Hickory Results

2021 U.S. National Hickory Championship

Long Reef Golf Club
11^th – 12^thJune 2021

The very popular National Hickory Championship has been played in the U.S. for 23 years. However with the pandemic travel restrictions the organisers decentralised the event. For those that could not play at the Mound Course in Miamisburg, Ohio, a Remote Division was organised which included Australia. So the 36 hole event was played on the same two days at all courses worldwide.

The Australian Golf Heritage Society was chosen to run the Australian section and selected Long Reef as the venue as it is ideal for Hickory golf and ranks at #32 in the top 100 public access courses in Australia.

Players use their pre-1935 hickory clubs and follow the events special conditions such as playing a Gutta Percha ball (which were used in 1900 and go about 60% of distance of current balls), carry their clubs without a carry bag, no wooden tees, use sand mound when teeing off. The course is also set up in line with Oakhurst Links, America’s oldest documented golf course, first played in the early 1880’s with its nine holes measuring 2,235 yards.

^{The playing group (Click for
larger image)}

Day one saw blizzard conditions in Sydney with the course virtually unplayable so the day was cancelled. As we had to finish the event in line with the other countries, on day 2 we played 26 holes and had to finish off the last 10 holes on Saturday afternoon. It was the opposite in the U.S. with heatwave conditions.

With the special Gutta Percha balls costing almost $30 accuracy was paramount and the players took a little time to come to grips with the short distance they travelled.

With the rearranging of times not all could juggle their diaries so only a few completed the 36 holes. Tim Sayers, a well respected club fitter, led the Australian contingent playing superb golf under the conditions with 149 (77, 72). Runner up was Manly professional Phil Baird on 159 (80, 79) with Rick Baldwin the leading amateur on 168 (90, 78).


^{Tim Sayers}	^{Phil Baird}	^{Ric Baldwin}

In International Remote Division Tim and Phil were well ahead of the pack and the 1st and 2nd place medals are on the way from the U.S..

^{Best Dressed Group (click for
larger image)}

All are looking forward to next years event, where it is hoped the weather is much better.

Les Browne - AGHS Captain.

Heritage Golf Comes to Braidwood.

Sunday, 28^th March, 2021

Braidwood is half way between Canberra and Batemans Bay on the Kings Highway. It is a National Trust-classified town with charming colonial buildings, rustic streetscape and rural beauty which led to it being the backdrop for iconic Australian films such as Ned Kelly (starring Mick Jagger), The Year My Voice Broke and Flirting.

Braidwood Golf Club was formed in 1913 with the first matches being played in May of that year after the course was opened by a local Alderman. The First World War seems to have disrupted the club in those early days, but it reformed in the 1920s on a course using ‘The Common’ along Flood Creek.

Some considered this course unsuitable and a course at the racecourse was proposed. There may have been a split in the club at this time, as even though the proposal was defeated, a course was built at the racecourse, and the original course started to be referred to as “The Town Course” Both clubs were disrupted by the Second World War. When the Servicemen's Club was founded in 1952 the present golf course was laid out in Mr McDonald’s Paddock after negotiations to place it in the Police Paddock at the northern end of town broke down.

The current nine hole course, with manicured fairways and fast bent greens is situated on the edge of town. It is a hidden gem and not to be bypassed if in the area.

On Sunday 28^th March, in Braidwood, a large field stepped back in time to play ‘Hickory Golf’. Hickory events are played with pre-1935 wooden shafted clubs. Many dressed for the occasion. Players had to make the difficult adjustment to these ancient clubs and appreciated the skill that was required by our past champions.

^{Group prior to hitting off}

^{Steve Cansell, Phil Wilson and Nick Fry turned out well.}

It was a beautiful morning and after a short briefing and some basic instruction on playing with hickories… ‘swing slow’.. play commenced. Some had no trouble getting into the swing but many struggled early. With the shotgun start and a relatively quick round there was time for a few drinks and sandwiches while discussing the pro’s and con’s of the mornings play. There could have been an opportunity to sell a few clubs with comments such as .. “I putt better with the hickory than my current putter”.

President Keith conducted the presentation but also announced he would be discarding his current clubs and moving to hickories.

The winners on the day were, perhaps unsurprisingly, two keen players from the Australian Golf Heritage Society. Barry Leithhead and Les Browne teamed up to take the trophy beating Braidwood members John Stahel and his brother Geoff Bowmaker by one eighth of a shot. Damn that wayward chip on the ninth! Braidwood’s Club Champion, Michael Toirkens and Terry Hughes were in third place, only two eighths of a stroke behind.

