Playing Hickory Golf

[GaillaridiaHickory]

Seniors and Super Seniors

[TimV]

[quote name='majic' timestamp='1437683382' post='12007832']
MacGregor Popular in both flanged and no flange are good. Any MacGregor flanged club is good. Marked Mac shafts are great shafts. I used to years ago buy any club model with marked Mac shaft to reuse in my clubs.
Build a set of 4-5 irons. Find a good Spoon or Brassie. Again deal with good people. You can ask me as well. Some people get woods from me at the end of year if I have good used club.
You will be surprised how you can build a set. Remember it won't be obsolete in a month or two
[/quote]

Sir,
Could these be converted to hickory?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-MacGregor-Popular-35-Golf-Club-Iron-Set-reconditioned-/271917772926?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f4f8ff07e
Thanks,
Tim

[ebeer]

[quote name='TimV' timestamp='1437694000' post='12008852']
Could these be converted to hickory?
[url="http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-MacGregor-Popular-35-Golf-Club-Iron-Set-reconditioned-/271917772926?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f4f8ff07e"]http://www.ebay.com/...=item3f4f8ff07e[/url]
Thanks,
Tim
[/quote]

Nope. Per SoHG rules, no irons originally shafted in steel can be converted to wood shafts. Is it physically possible? Not really with these. Note the hosels on these irons, they taper as the hosel moves up toward the shaft. Wood replacements would have to be shaved so thin they would snap during play. There are original steel shafted irons manufactured prior to 1935 that do not have a taper like these MacG's you've found. But while they might be more suitable to throw wood shafts in, that's still tabu if you ever intend to play in sanctioned events. This is another topic entirely and I'm not touching that one

[TimV]

Found these...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/400962927421?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
[color=#282828]I got nervous as they appeared to fit the criteria and I could afford them... and jumped. [/color]
[color=#282828]Hope I did ok. [/color]
[color=#282828]Any leads on articles I should read on repair and maintenance would be appreciated.[/color]
I look forward to beginning this journey abut with a bit of nervousness.
I ask humbly for you to share your knowledge with me.
I have time and some small ability as I have been doing basic club building and repair for over 10 years, but I have no experience with these.
[color=#282828]Thanks,[/color]
[color=#282828]Tim[/color]

[Blade Junkie]

Well done for taking the plunge Tim !

A couple of those look ok to me, although you're a bit light on short irons. Many a good round has been played with just a Mashie though

There is a weath of knowledge in this thread regarding repair and maintenance - well worth a re-read from page 1

[Blade Junkie]

Ok so I bit the bullet and sent off my entry for the "10th Anniversary" World Hickory Open (which will of course be the 11th since they started in 2005 lol).


They've changed the categories this year, so handicaps 0-9 are playing for the Championship, and 10-18 are playing a "Stableford".

As a 13.6, I'm not overly thrilled about that, as it was nice to all be playing the same event, albeit with Gross and Net categories.


Over to me to try and drop my index 5 shots in the next 12 weeks I guess ... won't be easy as our Downs course is quite tough to score on, but I'll have a go. A couple of competition 76's (+5) would probably get me to 9.4



I'm assuming the categories are based on steel handicap of course, though I should probably check that ! If it is 0-9 'hickory' then it will be steel up to 5, i.e. category 1 golfers only ...

[HoldenCornfield]

[quote name='Blade Junkie' timestamp='1437743973' post='12011610']
Ok so I bit the bullet and sent off my entry for the "10th Anniversary" World Hickory Open (which will of course be the 11th since they started in 2005 lol).


They've changed the categories this year, so handicaps 0-9 are playing for the Championship, and 10-18 are playing a "Stableford".

As a 13.6, I'm not overly thrilled about that, as it was nice to all be playing the same event, albeit with Gross and Net categories.


