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Mungo Park: Open Champion 1874
Mungo Park was a sailor who spent much of his early life at sea although on his return he soon showed that he had many of the family’s golfing genes. He had a strong swing and, like his older brother and nephew, was a fine, bold putter. The family lived by the motto, “never up, never in”. Park was the younger brother of Willie Park senior and was born in Musselburgh in 1835. His early career was as a seaman but he returned to terra firma and, with only a few months’ practice, won the 1874 Open Championship on his home course of Musselburgh. Brother Willie Park Sr, won The…
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E.J. Keefe Deep Grooved Niblick
This niblick is 48 degrees, 36 inches in length and has a handsome D4 swingweight. I use it primarily for 100 yard shots or less. It feels though it will also be a handy club out of bunkers; but I have yet to play a round with it yet! – Rob Birman It’s seller was Edward Joseph Keefe who was born on September 22, 1893 in Boston and died April 13, 1980 in the same city. Born and raised in Charlestown, he married Louise Sullivan in 1915 and became a restaurant cook prior to becoming a golf pro. At one time he was known around Boston for making golf clubs and…
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Gearhart Hickory Classic
July 9-11 in OregonTrue links lovers will want to attend the annual Gearhart Golf Links Classic hosted by the Northwest Hickory Players. Famed for its 1890s design, Gearhart Golf Links is a favorite coastal track of golfers the world over. We have plenty of rental sets available for players of all skill levels. It’s peak season on the coast in June, so please plan to attend. There will be 4 divisions for competition–Open Championship, Senior (60 and over), Woman’s and a Super-Senior (over 70), with gross and net awards in all divisions. All divisions will play 18 holes medal play each day to determine a winner. There will be an…
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“Handsome Johnny” Farrell
Craig Dolch, writing for the Palm Beach Post in June, 2003, noted the following about Johnny Farrell… He was “Handsome Johnny” to the press, winning golf championships, dating Hollywood starlets and living the good life with the celebrities of his day. Dempsey. Ruth. Gershwin. Fairbanks. Legendary names. But “Handsome Johnny” Farrell’s legacy didn’t last. He perhaps is the greatest golfer the game has forgotten. Until now. 2003 marked the 75th anniversary of Farrell’s victory in the 1928 U.S. Open, when he birdied the last two holes of a 36-hole playoff to beat Bobby Jones by a shot at Olympia Fields Country Club. The United States Golf Association, not known for…
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Shaw’s Silver Quaich
October 2015 Martin Pool, NWHP co-founder and newly elected Region 8 GCS Director, says he purchased this quaich from an antique dealer in Scotland. “It was presented to Robert B. Shaw as a trophy in 1864. A quaich is a small drinking vessel and the story told to me by the dealer was that it was traditional in Scotland, that after a round of golf, the winner of the competition had the honor of having the first drink out of the quaich whereupon it was passed around to others.” “Far and Sure” is engraved on a banner on one handle, with thistles and crossed clubs on the other. An inscription of the bottom of the bowl reads: Presented by H.…
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Golfing Pioneer Allan Robertson
As cited by the World Golf Hall of Fame, Allan Robertson was practically born into golf. Born in 1815 in St. Andrews, Scotland, Robertson’s family reflects the emergence of the game. His grandfather was a caddie at St. Andrews and his father was senior caddie of those who served the Royal and Ancient. Both men were feathery ball-makers of the highest repute and Allan followed in the family tradition. But his skill and playing ability set him apart. No less an authority than World Golf Hall of Fame member Charles Blair Macdonald claimed that Robertson was “the best known golfer of his generation and generally thought to have been the…
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Photos from Gamble Sands
What a course! We’re proud to have one of the best new golf courses in the country right here in the Pacific Northwest, and NWHP had the first opportunity to play it with hickories. Check out our photos here!