^{Winners Barry Leithhead and Les Browne (centre) flanked
by Runners Up Geoff Bowmaker and John Stahel}

John Stahel, a volunteer at the museum who helped to organise the day said “We created a piece of living history today. There was great camaraderie and an appreciation of how the game was played in Braidwood a hundred years ago” Stahel thanked the Braidwood Golf Club and the Australian Golf Heritage Society for helping to create “The Hickory Experience”

The Braidwood & District Historical Society sponsored the event in an effort to emphasise the importance of our community sporting clubs. These small clubs provide important social connections and the culture of those clubs are a product of the club’s history. Being aware of an organisation’s past can help strengthen them for the future. Stahel said “It’s important that we remember and honour the custodians of that culture. The tone of fraternity at a club is set by the succession of members, management, champions and sponsors who keep the club viable, both financially and socially.” Traditions aren’t important because they are traditions, said Stahel “It’s the other way around. They are traditions because they are important.”

^{Julie Granger holing out.}

A special guest on the day, who had never played at Braidwood, was Ross Howard, the son of Al Howard who designed the present course in 1952 for a fee of £42/10/06p “It was wonderful to see the layout” said Ross, “the setting and the trees all blending together to create a golfing vista and a great tribute to the club’s management, greenskeeper and volunteers to present the course in such wonderful condition” Ross was able to identify many of the Howard hallmarks as we played the course, the bumps and dips sculptured around the green in particular.

^{Ross Howard, Ted Emmett, Brendan Booker, Murray Sm}

The Australian Golf Heritage Society promotes the regular celebration of the origins of the game and further information about the organisation can be found at; http:www.australiangolfheritage.org.au

^{Rodney Royds and Rob Martin}

^{David Jones lines up a putt}

Les Browne
AGHS Captain

(All photos by Kathy Toirkens)

2021 Colonial Hickory Day

Sunday, 7th March 2021

Anyone who has ever been tempted to play hickory golf, but was scared off by the prospect of playing 100 year old clubs on a course built for modern 'game improvement' gear would do well to visit the Colonial Golf Course at Werrington, NSW before they totally dismiss any hickory haspirations they may have.

With a par of 29 - seven par 3s (91 to 180 metres) and two par 4s (both around the 230 metre mark) - a length of just under 1500 metres and large couch greens, it is a throwback to the days when golf was 'fun with a challenge'.

There are plenty of wide-open spaces, but the hard, well-shaped greens mean that the 'target golf' approach of throwing the ball high in the air and waiting for it to make deep, ugly pitch marks as it stops centimetres from the pin is NOT going to work.

The Colonial Golf Course is laid out in such a way that the best approach to the green changes according to the pin position, and it allows you to make use that most beloved of hickory shots - the 'pitch-and-run'. Penalty areas (hazards in the old money) in the form of ditches, bunkers and ponds are adequate without being intimidating . . . although one or two of them are difficult to see from the tee, and might just trap the first time player.

Try it out - you won't be disappointed.

For the 2021 Colonial Hickory Day, the field of 21 players that faced the starter included seven Orchard Hills Golf Club 'locals', three ladies, three generations of Pickrells, some AGHS stalwarts, some hickory first-timers, an AGHS life member, and a couple of extras who may best be described as past or future members of the Society (there may be some overlap in these categories). They also faced a sensational western Sydney day - loads of early-autumn sunshine that enabled the 50+ to be dialled back to 30+, little wind and very few flying pests . . . other than the one or two crows that were lurking with intent around the 3rd green.


^{Early Club Examination}	^{2nd Tee & 4th Hole Action}	^{Great day for it!}	^{The 9th Tee}

At the end of the day, the men's event was claimed by Jeff Mansfield with a nine-hole score of 34 shots, closely followed by Steve Doorey with a score of 35. The ladies prize was claimed by Rosemary Phillis with 42, with Hazel Williams claiming the runner-up prize on 49. While congratulations are due to the winners on the day, a big pat on the back is deserved by everyone that participated.


^{Tom Moore on the 9th}	^{Pitch and run on the 9th}	^{Results Confirmation}	^{Tom Moore makes the presentations}

Thanks to Pixie and Shaun for looking after the competitors, the starting, the catering and the score compilation. Your contribution and hospitality was much appreciated. We look forward to being back soon.

