matches.