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The Philadelphia Cricket Club: America’s Oldest Country Club 1854-2004
BOOK REVIEW The Philadelphia Cricket Club: America’s Oldest Country Club 1854-2004 David R. Contosta 2004 Kutztown Publishing Co. ISBN 0976283107 121 pages By Robert A. Birman co-founder, Northwest Hickory Players Hickory enthusiasts will know the Philadelphia Cricket Club as the permanent modern-day host of the World Hickory Match Play championship, now in its third year. Those who have had the privilege to walk the course know that its nine hole suburban lay-out is deceivingly cunning. PCC built a beefy, world-class 18-hole track that hosted the 48th PGA Professional National Championship this past June. The two courses are a marvelous study in contrasts; one short, seemingly simple course that still shows…
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Kelly Leonard Long-nose Brassie
As I worked to assemble an authentic 1890s playset, I was fortunate to have the chance to borrow a set of quality clubs from Chris McIntyre before I set out to purchase my own equipment. In Chris’ loaner set were some lovely heavy irons – all originals – with wide, suede grips and one curious replica long-nose spoon, marked T. Morris Model, which I later learned was a club made by Tad Moore for a few years, but since discontinued. Chris shared this set with me, along with some gutty balls and an Oakmont ball, so that I could learn to appreciate the true experience of 1890s gutty golf, not…
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History of Golf in
the Pacific NorthwestThe history of golf in our region rivals that of the Eastern seaboard. Read all about it here. And don’t forget to browse our exhaustive roster of courses in Washington, Oregon and Idaho – in chronological order with design credits on our Courses page!
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The Original Country Club of Seattle
NWHP, on occasion, has the great good fortune to assist in preparing the original Country Club of Seattle, on Bainbridge Island, for play, by invitation of its members. Virtually untouched since the 19th century, the CC boasts its original sand greens and views to kill for. Below are photos and a reprint of a Kitsap Sun story about the exclusive property…. THE COUNTRY CLUB AT SEATTLE: Timeless treasure tucked away on the Island By Chuck Stark, Sun Staff — Aug 25th, 2000 Bainbridge Island’s The Country Club at Seattle course has been around since 1896. Here’s your history lesson for the day: In 1792, Captain George Vancouver, an…
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Chronological List of Golfers Born Through 1920
HoF = Hall of Fame Inductee Allan Robertson HoF 1815-1859 Tom Morris, Sr. HoF 1821-1908 Mungo Park 1835-1904 Andrew Strath 1837-1868 Jamie Anderson 1842-1905 Tom Morris, Jr. HoF 1851-1875 Bob Martin 1853-1917 John Rahm 1854-1935 Leslie Balfour-Melville 1854-1937 Willie Fernie 1855-1924 Charles B. Macdonald HoF 1855-1939 Frederick Winslow Taylor 1856-1915 Ben Sayers 1856-1924 George Lyon 1858-1938 Lucy Barnes Brown 1859–???? Jack Simpson 1859-1895 Peter Paxton 1859-19?? Daria Pratt 1859–1938 Johnny Laidlay 1860-1940 David Brown 1861-1936 John Ball HoF 1861-1940 Jesse Carleton 1862-1921 Walter Travis HoF 1862-1927 Joe Lloyd 1864-???? Willie Park, Jr. HoF 1864-1925 Charles Sands 1865-1945 John Cady 1866-1933 Allen Lard 1866-1946 Laurie Auchterlonie 1867-1948 Orus Jones 1867-1963…
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Hickory Skills Challenge Featured in July 24 Event in Olympia
Tumwater Valley presents Friday Night Lights where participants will have the opportunity to conquer six shot making stations, replete with a hickory target station under the auspices of Rob Ahlschwede, that will test your golf skills! Your official “Skills Scorecard” will be stamped once you successfully accomplish a skills challenge and a raffle prize ticket awarded each time you conquer a station. Complete your stamp card with at least five stamps to earn entry in the Grand Finale’ Big Break Glass Breaking Station! Event details here and official rules here!