^{Ladies winner Rosemary Phillis
& 90-years-young Tom Moore}

^{(Click on any image for larger
version)}

- McIntyre Ouimet

Roving Reporter

^{(All photographs courtesy of
Rosemary Phillis)}

2021 Dan Cullen Trophy

After over 12 months with no events due to Covid-19 it was great to be back playing a hickory event.

Dan Cullen was Patron of the Australian Golf Heritage Society until his passing at the age of 101 in 2016. Dan’s golfing legacy was significant not only as a player - he was the oldest player to qualify for the British Open aged 64 - but as a teacher at Cullen's Driving Range. He was also a bomber pilot in World War 2 and received the Distinguished Flying Cross and France's Legion d’Honneur Medal.

After reviewing suitable courses, the thought arose to play this year’s event at the first course in Sydney where Dan was the professional from 1946 till 1955. The Committee and management of Roseville Golf Club were delighted to be approached to host the event, particularly seeing the past history with Dan, and we thank them for the opportunity to play the well-manicured layout.

There was a good field of 16 competing in the nine hole 2 Ball Ambrose including AGHS Patron Tom Moore who recently celebrated his 90th birthday. Dan’s son Dan Jnr was keen to play in the event but travel restrictions and border closures (he lives in WA, Dan Snr’s hometown) prevented him from competing.

^{The Dan Cullen Trophy Competitors - Roseville Golf Club,
4th March 2021.

(Click for larger version)}

Local member and scribe Michael Court’s first experience with hickories made him a convert after he birdied his first hole (checking to see if it can be counted in his eclectic!).

There were some fine scores with three pairs shooting 2 over (Barry Meares/Paul Gladwin, Bruno Pase/Ross Howard & Phil Baird/Cameron Daddo).

Trophy winners were Bruno and Ross with a wonderful net 33.6. It was appropriate that Ross was in the winning team as his dad, Al Howard, was a golfing compatriot of Dan.

^{The field}

^{(Click on any image for
larger version).}

- Les Browne
AGHS Captain

2019 Festival of Tropical Hickory Golf

On Saturday 9^th, Sunday 10^th and Monday 11^th November 2019 Australian Golf Heritage Society (Queensland Chapter) conducted hickory golfing events at three of Brisbane’s most historic golf courses:

Queensland Hickory Shaft Championship — at Royal Queensland Golf Club
Queensland Hickory Shaft Foursomes Championship — at The Brisbane Golf Club
AGHS 4BBB — at St Lucia Golf Links

Queensland Hickory Shaft Championship — Royal Queensland Golf Club

The fifth annual Queensland Hickory Shaft Championship was contested again over Royal
Queensland Golf Club’s Eagle Farm links. The field of twenty-two contestants comprised AGHS
players from local clubs Nudgee Golf Club, Royal Queensland Golf Club and The Brisbane Golf
Club.

Interstate visitors included newcomer Bruce Haslam (Newcastle) along with stalwart competitors
Tony Mounstephens from Pymble Golf Club (Sydney) and Justin Ryan from Quarry Hill Golf Club
(Bendigo).

Country visitors included Scott Hendry from City Golf Club (Toowoomba) along with Matthew and
Ryan McCarthy from Rowes Bay Golf Club (Townsville).

Winner of the Queensland Hickory Shaft Championship with a record low score of 78 strokes
was David Klaffer. In second place, just one stroke behind, was Victorian visitor Justin Ryan and
in third place, with a creditable score of 81 strokes, was Rob King-Scott.

^{2019 Queensland Hickory Shaft Champion presented with the
winner’s trophy by AGHS Queenland Patron Charlie Earp}

Winner of the Monks-Earp Shield for the lowest nett score was Greg Mellifont from The
Brisbane Golf Club with a score of 68 off a handicap of 15.

Runner-up was Justin Ryan with a nett result of 70 off a handicap of 9, followed on count-back
by Bradley Tatnell with a nett result of 70 off 15.

Drinks on the clubhouse verandah were followed by presentations and dinner in Royal
Queensland Golf Club’s newly opened Centenary Library, which was built to celebrate the club’s
forthcoming centenary.

