To celebrate the World Hickory Day down under the Australian Golf Heritage Society scheduled an event played on sand greens using 100year old hickory shaft clubs.
Throughout Australia, there are approximately 400 courses that have greens comprised of biodegradable oiled sand or some other similar material, usually due to the prohibitive cost of maintaining grass greens by small clubs in dry rural areas.
The player is able to smooth the putting surface with a provided smoother/rake prior to putting.
The Championship was hosted by Portland Golf Club, an easy 3-hour drive west of Sydney, which was appropriate as the Club itself is over 100years old. The land was part of the estate owned by the Tweedie family. Mrs Tweedie a keen golfer bequeathed the land to the golf club and the hickory clubs she used to win her 1928 Club Championship are on display in the Club.
The course is a combination of traditional links and parkland elements which gives the golfer a truly enjoyable experience and well set up for hickory play.
Keen hickory players as well as some locals enjoyed the terrific weather and local hospitality.
As many of the players had never experienced playing on sand greens, a training session was provided to demonstrate how to ‘rake/smooth’ the sand, chipping and putting. They were quick learners as demonstrated by the results.
Hickory golf is a game where the low running shot is paramount, which is ideal when playing sand greens which are small and don’t hold a full shot.
The quality of play was spectacular with the average Net score under Par.
The Men’s Champion was NSW and Australian Hickory Champion, Tim Sayers with a record 7 under 65, runner up Rick Baldwin 71. The Women’s Champion, a local farmer and first-time hickory player, Amanda Scrivenor with an exceptional 2 over, 74. Handicap honors went to Troy Le Grand with Net 59.. his best score ever on count back from Chris Nicholson.
World Hickory Sand Green Champions Tim Sayers, Amanda Scivenor with AGHS Captain Les Browne and Mayor Cass Coleman
AGHS arranges regular hickory events and encouraged players to experience the100 year old clubs. Loan hickory clubs are available, just contact Les Browne lesnkate@bigpond.net.au
