Category: News

Please welcome Charles Padgett to the VaHGA! Here is a brief bio about Charles:

I play at The Highlands Golf Club near Franklin, WV. It’s an hours drive from my home in Augusta County though my mailing address is through the Bridgewater PO. I used a hickory handmade putter from St. Andrews I had purchased at the course in ’77. But it’s been only since late summer I’ve started to build up a hickory set. Come this summer I plan to alternate play with the hickories one round and follow the next with my modern Persimmon clubs (accompanied by one of my many 8802 style putter and the Hogan Magnum irons from ’86). I’m getting close to my end days with golf and relish the idea of finishing up in the manner of the beginning of play in ’70. Some still used hickory in the year of my birth (’38) so I have a slight emotional link to what remained of the hickory era. I’m a Jones-Vardon library nut as well.I’ve been in the Valley since retiring from the Arlington County Schools in ’93. GW graduate in ’61, fours years Southern Conference (then) Colonial baseball. Please welcome Charles to the ranks. his email address is hogruns@gmail.com for anyone who wants to hunt him down for a round.

Everyone,

Our own Sam Sinclair has organized an opportunity for us to play in the Stars & Stripes Hickory Golf Classic (see below). What a great opportunity to gather together and play hickory in the nation’s capital. Act fast and register as time is of the essence!!!

The date is set for the combo event of the Va Hickory Championship and the Va / NC Hickory Challenge Cup. The tournaments will be held at the same time, same day on Saturday November 18th, 2023 at Poplar Grove Golf Course in Amherst Va. Tee times will start at 11:45 and there will be room for however many players we can get together. The Va Championship will be stroke play with a Gross and Net winner, and the Va / NC Challenge will be a team medal play at this time. Having been reminded by the fearless captain of the NC boys, Andy Moye, that NC has won 6 of the last 9 matches, we need a good showing of boys from the Old Dominion this year so we can secure the title. Please let me know if you can make the event.

On August 5th, an eager foursome teed up and played the Olde and Creek Course nines at Shenvalee Golf Resort in New Market Va. Dennis Meadows, Jim Clawson, Billy Hunter (Defending Champion), and Captain Rob Gilbert were on hand to test their skills in the Virginia heat that day. The company was terrific, and the course full of charm and character, making the event challenging, frustrating, exciting, and various other adjectives at different times during the round.

Billy, Dennis, and Jim tee off on the Creek course.

Over hill and dale they rode and walked, and at the end of the day defending champ Billy Hunter took gross honors and the Heater trophy. Jim Clawson won net honors for the day. The group also held a Par 5 Challenge for lowest total score on all par 5’s, and Billy Hunter won himself a $50 gift certificate generously donated by Knicker Dog knickers!

More events to come in the rotation for VaHGA. We are currently working toward a VA / NC Hickory event, the Va Hickory Championship, and a new Gutty event for the fall. Stay tuned!

The Richmond Cup was held held May 6th 2023 at Belmont Golf Course in Richmond Va.

The Richmond Cup!

The men of Virginia came together to contest the Richmond Cup on May 6th. It was a beautiful day and well attended at Belmont golf Course. The group played the traditional 12 hole course, and followed up with the 6 hole par 3 course that was a 2 club challenge. David Farrar (host of the event) was joined by Billy Hunter, Skip Platt, Jim Clawson, Dennis Meadows, Jeff Miller, Jerry Wells, George Belby, and Rob Gilbert.

• Jerry Wells, George Belby and Skip Platt ready to tee off

• Jim Clawson, Dennis Meadows and Rob Gilbert prepare to play

The play was brisk and most of the men avoided most of the trouble, with only a smattering of foozled shots along the course. After the 12 hole round was finished, the group moved on to the 2 club par 3 challenge.

At the conclusion of play, the winners were announced.

David Farrar won Gross honors for the tournament, while Skip Platt won the net prize.

The par 3 challenge was taken by Billy Hunter.

Long drive was won by Jerry Wells, and Skip Platt took the closest to the pin prize.

Many different configurations were used in the par 3 challenge… niblicks, jiggers, mashie niblicks, mashies, putters, and the like. Many thanks re due to Mcintyre Golf, King’s Cross, and Knicker Dog for their generous support of our tournament, and to David Farrar for hosting the event. Up next is the Hickory Heater August 5th at Shenvalee Golf Resort. Hope to see you all there!

A small but intrepid group met on Saturday the Ides of April (Tax Day!) at Meadowcreek Golf Course in Charlottesville to contest the 3rd Annual VaHGA Gutty Gopher. It was a beautiful day for Gutty golf in the commonwealth.

After short iron shots down the hill, (and a lucky bounce off of Clawson’s bridge), the men were well on their way.

The third hole featured some excitement, as Dennis Meadows putted his ball from the bunker up onto the green. Not to be outdone, Tom Mehigan lofted his shot right into the cup for a birdie!

Came the 6th, and Captain Rob foozled his drive, but managed a long approach with a cleek and he was well up. That didn’t matter to Jim, who sank a 39 foot putt for par, clinching the longest putt of the day and a sleeve of JH Taylor mesh balls courtesy of Mcintyre Golf.

About the 8th, a shower set in briefly which caused a slight consternation in the play of the hole. Dennis, in a moment of foresight, hit his ball under a tree and recovered from his situation while utilizing the shelter of the tree as he did so.

Hole number 9 was our closest to the pin hole, and Jim again captured the moment as he snuggled his ball nearest the hole and won himself a pair of socks courtesy of King’s Cross Knickers.

The foursome stroked ably along the back nine, the next bit of excitement coming at hole 14, where Rob recovered his drive from the bunker with a crack lofter shot right near the green , and was up and in for par. This was no match for Jim, who again showed his mettle by sinking a putt for birdie.

At the end of the round, VaHGA Captain Rob Gilbert of Lynchburg played what he called his “best hickory round ever”, a smooth 40-41-81 to claim the title. He was also best dressed by far. Jim Clawson, immediate past Captain, took home the net honors. All men had moments of stout play, and the afternoon was thoroughly enjoyed by all.

Thanks are due to Mcintyre Golf and to King’s Cross Knickers and their generous donations which helped make the day special. (Captain Gilbert notes that VaHGA has a discount code “Gilbert” for a substantial discount at Kings Cross Knickers.)

In three weeks, we will contest the Richmond Cup at Belmont Golf Course in Richmond, Va. and hope to see you all there.

Rob Gilbert of Lynchburg and founding member of VaHGA was nominated, approved, and appointed VaHGA’s 3rd Captain on January 28th, 2023. Rob has been an active participant, always the best dressed, and energetic player for years. We invite all VaHGA members and friends to encourage and support Rob as he begins to chart the path for VaHGA in 2023 and beyond. Skip Platt will continue as Treasurer.

Six intrepid VaHGA players assembled today, September 3rd, at Meadowcreek Golf Course and enjoyed relatively mild weather, slight breeze, and good conditions while contesting the VaHGA Hickory Heater Trophy. The gross results were

Billy Hunter 81
Tom Mehigan 82
Rob Gilbert 87
Jim Clawson 87
Chuck McMullin 89
Dennis Meadows 91

Congratulations to Billy Hunter–with a nice 35 on the inward nine. And to Tom Mehigan for a close second.