Nearest the pins:

8th hole—Greg Mellifont
11th hole—Alan Grieve

^{Greg Mellifont, lowest nett
score winner, presented with the Monks-Earp Shield by AGHS
Queensland Patron Charlie Earp}

Full Scores

Scratch Scores			Nett Scores
Position	Names	Score	Position	Names	Handicap	Score
1	David Klaffer	78	1	Greg Mellifont	15	68
2	Justin Ryan	79	2	Justin Ryan	9	70
3	Rob King-Scott	81	3	Bradley Tatnell	15	70
4	Scott Hendry	82	4	Bruce Haslam	21	71
5	Greg Mellifont	83	5	Ross Bishop	12	72
6	Chris Cooper	84	6	Rob King-Scott	9	72
7	Ross Bishop	84	7	Chris Webster	16	73
8	Bradley Tatnell	85	8	John O'Shea	16	73
9	Ivan Hodges	86	9	Kevin Tuckwell	18	75
10	Alan Grieve	87	10	Scott Hendry	7	75
11	Ian King	88	11	Andrew Baker	14	77
12	Chris Webster	89	12	Ian King	11	77
13	John O'Shea	89	13	David Klaffer	0	78
14	Andrew Baker	91	14	Ivan Hodges	7	79
15	Bruce Haslam	92	15	Alan Grieve	8	79
16	Kevin Tuckwell	93	16	Ross Haslam	15	79
17	Ross Haslam	94	17	Chris Cooper	2	82
18	Max Misso	96	18	Tony Mountstephens	20	85
19	Phil Akes	101	19	Phil Akes	16	85
20	Tony Mountstephens	101	20	Max Misso	13	85
21	Arthur O'Shea	107	21	Arthur O'Shea	18	89
22	Peter Egan	114	22	Peter Egan	23	91

Queensland Hickory Shaft Foursomes Championship — The Brisbane Golf Club

On Sunday 10th November 2018, eighteen keen hickory golfers assembled early at The Brisbane Golf Club to contest the fourth annual Queensland Hickory Shaft Foursomes Championship.

Local player (and Captain of The Brisbane Golf Club) Alan Grieve and his Toowoomba-based partner Scott Hendry played a fine round of foursomes golf to complete the course in 79 strokes. Runners-up with a fine score of 82 were Chris Cooper and David Klaffer. Third on the day were Ivan Hodges and Phil Akes with a competitive round of 84.

The Treasurer’s Trophy for the best nett score was won for the second year running by the team of Ross Haslam and Bradley Tatnell with a score of 72.5. Runners-up with a score of 74 were Ivan Hodges and Phil Akes, on a count-back from the state-of-origin pairing Tony Mountstephens and Andrew Corrigan.

Drinks, presentations and a lovely lunch were held in the charming and historic clubhouse of The Brisbane Golf Club.


^{Queensland Hickory Shaft Foursomes Champions Alan Grieve and Scott Hendry}	^{Winners of the foursomes nett event Ross Haslam and Bradley Tatnell}

Full Scores

Scratch Scores			Nett Scores
Position	Names	Score	Position	Names	Handicap	Score
1	Alan Grieve and Scott Hendry	79	1	Bradley Tatnell and Ross Haslam	12.5	72.5
2	Chris Cooper and David Klaffer	82	2	Ivan Hodges and Phil Akes	10	74
3	Ivan Hodges and Phil Akes	84	3	Tony Mounstephens and Andrew Corrigan	14	74
4	Bradley Tatnell and Ross Haslam	85	4	Andrew Baker and Rob King-Scott	8.5	76.5
5	Andrew Baker and Rob King-Scott	86	5	Justin Ryan and Colin Marshall	8.5	76.5
6	Justin Ryan and Colin Marshall	87	6	Bruce Haslam and Chris Webster	16	80
7	Tony Mounstephens and Andrew Corrigan	88	7	Chris Cooper and David Klaffer	1	81
8	Bruce Haslam and Chris Webster	96	8	Matthew and Ryan McCarthy	23	83
9	Matthew and Ryan McCarthy	106	9

AGHS 4BBB — St Lucia Golf Links

This year, a record twenty players participated in this popular and fun event.

Winners

The successful team this year were Alan Grieve and Scott Hendry with 42 stableford points. Runners-up with 41 points were Bradley Tatnell and David Klaffer. In third place with a score of 40 stableford points, just pipping-out father and son team Matt and Ryan McCarthy, were Ivan Hodges and Phil Akes.

