Playing Hickory Golf

[oldschoolrocker]

 

Had to resize file.

[Bella Woods]

Looks like 1935/36 Model, I will check tonight for sure.....

[ebeer]

Phillips screws not patented until 1933. Not sure how long until they made their way to golf manufacturers.

[oldschoolrocker]

ebeer,

The heads look like they have been reconditioned, so, I’m not sure those are the original screws.

[Bella Woods]

oldschool:

 

Pics (not the greatest) of the 1935/36 Spalding Catalog.....

 

 

 

 

 

The first pic - 1935 Catalog on top, 1936 on bottom, second pic is 1936

ladies model. Your model is bottom left in 1935 catalog and top right in the

1936 catalog. 1936 ladies model is far left in the second pic.

 

It looks to me that you have a 1935 wood head with a 1936 soleplate in it.

I think rex235 had a similar club. The Tournament Model sole stamp in the wood

under the number 1 only occurred in 1935, but your soleplate is very definitely

1936 style, actually the registration number is even close to yours. The soleplates

were exactly the same between the two years with regard to size/style.

 

Is that a stamping in the wood at the bottom of the soleplate? C 40 would be mens

club for 1936, C 31 C would be a ladies club.

 

So I guess a possible explanation would be a club ordered very early in 1936, they

used a previous year head and put the current year soleplate in it since the size/cavity

style was the same. And stamped them with the current year model under the soleplate

(if that is what that is - hard to see in the pic).

 

The only odd thing is the horn, I thought they quit putting them on clubs in 1934, but I guess

maybe with Custom/Registered woods it was an option - I don't know.......

[majic]

I think that the recent International Match played in Italy should have been played under SoHG rules. The rules are published by the SoHG and since I feel everyone in the World should be a member they would know how to navigate the site and find equipment and tournament rules and guidelines.

In the last several USHO they have checked clubs for original, wood retro and reproductions.

Regarding the Gibson Company Danga Wood shafts I once owned a full set of clubs-Gibson- and every club including 2 niblicks I had never seen and 2 Putters all were Danga Wood and it came with Provenance that they were used to win the Irish Am and it was pre1935. I bought the set from a very reputable dealer who provided the documents. The year of actual first production at Gibson is nowhere to he found in all my research. I sought out information by advertisinsing in the Kinghorn paper for anything Gibson. I tried for 10-15 years and owned over 200 Gibson clubs.

It is my hope that in time the Worldwide Hickory groups will adopt the SiHG rules for equipment.

[majic]

Here are some Gibson’s to show face etc. the large White insert head is a George Duncan splice neck from early 20’s. Narrow lines. The other two show narrow line cuts and are bore through.

[oldschoolrocker]

Thank you bella.

[Blade Junkie]

I think that the recent International Match played in Italy should have been played under SoHG rules. The rules are published by the SoHG and since I feel everyone in the World should be a member they would know how to navigate the site and find equipment and tournament rules and guidelines.

 

The Italy event was indeed played under SoHG/WHO rules and several reproduction clubs were in evidence across various bags. For Europe, Jason Dolman played his Victors (his rationale : "we're playing on a lush golf course that favours high shots into greens and the Victors hit the ball higher than my Stewarts"), and Jamie White played Tad Moore Tom Morris clubs, but I think the rest of the Europe team played originals. On the US side, some played original clubs, some a mix, and some played reproductions. I saw Louisville irons and woods, Tad's Star OAs and Victors, plus putters, and even a set of the RTJ 'Pipe' Repros from playhickorygolf.com in Canada.

 

In other words, I think just about every modern club that has been passed for play by SoHG was represented in Italy !

 

I did kick myself for not taking any photos of the Hickory "What's in the Bag" for both sides. Would have been quite interesting I think :)

 

 

At the end of the day, I observed good players hitting good shots with whatever they happened to have in their hands ... the old adage about indians and arrows !

[stixman]

Regarding the Gibson Company Danga Wood shafts I once owned a full set of clubs-Gibson- and every club including 2 niblicks I had never seen and 2 Putters all were Danga Wood and it came with Provenance that they were used to win the Irish Am and it was pre1935. I bought the set from a very reputable dealer who provided the documents. The year of actual first production at Gibson is nowhere to he found in all my research. I sought out information by advertisinsing in the Kinghorn paper for anything Gibson. I tried for 10-15 years and owned over 200 Gibson clubs.

 

I always believed this report quoting Gibson's Chairman, Thomas Cochrane in the Glasgow Herald of Feb 4th 1937 was definitive. It is to be found in the Google Archives. Note the tense used, Gibson's 'are putting on the market'; thus not on the market yet.

