There’s a lovely article in the Nov/Dec 2020 issue of Virginia Golfer about a name change and rebranding of the Jefferson Lakeside Country Club where we held the 1st Annual Richmond Hickory Cup last March. The new name will be the Jefferson Park Club but still feature the original Donald Ross course that drove several of us (except winner Eric Wagner) crazy. Check it out AND plan on the (if COVID cooperates) 2021 version of the event on Saturday, March 27th. VaHGA members David Farrar and Paul Lynk are members there and host us for the event. https://vsga.org/engage/virginia-golfer-magazine/#1578928873345-85b37c46-2114
As of 3/1 we are ON so please contact Jim Clawson (jimclawson@virginia.edu) and David Farrar (d.farrar45@gmail.com) to save a spot. Tee times will begin at 11:00 am to allow time for travel. Green fee for the day payable at the Pro Shop will be $65. We look forward to seeing you there and challenging Eric’s holding of the Cup!
The first annual Carolinas Hickory Open will be contested on Tryon Country Club in Tryon, NC June 17-19. Details are posted on the CHGA EVENTS tab. This will be a 2 day stroke play tournament with low gross and low net being awarded for each of our 3 divisions: Open (under 61-and all those wanting to play in the Open division), Senior, and Super Senior. As of yet we do not have a field limit, but I’m hoping for at least 24-48 players.
Practice rounds will be available Thursday June 17, with competition rounds to follow on Friday and Saturday mornings. This is a 9 hole golf course, and we will play different tees for the 2nd 9 holes both days.
I will be working on a local room block, and there are numerous B&B’s and small inns in the general vicinity.
All contestants MUST be paid members of the CHGA and have an official SOHG handicap (or play at scratch) – no exceptions. Your budget for the 2 days will be approx $125 to include 2 rounds of golf, 2 lunches, refreshments, tee gift, medals, and trophy. It is my goal to have this be a first class event and experience.
Please RSVP as able. Richard Schmidt Captain, CHGA
The US Hickory Open will be held at Gearhart Golf Course in Oregon on September 12-14. Registrations opened up January 1st and we (yours truly is coordinating registrations for Rob Alschwede, Tournament Host) already have 120 registrations. These include some “temporarily held spots” for former champions and the like. Rob is striving to get the course to host 120 players, SO if you are interested register now. Housing is also scarce in the area. I’ve reserved a room in Astoria, about 20 minutes away. See the SOHG site for the registration form and tournament details.
From Rich Schmidt, CHA Captain: “I’m determined to hold a proper NC Hickory Open Championship this year. With the help of some fellow hickory nuts in the mountains, I’m trying for a 2 day ‘proper’ event to be held at the very old and very cool Tryon Country Club outside of Hendersonville in late July or early August. This is a Donald Ross 9 hole throwback of a course with a cool old log cabin for a clubhouse. We would go around 2x and play different tees the 2nd time around. I’m shooting for an entry fee of no more than $125-150 that will include 2 rounds of golf with cart (optional), a modest tee gift, medals for gross and net across the divisions (depending on interest), and lunch both days. And perhaps if we have enough money a cooler of beverages at the end of each day, as the club doesn’t really have a grill. It is my hope that we will get 28++ for the field. Before I get too far down the road on planning, I would love to gauge everyone’s interest? Please do not reply to this message as I won’t get your input. However, I’ve posted a similar request on the Forum section of the website, where you can weigh in with your comments and suggestions.” Richard Schmidt Captain, Carolina Hickory Golf Association Visit The Carolina Hickory Golf Association at: http://carolinahickory.ning.com/?xg_source=msg_mes_network To control which emails you receive on The Carolina Hickory Golf Association, click here
Happy New Year VaHGA players! I hope you have had a safe and happy holiday season and are looking forward, like me, to a better 2021! Before we get going on the new season, here’s a report of our truncated 2020 season.
1st Annual Richmond Hickory Cup was won by Eric Wagner. The 1st Annual World Hickory Event was won by Eric Johnson. The Virginia Fourball Tournament was won by Skip Platt and Greg Whitmer. The Virginia Hickory Open was won by Don Hamilton. We postponed the VA-NC HICCUP (The Flame of Eternal Hope) due to COVID. The 1st Annual VaHGA Gutty Gopher was also postponed due to COVID concerns and course playability.
There were a modest 8 gutty matches played over the course of the year. The results were as shown below. No one had seven matches so we don’t have a VaHGA Gutty Player of the Year.
Eric Wagner
5
Deal Hudson
1.5
Terry Pemberton
4
Eric Johnson
1
Jim Clawson
6.5
There were a more respectable 35 hickory matches played over the course of the year.
NAME
# of Matches
Points
Points / Match
Kevin Coombs
1
2.5
2.50
Bob Platt
6
14.5
2.42
Dennis Meadows
2
4
2.00
Eric Wagner
15
27.5
1.83
Terry Pemberton
7
12
1.71
Jim Clawson
22
29.5
1.34
Greg Whitmer
3
4
1.33
Nelson Ford
3
3.5
1.17
Linn Williams
1
1
1.00
Eric Johnson
7
6
0.86
Skip Platt
1
0.5
0.50
WHICH means given our guideline of seven matches minimum, ERIC WAGNER is our VaHGA Hickory Player of the Year! Congratulations Eric!