^{4BBB—St Lucia Golf Links, Saturday 9
November 2019 - The field prior to hit-off at St Lucia Golf Links}

Special Mention—Hole-in-one

Bradley Tatnell scored the first hole-in-one in modern Queensland hickory golf competition — holing out on the 122 metre 8th hole. (see separate report)

Full Scores

Position	Name	Points
1	Alan Grieve and Scott Hendry	42
2	Bradley Tatnell and David Klaffer	41
3	Ivan Hodges and Phil Akes	40
4	Matthew and Ryan McCarthy	39
5	Ross Bishop and Peter Monks	38
6	Geoff Egarr and Justin Ryan	36
7	Chris Cooper and Chris Everett	35
8	Bruce Haslam and Colin Marshall	34
9	Chris Webster and Ross Haslam	34
10	Andrew Baker and Peter Egan	32

Thank you...

We thank the members and committee of Royal Queensland Golf Club for making their course and facilities available for this year’s event. We also thank the club for waiving green fees for visitors to this event, our most important of the year. As always, Royal Queensland Golf Club staff ensured a faultless day of golf and joyful evening of celebration. Also, special thanks to Steve Rhind and staff of the club’s golf centre who so efficiently look after AGHS events throughout the year.

AGHS also sincerely thanks the members, committee and staff of The Brisbane Golf Club for hosting our foursomes championship for the fourth year in a row and also for waiving green fees for visitors. This contribution to the growth of hickory golf in Queensland is greatly appreciated.

Special thanks to:

Rob King-Scott — who coordinated all three events; liaised with Royal Queensland Golf Club... and more
Ross Haslam — who created and distributed posters; created ball-markers, bag-tags and mugs; loaned and provided clubs to other competitors
Alan Grieve — who made all arrangements with The Brisbane Golf Club
Peter Clark, Director of Golf at St Lucia Golf Links — whose co-operation made our afternoon there extremely pleasurable and memorable

Finally, we look forward to hosting the Australian Hickory Shaft Championships on 12^th, 13^th and 14^th of September 2020.

Hickory Hole-In-One

The fourth annual Festival of Tropical Hickory Golf was held in Brisbane over the extended weekend of 9-11th November. On Sunday a hole in one was recorded for the first time in the history of AGHS competition. As luck would have it, our roving reporter - Forgan St. Andrews - was on hand to both witness and provide a pen picture of the event. Over to you, Forgie . . .

The grand old St Lucia Links was host to the first round of the 2019 Queensland Festival of Hickory Golf, a four ball event. As one of Brisbane's oldest links still preserved in its original form it proved a particularly apt setting . . . in fact just perfect for hickory.

And such a delight for Bradley Tatnell of Royal Queensland.

The Links have been host to several Queensland Open and PGA tournaments, but this was the first (official) year for our Queensland Hickory Four Ball title. The Saturday afternoon in question had something of a ‘ye olde’ feel to the day. It was quite dry, devilishly hot, and soothed by only a modest zephyr. To the long eye, recent faraway bushfires had sought to deposit something of an angelic glaze about the horizons. Quite the scene.

After some particularly rewarding drives with the lumber, catastrophe struck Tatnell on the short par four 7th tee, pulling a mid-iron into the water. Thankfully in four ball there’s always a backup plan and an easy par was soon scribed upon the card. Reimbursement in full to his partner - plus some exorbitant interest - was immediately forthcoming though.

The 8th hole.

As last to tee off, the short hole was eyed by Tatnell with some well-deserved caution . . . as he was trying to put the water ball out of mind. Presented with a slightly elevated and somewhat small target, a garrison of bunkers and a front to back sloping green following a subtle false front, the only joy was to find the pin some 112 metres distant, albeit hugging the front.

^{8th Green - St Lucia (Click for
larger image)}

^{Bradley Tatnell

(Click for larger image)}

Tatnell’s guess was 115 metres - not bad - the tee somewhere in the middle of the block and the dispersed yardage signs of red (112 m) and white (122 m) only offering to confuse. The safe shot was the long shot, as all the trouble was about the pin.

Wind directly off the right and a devilish front pin saw a mashie niblick first in hand, always a bit too much club. But upon noting the putter already in his partner’s hand, being some 12 feet under the hole, a strong niblick (46°), a St Andrews Forgan, had the honour of a last moment swap in.