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Gamble Sands October 6-7, 2018
Don’t miss our 4th annual hickory championship at famed Gamble Sands. Saturday and Sunday, October 6-7, 2018 Situated high above the Columbia River, in North Central Washington, Gamble Sands is blessed with one of nature’s great locations and dramatic golf settings. Much like its older brothers and sisters in the linksland of Scotland, this beauty has 18 consecutive holes that were discovered – not constructed. No matter the direction, views include the snow covered Cascade Mountains, thousands of acres of manicured apple and cherry orchards, multiple river vistas and mountains of black basalt. Check out our photos here from prior year’s championships! Architect David McLay Kidd was selected from the…
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2015 Monterey Hickory Classic: September 11
Friday, September 11th @ 11:30 a.m. – Old Del Monte Golf Club at Pebble Beach, CA! Hosted by our friends at Northern California Hickory Golf Association Cost = $50 – received by September 1st * includes green fees + awards/prizes * Limited field event – first come, first serve Entry form available here Format: 18 holes medal play – NET event using Sept 1st handicaps Low gross Open and Senior to be additionally recognized. * Open will play from WHITE tees @ 6085yds – 70.2 – will receive 2 extra NET strokes * Seniors will play from RED tees @ 5435 yds – 68.4 = base for NET calculations. *…
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March 21 at Gold Mountain (Olympic)
Come on out for a spring jaunt at the Olympic Course at Gold Mountain in beautiful Bremerton, WA. We have five tee times for Saturday, from 10:28 to 11 a.m. Hope to see you there! Dramatically sculpted into the Pacific Northwest splendor, the Olympic course has garnered impressive awards and has taken its place as one of America’s finest municipally owned golf courses. Wooded enclaves, rolling terrain and wide fairways are touted by the Cascade Course, with a long history of providing Championship golf in the Northwest. Stunning views and delicious cuisine combine to offer relaxation and great memories under the roof of Gold Mountain’s clubhouse.…
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2015 California Hickory “North-South”: June 26-28
Hear-ye, hear-ye! This much-anticipated annual event is a two-day hickory golf tournament to be held on the 1932 Chandler Egan designed Pacific Grove Golf Links. Pacific Grove Golf Links is known as “the poor man’s Pebble Beach,” and for good reason. The course is on the northwestern tip of the Monterey peninsula about five miles from Pebble Beach. Pacific Ocean and Monterey Bay views are visible from almost every hole on the course, with the back nine is situated right along the coast in links style. A par 70 from just over 5,700 yards, this course is great for hickory play and very walkable. Expect some attention from sight seers and passers by…
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Manton: Calcutta
It was in the city of Calcutta, that the first golf club outside the British Islands was established in 1829. To really appreciate the fact, one has to compare the year 1829 to the other happenings in the timeline of world golf. When the Royal Calcutta Golf Club was established, the Royal & Ancient Golf Club at St. Andrews was still five years away from seeing light of the day (however, the Society of St. Andrews Golfers had been formed in 1754). It would take another 19 years for gutta percha to replace the feathery ball and 22 years before the world would see the first professional golfer in the…
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Arnaud Massy: A Frenchman with the soul of a Scot
He was the first non-Briton to win the Open Championship, the only Continental European to get his hands on the Claret Jug and win a major until Seve Ballesteros in 1979. Arnaud Massy was born July 6, 1877 in Biarritz, France, son of Bernard Massy a sheep farmer and his wife, Marie Lauga. On leaving school Arnaud was employed as a sardine fisherman and from the age of fourteen caddied at Biarritz, for mostly English visitors to the Basque region. Massy was taught the rudimentary skills of club making by sixteen year old Willie Tucker when he was assistant to Willie Dunn at Biarritz. (William H. Tucker Sr. was a…
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Play hickory.
Rekindle your romance
with the gameWelcome to the leading hickory golf website in the Pacific Northwest! We encourage you to rediscover the allure of the true game of golf and sign up for any of our upcoming events. Northwest Hickory Players membership is free – there are no obligations, just come out and play! We have many rental sets available for your first adventure, including a complimentary loaner set for your first outing with us. Our group is growing quickly and we welcome you to join us, men and women alike! Please explore our website for photos and write-ups of past events and contact info on our “About Us” page. Contact any member for questions!