The first annual VaHGA Gutty Gopher tournament is confirmed for Saturday-Sunday, November 14-15 at Meadowcreek Golf Course in Charlottesville, VA. Due to COVID restrictions no special events are allowed, so the nine registered players will tee off from the red tees as “normal” groups of three. Stay tuned for results.
Several VaHGA members went to the 17th annual Mid-Pines Hickory Open and came away with medals. First, former VaHGA member, Rick Woeckener, won the overall Open Division with rounds of 77-75. The second round was marked by heavy rain, a weather delay, and cold winds. Congratulations Rick! Well done!
Second, VaHGAns Deal Hudson and Chuck McMullin fought it out in the Super Senior Gross Divison, finishing first and second well ahead of the rest of the field. Deal shot 82-85 while Chuck posted 81-88. The next highest score was 93-90=183.
Third and less significantly, VaHGA Captain Jim Clawson was carried by newby Jimmy Wilkins of Memphis, TN, playing with borrowed clubs to Gross Runners-Up in the Pine Needles Foursomes Tournament on Friday and Winners in the Pine Needles Foursomes Tournament Net Division.
We played the VAHGA Fourball/Open Championships September 14-16 at the newly redesigned (by Davis Love III) Birdwood Golf Course at the Boar’s Head Resort. The weather was perfect, cool pre-autumn days. 20 players (10 fourball teams) came from the Commonwealth and North Carolina to compete. We also welcomed three new players.
Results were as follows: FOURBALL Open 1st Gross Greg Whitmer and Skip Platt (143) Playoff on #18 2nd Gross Don Hamilton and Jeff Haas (143) 1st Net Eric Johnson and Bud Nelson (122) 2nd Net Terry Pemberton and Joe Hollerbach (124)
FOURBALL SENIORS 1st Gross Bob Platt and Jerry Wells (151) 2nd Gross Jim Clawson and Eric Wagner (157) 1st Net David Farrar and Paul Lynk (122) 2nd Net Nelson Ford and Linn Williams (130)
OPEN Open (Medal) 1st Gross Don Hamilton (154) 2nd Gross Skip Platt (157) 1st Net Joe Hollerbach (139) 2nd Net Dennis Meadows (142)
OPEN SENIORS 1st Gross Bob Platt (134) 2nd Gross Deal Hudson (151) 1st Net Bud Nelson (137) 2nd Net Jim Clawson (139)
Nelson Ford also established a new Birdwood Hickory Course Record of 75/57 during his practice round. Nelson said it was one of his best rounds ever with moderns or hickories!
Here’s a link to the bagpipercalling the players to the first tee on Day One. And a link to various photos from the event. Sincere thanks to Joe Hanning of the Boar’s Head Resort for his photography.
August 25, 2020 Tad Moore Hickory Classics has just moved into our new building and to celebrate we are offering your hickory regional group special discounts on our products. These are discounts you cannot get anywhere else and you need to call me to get them. I also have a few new items not on my web site such as a Randy Jensen inspired Spalding HB putter and a set of beautiful left hand clubs. Pall Mall woods, OA irons and a Chicopee putter. Please call 706-333-9626 or email me at tad@tadmoore.com Thanks for your support in the past and now. I will continue to try to bring you the finest reproduction hickory clubs made. Regards, Tad Moore
The 2020 Virginia Hickory Fourball and Open Championships were held at the newly redesigned by Davis Love III Birdwood Golfcourse at UVA on September 14-16, 2020 in Charlottesville, VA. See the related Post for results and photos.
Two person teams played Best Ball in two divisions, Open and Seniors. Individual scores counted toward the VAHGA Hickory Open being contested simultaneously. By merging the two events, we cut travel, fees, lodging and meals costs in half.
Registration was open from July 4th until August 15th.
The registration fee of $295.00 per person ($590 per team) included three rounds of golf, carts, range balls, a $20 voucher for meals at the Birdwood Grill, tee gifts and prizes.
Call the Pro-Shop (434-293-4653) for tee times for the Practice Round on Monday.
Tournament rounds on Tuesday and Wednesday were shotgun starts at 9:00 am. Awards Ceremony after Wednesday’s round. Lodging and area attractions options are listed below.
This is a FOURBALL tournament meaning that each two-person team will record their best ball on each hole. We will also contest simultaneously the VAHGA Hickory Open so every player must putt out on each hole.
Equipment must be SOHG approved original or replica clubs. For questions, ask Terry Pemberton, Tournament Equipment Officer.
Balls must be SOHG approved replica balls, either mesh or small dimple designs. (McIntyre RTJ or Ouimet or Shuman “classics”). Some balls will be included as tee gifts. Modern balls are not permitted.
Tees will be White (5,445) for Open division and Sage (4,740) for Seniors and Orange tees at 3,856 yards for Ladies.
Prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd for Gross and Net for all divisions, numbers permitting. No one will be eligible for more than one prize.
Senior Division players must be 65 or older. Anyone may register for the Open Division. Teams must play in the division of their youngest player. Both players must be 65 or older to compete in the Senior Division. No age restrictions on Ladies Teams.
Handicaps must be current at SOHG and have had at least five scores recorded in this year. Players without a SOHG handicap must have and use a USGA handicap. Otherwise, players will play at scratch.
Yardage Devices are allowed. (Players in the time knew their yardages.)
Play will be governed by USGA rules. Play the ball as it lies through the green. You may mark and clean your ball on the green.
Local Rule. On Hole #8, given the cost of balls, one may place their approach shot on the designated Drop Zone to the left of the green and add two shots (one penalty shot) to their score.