A decent swing from Tatnell and a slight draw over the right side bunker saw the ball climb admirably. A clean strike, very clean, had to be or down the false front it would go. Yet it had to clear the bunker, but only just if it was to have any chance of a bird. A worrisome moment, a tedious wait yet a sigh of relief upon sighting the bounce, ten feet right. A second hop forward confirmed it was safe, followed by a brisk roll almost sideways. With some perplexed ogling, the ball kindly disappeared, quickly forcing the obvious audible question, was it the big bird?

The marshal of the day happened to be sitting on the tee and immediately drove to the green, a swift happy confirmation, the ball holed. Thank you, pick it up partner - 5 points on the card, and off to the 9th tee.

Forgan St. Andrews

AGHS Roving Reporter

2019 Tony Doggett Craigieburn Cup

Skehan and Wilson Win!

The early afternoon of Sunday 27^th October in the Southern Highlands - with bright
sunshine and a light zephyr - was a welcome change when compared to the previous couple
of days when strong winds and dust was the order of the day.

It was with this agreeably benign weather as a backdrop that a select group of hickory
enthusiasts pitted their skills against the Craigieburn course, a layout which - except for the
irrigation system for the greens - has remained virtually unchanged since its opening just
over 100 years ago on 8^th April, 1919.

The course measures 3,613 meters, with nine greens, and a par of 32-31--63. It is a
delightful site for hickory play as it would have been in its earliest years.

In 1919, the course was officially opened by the then Mayor of Bowral, Alderman H. J.
Pickard, hitting a ball - upon which had been placed a gold half-sovereign - from the first tee
(see contemporary newspaper report on the left).

To recreate the opening of the course, we - in the absence of any half-sovereigns in our
pocket change - placed a dollar coin on the ball, and selected Trish Wilson from Kiama to hit
the “opening” ball. This duty was performed with gusto, and with a far better result than the
Mayor’s attempt where he reportedly had an air swing.

^{The modern day gold
'half-sovereign' sits atop the ball awaiting the official
opening re-enactment}

^{(Click for larger image)}

^{Trish stands over the ball
. . .}

^{(Click for larger image)}

^{. . . and makes solid
contact, unlike Alderman Pickard in 1919. The eagle-eyed
amongst you will be}

^{able to make out both the
ball and the coin in flight.}

^{(Click for larger, easier
to see ball and coin)}

As we were soon to discover the course was very dry, and all shots resulted in a puff of dust

from the divots. Naturally “bump and run” shots resulted in unexpected results because of

the dry conditions, but to our experts, defending and three-time champions Simon Lawrance

and current Australian Hickory Shaft Champion Padraic Skehan, such hurdles proved their

abilities with the hickories to be of the highest order.

Trish and Andrew Wilson and the writer were treated to a display of shot making that was

par excellence during the afternoon. At the turn Simon was trailing Padraic by 2 shots (36

to 34, 2 over par) with Andrew & the writer further down the field with 40 & 41 respectively

with the writer holding a small lead on handicap.

After the 10^th where Padraic recorded a bogie, he then played a faultless final 8 holes in

par to record a scratch score of 66 and win the Cup with Simon some 6 shots behind. The

handicap battle lasted until 15th with the writer succumbing to the pressure finally and

Andrew (previous winner in 2017) finishing strongly to win by 4 shots with a fine net of 64.

As we approached the final green, a number of Tony’s family had travelled down to the

course to add to the occasion to mark our late friend and colleague’s contribution to the

reestablishment of the Craigieburn event now celebrated as the Tony Doggett Craigieburn

Cup and applaud the players as they finished their rounds.

The group then adjourned to the bar area where after rehydrating, the presentation was

conducted with Tony’s daughters relating stories of Tony’s golfing background and then

Catherine and Simone handling the presentation photo opportunities with aplomb.

So, the family and our field were able to recall the passion and commitment of our late friend

to golf and in particular the hickory scene and hopefully some of the golfers in Tony’s family

will join us next year as we contest the Cup in the Spring.

Sincere thanks to the family for attending the presentation and to my fellow players on the

day, a memorable experience and joy to spend the afternoon with yourselves.

^{Robertson Advocate, 8
April 1919, p. 2

(National Library of Australia)}

My thanks to the photographers who provided the clips, Tony’s family & Andrew to record this special day.


^{Catherine & Padraic}	^{Simone & Andrew}	^{Akito & Mikako}

^{The field and the family.}

The day's full scorecard.

Ross Howard

AGHS Captain

2019 Australian Hickory Shaft Championships

The Events

For the first time a national Foursomes event was held in conjunction with the Singles Championship and the weather was kind for the two days at these wonderful and historic Sydney courses that in their early days were played by hickory wielding members.