Over to me to try and drop my index 5 shots in the next 12 weeks I guess ... won't be easy as our Downs course is quite tough to score on, but I'll have a go
[/quote]

Keep shooting those 33's and it won't be long!

[majic]

I would check with Lionel about handicaps. Lionel uses SoHG guidelines for equipment but I think he has his own ideas relating to hdcp. Lionel always gets some first time players. Check with him
Regarding clubs. I hate to see people throw money at clubs like this. There might be one or two possibles. They will need resetting the shafts, new grips. Refinish shafts and setting loft and importantly the lie.

[majic]

Ben go to SoHG web site for all results. www.hickorygolfers.com

[Blade Junkie]

[quote name='majic' timestamp='1437749051' post='12012108']
I would check with Lionel about handicaps. Lionel uses SoHG guidelines for equipment but I think he has his own ideas relating to hdcp. Lionel always gets some first time players. Check with him
[/quote]

Cheers Tad.

Last year he implemented the published BGCS adjustments for everyone who didn't have an official hickory handicap.

So 0-3 get 3 shots, 4-8 get 4 shots, 9-14 get 5 shots, 15-20 get 6 shots (except I think Lionel had a max of 18 anyway, so if you were higher then you were off 18 regardless). Professionals get nowt of course ...

[Woodridge]

I'm thinking about playing in the Michiana Hickory Open in South Bend. Has anyone played in it?

[Bella Woods]

[quote name='Woodridge' timestamp='1437758875' post='12013170']
I'm thinking about playing in the Michiana Hickory Open in South Bend. Has anyone played in it?
[/quote]


I played in the first 2 Michiana Hickory Opens - its a very nice course and tournament.

[BIG STU]

[quote name='Blade Junkie' timestamp='1437750568' post='12012292']
[quote name='majic' timestamp='1437749051' post='12012108']
I would check with Lionel about handicaps. Lionel uses SoHG guidelines for equipment but I think he has his own ideas relating to hdcp. Lionel always gets some first time players. Check with him
[/quote]

Cheers Tad.

Last year he implemented the published BGCS adjustments for everyone who didn't have an official hickory handicap.

So 0-3 get 3 shots, 4-8 get 4 shots, 9-14 get 5 shots, 15-20 get 6 shots (except I think Lionel had a max of 18 anyway, so if you were higher then you were off 18 regardless). Professionals get nowt of course ...
[/quote]That "club championship" set you have in your signature is classic within itself. Love MP-33s I wore a set of them out in fact they displaced my current Macgregors in 02 or so

[Blade Junkie]

[quote name='BIG STU' timestamp='1437776392' post='12014780']
That "club championship" set you have in your signature is classic within itself. Love MP-33s I wore a set of them out in fact they displaced my current Macgregors in 02 or so
[/quote]

This is what I call my "modern" set

Super irons I agree !

[TimV]

Came home from my round today and my hickory clubs arrived just after I got out of the shower. Fast shipment as the seller wasn't far from here.
First impression is that I should be able to make all playable although some I can tell will be light. As this is my initial foray into hickory I don't care if I need to go heavy with the lead tape on some of these. I am thrilled to report that it doesn't appear that I will have to attempt to straighten any shafts. They seem to all be pretty straight. I will begin the process of renewing and refinishing the shafts, removing and epoxy and repining the heads and reworking the grips in the next couple days. I'm sure this will take some times as I'm not going to rush this and want to do as good a job as I am capable of. I will take pics after I have finished but I am thrilled at this point and very excited to try this out. I know I will need to add at least another club or two should this work out for me.
Wish me luck.
Thanks All!

[majic]

Good luck with you project.

