hickory Golf

 

A few years ago while spending a few weeks in Edinburgh, my golf-loving husband went off to play at Musselbourgh Golf Course. He came back thrilled with the experience, not because of a hole in one which he didn't have, or a low-low score, but because he had played with hickory clubs from the 1920s. The clubs were later replaced with metal shafts and many golfers don't even know that tidbit of golfing history.

The game had been founded in Scotland in the 17th century, but there are those that say it goes back to paganica and Roman times where a leather ball was hit with a stick.

Rick kept saying he would like to play with the clubs more often. They represented a different challenge.

We found Joe Lauber, a Swiss watchmaker, who also makes modern hickory golf clubs to old^time standards. There are those golfers that only play with the originals and those that play those made recently. Some play with both.

We were off to St. Gallen and ordered a set. We also learned there was a whole subculture of hickory golfers who not only play with the ancient clubs but recapture the clothes of the 1920s and 30s.

Since then my husband had participated in many tournaments in different countries and even ran a mini tournament in Southern France to introduce others to this variation of the sport. Last winter there was a tournament in the snow in the Swiss Alps. Besides the beauty of the Alps and the match, we were able to watch a now polo game.

He joined the board of Society of Hickory Golfers with the goal of bringing the the fans of the sport on both continents together.  

And he also made sure he had the right wardrobe, although the Swiss flag knickers in the photo were probably never seen before.

Thus today, we are in Inverness, Scotland for a four-day tournament. I needed to no encouragement to join him, not on the course but in the city. Having been forced to play golf as a kid, I tell people I speak golf and love listening to Rick's stories about his adventures on the links. I don't have to ask what terms like birdie and eagle mean. I just don't want to have to play. I do love the socializing with the players and spouses from many countries at the dinners after the tournaments. What a pleasure to see people enjoying themselves so passionately.

A few of the many websites that tell people more.

• https://www.hickorygolfers.com/tournaments/
• https://www.golfheritage.org/history/
• https://sehickorygolf.co.uk/
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hickory_golf
• https://www.swisshickorygolf.ch/

I'm not sure what tournaments he will play next year, but I do know I will enjoy his stories after and his pleasure. I go with him to see the places in different countries and often to visit friends who are either on route or nearby. It's a totally unexpected twist in our lives, but a very welcomed one.