Although the weather looked threatening at times on both days, the fields did not experience any precipitation. Both courses had never been utilised by present day hickory aficionados and presented challenges particularly around the greens. Whilst “bump and run” technique was possible on the approach to some putting surfaces, other greens required a more courageous lofted shot.

Both Clubs have indicated they were delighted with the events and would welcome a return event in the future.


^{The field at Elanora - Sunday 22nd September 2019 (click to enlarge)}	^{The field at Concord - Monday 23rd September 2019 (click to enlarge)}

Foursomes

The event was played over 18 holes stroke play with a Handicap section. A field of 34 (17 pairs) - playing off the “yellows” with yardage of 5,590 metres and a par of 72 - contested the event. A number of new players to AGHS competitions faced the starter and some 13 hire sets were utilised on the day. It was indeed pleasing to see the host Club supporting the event with 6 entrants.

Our Victorian visitors, Richard Macafee and Justin Ryan playing off +2 & 7 respectively were the winners on the 1st Foursomes Championship with a scratch score of 83, leading Rick Baldwin and Tim Sayers (9 & +1) home by a margin of 3 shots.

Continuing the success of interstaters, in the handicap section, two of our Queensland visitors Peter Monks and Bradley Tatnell (14 & 13) had a fine net 76.5 (gross of 90) to shade NSW players Geoff Martin and Warwick Stanwell with net of 79 (19 & 5, gross of 91). There was a moment of slight confusion when Geoff and Warwick were initially named as the winners, but they can perhaps console themselves with the thought that - as the only southpaw pair in the field - they are the de-facto Australian Left-Handed Hickory Foursomes Champions.


^{Scratch winners - Justin Ryan and Richard Macafee (click to enlarge)}	^{Nett winners - Peter Monks and Bradley Tatnell (click to enlarge)}


^{Tony Mountstephens plays a long bunker shot at the 6th - and it was a good one - leaving partner Col Marshall with a two metre uphill putt. (Click to enlarge)}	^{The not unattractive aspect of the 8th green at Elanora. (Click to enlarge)}	^{Ross Howard playing the third shot to the 16th. (Click to enlarge)}

^{Ross Haslam plays from the bunker at the 17th. (Click to enlarge)}	^{Richard Macafee launches one at the 17th. (Click to enlarge)}	^{Peter Monks drives at the 18th. (Click to enlarge)}

^{Not the sort of lie you generally
want to see playing Foursomes.}

^{Especially when the green is to
the left of the photo . . . as it was.}

^{And you're a right hander. No
names, no pack drill . . . but they would}

^{have won the Mixed Foursomes if
there was such an event.}

Forty minutes of amateur video taken at the 2019 Australian Hickory Foursomes Championship can be viewed on the Australian Golf Heritage Society YouTube channel.

Championship

The event was played over 18 holes stroke play with a Handicap section. A field of 40 - playing off the “whites” with a yardage of 5,768 metres and par of 71 - contested the event on the layout recently redesigned by Tom Doak.

It was indeed pleasing to see the host Club supporting the event with the Lady Captain playing. With a number of past years Champions in the field, hot scoring was anticipated with over 50% of the field playing off handicaps of less than double figures.

In the Ladies event, to the delight of the gathering, Kathy Every-Burns (the Concord Lady Captain) was the winner of the Trophy. Kathy has vowed to now buy a hickory set and continue playing in the hickory events.

Despite the past winners competing, a first-time winner and the Australian Hickory Shaft Champion for 2019 emerged from the field with Padraic Skehan from Port Kembla shooting a fine scratch score of 82 to win by 2 shots from Richard Macafee and Alex Sutherland (2018 winner).

In the Handicap section, a past winner 13 years ago in Barry Leithhead added to his 2006 victory with a net score of 75 of 27 handicap, after a countback from Bruno Pase.


^{2019 Ladies Champion - Kathy Every-Burns (Click to enlarge)}	^{2019 Nett Winner - Barry Leithhead (right) (Click to enlarge)}

^{2019 Australian HIckory Shaft
Champion - Padraic Skehan (left)}

^{(Click to enlarge)}

In response to “calls” for increased age divisions recognition, AGHS agreed to implement over 60s, over 70s & over 80s and the winners were Bruno Pase, Les Browne and Peter Monks respectively.