 

 

[majic]

Regarding the Gibson Company Danga Wood shafts I once owned a full set of clubs-Gibson- and every club including 2 niblicks I had never seen and 2 Putters all were Danga Wood and it came with Provenance that they were used to win the Irish Am and it was pre1935. I bought the set from a very reputable dealer who provided the documents. The year of actual first production at Gibson is nowhere to he found in all my research. I sought out information by advertisinsing in the Kinghorn paper for anything Gibson. I tried for 10-15 years and owned over 200 Gibson clubs.

 

I always believed this report quoting Gibson's Chairman, Thomas Cochrane in the Glasgow Herald of Feb 4th 1937 was definitive. It is to be found in the Google Archives. Note the tense used, Gibson's 'are putting on the market'; thus not on the market yet.

 

 

yes I have seen this before???

[stixman]

Regarding the Gibson Company Danga Wood shafts I once owned a full set of clubs-Gibson- and every club including 2 niblicks I had never seen and 2 Putters all were Danga Wood and it came with Provenance that they were used to win the Irish Am and it was pre1935. I bought the set from a very reputable dealer who provided the documents. The year of actual first production at Gibson is nowhere to he found in all my research. I sought out information by advertisinsing in the Kinghorn paper for anything Gibson. I tried for 10-15 years and owned over 200 Gibson clubs.

 

I always believed this report quoting Gibson's Chairman, Thomas Cochrane in the Glasgow Herald of Feb 4th 1937 was definitive. It is to be found in the Google Archives. Note the tense used, Gibson's 'are putting on the market'; thus not on the market yet.

 

 

yes I have seen this before???

Is it wrong? Is Cochrane misleading his interviewer?

[majic]

Chris I just don’t know the answer. In the 1932 catalog they show “sidera” wood and I have several clubs with the shaft and it looks very much like Danga wood shaft. They were obviously experimenting. One of the famous players of the time said it was very good. I still am searching regarding Danga.

 

 

[stixman]

Chris I just don't know the answer. In the 1932 catalog they show "sidera" wood and I have several clubs with the shaft and it looks very much like Danga wood shaft. They were obviously experimenting. One of the famous players of the time said it was very good. I still am searching regarding Danga.

 

Do I understand that there is no more information about Sidera Wood and it's origins than there is about Danga? Talk about cornering the market in exotic and obscure shft making woods, Gibson had it taped!

[jbucher]

NW Hickory Players had an outing last Saturday at "The Classic" course. This is the track Ryan Moore grew up on in Spanaway, WA. Good time had by all who played! Here are a few pictures.It's hard to play and take pictures.

Jimmy B

[ebeer]

Looking dapper Jimmy! Looks like a great time, and nice capture of Old Kiltie in full swing. You guys have a great hickory group up there, good players and great camaraderie.

[jbucher]

Thanks Ebeer, It is a good group. This weekends 2 day event should be a good one with just about 40 folks playing,6 women playing. That's a good showing for the Lady linksters!

I was getting ready Thursday evening at my local trac and a gentleman was walking to the parking lot with a arm full of hickory clubs. I got his attention and he was glad to chat a bit. He said his name was Bill and he is out here from Ohio for a Hickory event and was happy to be playing and spending some time with his daughter here in Seattle. I mentioned i will be playing in it also and he was glad to see some hickory clubs in someone else's bag before the event.

Looks like a good foursome on Saturday!

JB

[Jiggered]

Played in the Central England Championship today.

 

On the first tee I hit the ground aout 6 inches behid the ball and scuffed it into the deep rough about 50 yards away, my reload bonced right and also into deep rough! Also had no score on the second and had a 4 putt on the the 7th! My first putt got to about 5 feet from the hole but it was on a nasty slope I tell you....

 

Scored 13 points out and 16 back for 29 total, an enjoyable day but it was very hot and humid.

