™ Journal of the Society of Hickory Golfers • Spring 2017 • www.hickorygolfers.com The National Hickory Championship celebrates its 20th year in 2017. Above, repeat NHC champion Mike Stevens (white cap) waits his turn on the No. 3 tee at Oakhurst Links. See the story on page 10 about the 20th anniversary of this remarkable tournament. ONION CREEK GREEN CARD. All square with ICE, Pete League solved the problem of too few Canadian players this year to hold the Swift Matches, a Ryder Cup-style event between Canada and the U.S. that is part of the Onion Creek Classic. A few of the U.S. lads were volunteered to become Canadian citizens for the day. Hal Coward, who is a proud Texan, was one of the newly-made citizens. “Despite subsequent grousing that the Canadians had captured the cream of the U.S. talent, I have it on good authority that the loaning actually lowered the average handicaps of both teams,” Coward SPECIAL WIN. With his said. Perhaps so, but Team Canada, wherever its players 10-year-old daughter, Rylee, called home, took it to the U.S. side 17½ to 6½. The on the bag, Matt Stovall of card said something about “rights and privileges” of Buckeye, Ariz., won the 2017 Canadian citizens, “specifically, the ability to keep warm Arizona Desert Hickory in sub-sero temperatures and to consume outrageous Classic with a two-day 151. amounts of Coors Lite beer.” Well done, Rylee! society of hickory golfers 2 spring 2017 golf as was envisioned by the founding mem- a wee nip Down the bers of the SoHG. My cap’s off to you. Spring 2017 Fairway... The new SoHG website was launched last Editor – James Davis year and is constantly being improved thanks Contributors from the to members’ suggestions. I want to thank our Rob Ahlschwede, Erik Beer, Rob Birman, Kevin Cawley, Jim Clawson, Pete Georgiady, Ben Hollerbach, Randy President website team – Eric Johnson, Rich Grula, Rob Jensen, Ron Luster, MacDuff, Mike Needleman, Martin Pool Birman, and Jim Davis – for their diligent work on the architecture, fine tuning, and Special thanks to: Neil Allen and the Del Monte GC; management of the site. Their work will save Michael Beckerich and Classics of Golf; W. Dunlop s the incoming president, I want to White III, Jay Allred and Triad Golf Magazine; Ran thank Dave Brown for his tireless the SoHG thousands of dollars in the future. Morrissett of golfclubatlas.com; Audrey Moriarty and the effortsA during his tenure as the leader of the Many of us are evaluating possible equip- Tufts Archives; and Dr. Leon White Society of Hickory Golfers, despite the tragic ment changes for the new season. I’m sure The Wee Nip is the bi-annual journal loss of his wonderful wife, Nancy. In addi- that Tad Moore, Jeremy Wright at Louisville of the Society of Hickory Golfers. tion, thank you to all who served on the Board Golf, Russ Fisher, and The Hickory Golf Articles, comments, correspondence are welcome, last year for your many contributions to our Workshop, along with other wonderful crafts- though publication is not guaranteed. Society. Most of all, thanks to Executive men featured on our “Resources” web page, Address all correspondence to: Editor, Wee Nip Secretary Jim Davis, who is the pivot point would love to help you with a new acquisition 338 Gladstone Ave. SE for the detail work of the SoHG operations, or a whole new set of clubs. Perhaps a new E. Grand Rapids, MI 49506 USA including writing and editing The Wee Nip and pair of “plus-fours,” period shoes, or a classic or e-mail: [email protected] managing our website. I look forward to work- golf bag is in order. Visit the “Accessories and For information about ing with you, the members of the SoHG, the Apparel” page of the website for great infor- the Society of Hickory Golfers, committee chairs, and the 2017 SoHG Board mation there. As I have always said, “Look visit the website at: www.hickorygolfers.com of Directors. We have an aggressive agenda good, play good” – well, maybe not always. this year and a lot to look forward to. Copyright © SoHG 2017 The SoHG annual tournament, the United The strength of our hickory community is States Hickory Open, will be on the west SoHG Board of Directors supported by the dedicated SoHG members coast for the first time at the Del Monte Golf 2017-18 who give their time and effort to promote Course in Monterey, Calif., on July 10-12. The hickory golf. I want to thank people like Pete 2017 USHO organizing committee is led by President – Bill Geisler League, who runs the Onion Creek Hickory Rob Ahlschwede. This tournament, in such a VP/Pres. Elect – Ed Ronco Classic, which I had the pleasure of playing fantastic location, looks to be one of our finest Secretary – Barbara Kopec in last week; Bill Reed, who runs the Hickory events yet. Please sign up early, as the field