[stixman]

[quote name='TimV' timestamp='1437857731' post='12018912']
Came home from my round today and my hickory clubs arrived just after I got out of the shower. Fast shipment as the seller wasn't far from here.
First impression is that I should be able to make all playable although some I can tell will be light. As this is my initial foray into hickory I don't care if I need to go heavy with the lead tape on some of these. I am thrilled to report that it doesn't appear that I will have to attempt to straighten any shafts. They seem to all be pretty straight. I will begin the process of renewing and refinishing the shafts, removing and epoxy and repining the heads and reworking the grips in the next couple days. I'm sure this will take some times as I'm not going to rush this and want to do as good a job as I am capable of. I will take pics after I have finished but I am thrilled at this point and very excited to try this out. I know I will need to add at least another club or two should this work out for me.
Wish me luck.
Thanks All!
[/quote]

Your process of induction into the hickory community is a well trodden path and it's great to see. Pretty well everyone started like this, so good luck and enjoy the triumphs and disasters in equal measure, have fun!

[scomac2002]

Good luck with the project, Tim and have fun!

[rex235]

[quote name='majic' timestamp='1437749147' post='12012128']
Ben go to SoHG web site for all results. www.hickorygolfers.com
[/quote]

Tad-

Have found two old LH Crawford and MacGregor shafted irons, as well as other RH hickory shafted clubs.

Is there any treatment you recommend to remove the rust?

[majic]

Well I love patina so I was a steel wool and 3-1 oil guy. I tried to keep the old look. Mask the wood so oil does not get on hickory. Some people use a wire brush??? I just did it by hand.
Knock out pin and reset the shaft with good epoxy and 1/8 aluminum rod for pin. If you want cool look cut a brass rod and file to size and glue in for pin.

[GaillaridiaHickory]

Is a Spaulding Deadline a SOHG leagal putter? Was it made pre 1935?

[majic]

Pictures

[majic]

I have asked for an answer to your question but my guess no as it looks very 60-70 ish.

[GaillaridiaHickory]

Spalding Deadline

[GaillaridiaHickory]

Spalding Deadline

[ebeer]

Spalding released a copy of the original Chicopee putter way after 1935. The SoHG's stance is [b][i]"If the reproduced putter is modeled after a hickory putter made pre-1935 and the person playing the replica putter submits it for review, it most likely will be approved for play under our reproduction guidelines."[/i][/b]

So under that consideration the Chicopee repro would be legal. There are some putters that look very similar to the Spalding Deadline you've posted (namely the Mill's putters from Standard Golf in the UK). I think you might have a hard time however making a case that your putter was specifically modeled after the Mill's design. Seems a very cool throw back model, but not necessarily a reproduction per se. Tad's new putters for example seem very clear about the origins of their design (Chicopee, Dunn, Ambi model, etc). you could always submit and see what the rules guys say.

[majic]

In the 60-70's spalding and other makers made hickory shafted putters to compete with the Otey putters. Some OTEY made for companies like H&B, Colt, Irving King and others.
I suggest looking for a good Mills or Standard Golf model for your hickory play.
I think it would not meet SoHG approval.

[GaillaridiaHickory]

Thanks Tad. I have a Ray Model in the way. It has 6 degrees loft. The lowest loft I could find in this putter.

[Kirasdad]

Teevons (Tim)and I just pulled off a tag team small haul of authentic hickories on Saturday. He saw a Craigslist posting for a bag full of hickories at a Hollywood pawn shop and emailed me to see if I could go take a look since I was much closer (20 minute drive) than he. I did, and the whole lot was purchased for a very reasonable price. 13 hickory clubs which included a set of Walter Hagen irons and three woods that all have decent weights, and with Tim's skill will be made players, one of them hopefully for the bag of yours truly.

The Hagens will be brought to fine fettle with heads reset and grips reworked, or replaced, and shafts straightened. Look for them to maybe, possibly appear at a familiar site near you which I will not name, but starts with the 5th letter of the alphabet. For some of you who have been itching to get your hickory on, this would be an opportunity.

Here are the pics:

[Kirasdad]

Pics of the woods: A Wilsonian, a Harry C. Lee, and a Doye Hunter, all driving brassies. Love the Wilson head.