[ebeer]

Had the opportunity to play Poppy Hills on the Monterey Peninsula last weekend. It was for many years one of the three courses in the AT&T PGA event, but was recently replaced by the Monterey Peninsula Country Club. The original Robert Trent Jones II course was fully redesigned in 2014. Large native grass areas and waste bunkers were added, along with a full re-sod, re-bunkering, and new tees. There is no rough (except for wild Fescue areas) and the greens are Bent. The changes have made a good course great, very playable but also remaining very challenging. The best part is the course is hickory friendly. Many tee boxes allow you to play whatever distance you're comfortable with. There are run up options for ground approaches, and the lack of rough makes slightly wayward shots just wayward, not punished. Plenty of Monterey Pines and Cypress are around to eat golf balls, and green complexes require some thoughtful tee shots for proper angle. The course is a real gem for those playing hickory, and I would highly recommend Poppy Hiils should you find yourself in Monterey. If you play as an NCGA member or guest, it's the best deal on the peninsula.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Blade Junkie]

Some great hickory PR at the European Tour Scottish Open event in the last week. Well done to Boris for getting hickory onto their radar, and some good business in the shop from Patrick Reed by the look of it !

 

 

https://golfweek.com/2018/07/15/patrick-reed-discovers-a-passion-for-hickory-golf/

[Central_PA_Golfer]

I have been interested in trying hickory for a while. Does anyone know where a I can get a budget starter set?

[Tumbleweed_1968]

I have been interested in trying hickory for a while. Does anyone know where a I can get a budget starter set?

It depends on how much you want to spend, but I found my first 7 irons on C-list. Spent less than $100. Some were asking more some less. Got three off of duh-Bay. My most expensive buy at $40 for three. Still working on woods, so I have two vintage woods from the 1960's in the bag.

 

If there is an hickory event in your area you can usually find starter sets there. Plus you can often try b4 you buy.

 

Or you can order a set from Tad or someone else. New reproduction clubs. I currently have more putters than i know what to do with, so you are welcomed to one. Might even have an extra mashie for you. PM me.

[ebeer]

Can't stress enough the importance of taking proper steps to make new hickory acquisitions playable. Remove pin, pull head, epoxy, and repin. This is a minimum as any play between shaft and head (even imperceptible) can cause a reverberation in the shaft and snap it in half. There are lots of online resources to walk you through this work, or look for clubs that have been made play ready by someone with experience. I'm happy to help you specifics, or help you out with a starter set that's ready for course time. PM me any time.

[gvogel]

Some great hickory PR at the European Tour Scottish Open event in the last week. Well done to Boris for getting hickory onto their radar, and some good business in the shop from Patrick Reed by the look of it !

 

 

https://golfweek.com...r-hickory-golf/

 

Here is a follow up - Brandon Stone (winner at the Scottish) playing hickory at the Old Course:

 

http://www.golfwrx.com/523152/68-at-the-british-open-in-the-morning-golf-with-hickories-at-st-andrews-in-the-afternoon/?utm_source=Front&utm_medium=Featured_Latest&utm_campaign=GolfWRX_OnSite&utm_content=unused

[majic]

I have been interested in trying hickory for a while. Does anyone know where a I can get a budget starter set?

Call me next week. 706-333-9625 Tad. tadmoore.com

[ebeer]

Had the opportunity to swing my wood sticks this weekend with a few fellow hickory hounds. It was my first loop on the newly renovated Chuck Corica South course. This is an amazing full redesign by Rees Jones. The vision was to replicate the great courses of the Australian Sand Belt, with dunes, large greens, and wild native grasses. The result is an incredibly playable golf course that brings the ground into play far more than the general American golfer is used to. Which by the way, is an absolutely perfect venue for hickory play. For those interested, the backstory on the redesign in available here -> http://www.reesjones...a-july-2018.pdf

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Jiggered]

I'm on the Isle of Arran for a week with a 6 club set of hickories and a half set of Swilken blades and a laminated 3 wood.

 

Played Shiskine GC yesterday, one of a small number of 12 hole golf courses.

 

Some stunning views and a lot of blind shots (luckily I'd joined up with a member so he could give me a few steers).

I opened the round by hooking my drive OB over the road down the left of the first hole and then fading my drive on the second hole OB, a double, triple start wasn't what I wanted!

 

Kept the driver in the bag after that apart from a couple of holes and scored better.

Below is a picture of me on the 4th tee "Plateau".

Great weather with a breeze blowing away the early rain before I teed off.

 

 

[ebeer]

Great photo! Looks like an amazing course. Firth of Clyde just sounds cool, I'm adding to the bucket list ;)

[Kirasdad]

Erik, I love your photos and Hickory experience posts. The Hickory thread would be considerably less interesting without you.

 

How’s it going btw?

[ebeer]

^Thanks John! Disappointing we are relatively close and never find ourselves on the course together. I'm on a quest to play all of the Bay Area pre-1935 courses with hickory clubs. I've nearly exhausted the public tracks, so I'm now cashing in favors and knocking on doors to get my way into the private clubs. This project may take a decade!