Membership Secretary – Andy Moye Golf Association and the Heart of America will probably fill up fast. Hickory Championship, which is the longest Treasurer – Walter A. Bills The 2017 Mid Pines Hickory Open will be continuously-played modern hickory tour- Exec. Secretary – James Davis held in Southern Pines, N.C., on Nov. 10-12. nament in North America; Chris McIntyre, The Golf Collectors Society will also be in Board Members – who reminds us of the traditional style of Durel Billy, Rob Ahlschwede, Bill Ernst, town for their annual meeting and trade show. Ben Hollerbach, Bill Reed, Richard Schmidt hickory golf as it was originally played; Pete Please make this tournament a top priority for Georgiady, who has tirelessly run the National your 2017 tournament schedule. Hickory Championship for 20 years and STANDING COMMITTEES 2017 will most likely see more tourna- this year is being played once again at the Equipment – Rob Ahlschwede ments around the country that qualify for Philadelphia Cricket Club; and of course we Events – Chris Deinlein Championship Series points. Please support remember the late Lionel Freedman, who was 2017 U.S. Hickory Open – Rob Ahlschwede your local playing group’s major tournaments founder and chairman of the very successful Marketing – Durel Billy that have a field that offers the opportunity to World Hickory Open. Handicaps – Rich Rechter earn CS points. Good luck and good playing Finally, congratulations are owed to the to all. Your Board welcomes your suggestions, local playing groups far and wide that have Cheers! opinions, comments. Please write to them at successfully expanded this great game over [email protected], or at their personal the past years, nurturing the growth of hickory Bill Geisler emails, available to members through a member search at www.hickorygolfers.com. on the cover a wee nip – spring 2017 Donald Ross as he appeared in Pinehurst about 1905. He had been in Why We Play Hickory Golf ........................5 Playing Tips – Iron Shots ..........................19 the U.S. for about six years and had Mike Needleman Randy Jensen completed his first course, the Oakley CC in Watertown, Mass., in 1899. Ross began The USHO Visits Monterey ........................6 Auld Luffer, a Tale of a Caddy .................20 Pinehurst No. 2 in 1901. In January 1905, NHC Marks 20th Year ...............................10 MacDuff Ross and his new wife, Janet, arrived in Pinehurst. He played a lot of golf in 1905, Jim Davis Featured Club – MacGregor Mashie .......22 winning the North-South Open and playing The Life & Times of Donald Ross ............13 Ben Hollerbach exhibition matches in April. He won the Book Review – Jim Davis Early MacGregor History .........................23 inaugural Massachusetts Open that year, using a gutty ball. The large golf course A Rookie at Roaring Gap ..........................14 Member Profile ..........................................24 image in the background is Ross’s drawing Jim Clawson Dr. Kevin McCawley, Omaha, Neb., USA of Seminole GC (image courtesy of the Mongrel Golf Clubs ...................................16 Tufts Archives.) Conan Doyle – The Golfer ........................26 Jim Davis Jim Davis The Life & Times of Donald Ross, by Chris Buie, is reviewed on page 16. Spring Tune-up for Hickories ...................18 Ron Luster spring 2017 3 www.hickorygolfers.com sohg news USHO Raffle, membership updates ust as the hickory golf community was coming to terms with continue to receive a hickory golf handicap. Jthe loss of Mike Just, we learned of Lionel Freedman’s pass- Your Board is currently studying the implementation of new ing in early January 2017. Mr. Freedman had been a top British membership categories. This is something that has been pondered amateur golfer and was the founder and organizer of the World for some time. A “Lifetime” category of membership, for exam- Hickory Open. As well, he was a tireless promoter of hickory ple, has met with positive feedback as it would eliminate the need golf through magazine interviews, articles, and videos. A true to renew every year. Along with this may come the possibility of gentleman, Mr. Freedman made countless friends throughout the 5- or 10-year memberships as well as a junior membership cat- world and he will be very much missed. We wish Ewan Glenn egory. Let your Board know what you think of these categories or (St. Andrews Golf Co.) and associates the very best as they step ideas you may have for their structure and implementation. in to manage the World Hickory Open. The SoHG is also looking into the creation of a merchandise 2017 USHO chairman Rob Ahlschwede reports that the USHO shop where SoHG members can purchase items or apparel with raffle will be drawn at the tournament dinner on July 11.