^{Peter Monks, Mark Meares, Les Browne and Warren Smith at the 6th hole. (Click to enlarge)}	^{Padraic Skehan, Alex Sutherland and Corey Cruickshank at the 6th hole . . . with all three balls in frame. (Click to enlarge)}	^{Darron Watt, Rick Baldwin, Tim Sayers and Richard Macafee on the 5th green. (Click to enlarge)}

^{If there was a better pair of shoes walking around Concord on the day, I didn't see them! (Click to unashamedly admire)}	^{There was only one photograph taken of a putt all day, and this was it. It also had the good manners to drop, and card a fine birdie for nett winner Barry Leithhead. (Click to enlarge)}	^{Ladies Champion Kathy Every-Burns approaches the 15th. (Click to enlarge)}

^{Andrew Daddo approaches the 15th. (Click to enlarge)}	^{Alan Grieve approaches the 15th. (Click to enlarge)}	^{Phil Baird approaches the 15th. (Click to enlarge)}

Forty minutes of amateur video taken at the 2019 Australian Hickory Championship can be viewed on the Australian Golf Heritage Society YouTube channel.

Thanks

Firstly, the AGHS wishes to thank the Club Managements for making their courses available for the events and I am sure that sentiment is reflective of all players on both days. Secondly, the assistance, support and cooperation of Geoff Black (Elanora) and Scott Cragg (Concord), their support staff and the Pro shops personnel and catering staff were first class at both venues.

Finally, to all the competitors who travelled from all points of the compass to the event, the AGHS sincerely thanks you for your support and participation. It was great to meet the new participants and renew meeting many of you again after the Royal Melbourne event. Hopefully, we can all meet again in 2020 for the 2nd & 26th events respectively that we plan to conduct at the Royal Queensland and Brisbane Golf Clubs.

The thoughts and words of John Buckley (AGHS President), Jane Buckley for the talk on the history of Elanora including the film clip and to Tom Moore (Life Member of PGA & founder of the Championship) were appreciated for assisting with the presentation and post-game functions.

As some of you are aware, Concord Golf Club was the first professional assignment of my grandfather Tom Howard 97 years ago in 1922 after a stellar amateur career, and where Dad started his 84-year professional golfing pilgrimage in 1930. Great memories for the Howard family.

To my playing partners on both days, thank you for your company, a thoroughly enjoyable experience that I hope all participants on both days felt the same.

Ross Howard
AGHS Captain

2019 Alex Lowe Trophy

The inaugural Alex Lowe Trophy was held at the historic Wollongong Golf Club on a fine day for the game, with Stroke and Nett medals on offer. Twenty players took to the course with a number of first time hickory participants looking somewhat excited and scared in equal measure. Due to the upcoming Club championships, and the hosting of the annual Autumn Cup open day the following week, the rough was thick in places and the greens running fast.

^{The Field - 2019 Alex Lowe Trophy

(click to embiggen)}

In the end, it was a fine score of 75 posted by regular hickory golfer Tim Sayers of Bankstown Golf Club that won the day. Despite complaints of various ailments earning him the nickname of the "Jason Day of Hickory Golf", the nett medal was won by another hickory enthusiast Lachie Wilson (83-11--72) who had made the drive from Wagga Golf Club for a weekend of the grand old game in the Illawarra.


^{Wollongong GC assistant pro Jack Kessell (click to embiggen)}	^{First time hickory golfer Johny Mitchell (click to embiggen)}

The event was well supported by the club, and a great deal of interest seemed to have been sparked ahead of next year's staging. The organisers had great feedback, and for most of the new participants the fear and trepidation at the start of the round had been replaced by a love for the feel and style of hickory golf by the end. Roll on 2020.

- Padraic Skehan
Wollongong GC

2019 J. J. Paine Trophy

The J. J. Paine Trophy annually celebrates the first golf played in Windsor at Gosper's Paddock in 1905 adjacent to current course. This nine-hole heritage golf event is jointly coordinated by the Windsor Country Golf Club and the Australian Golf Heritage Society. For the first time since the J. J. Paine was initially played in 2013, the event patron Barry Leithhead was not in attendance, his presence being required in Victoria.

Monday dawned with a cool early morning (14 degrees according to my car) to greet the 16 players (3 ladies and 13 gents). The course presented in great condition, played off the white tees and with the pin placements a little easier than in past years but a number of the greens still have challenging slopes. The weather warmed up during the morning with a delightful autumn day with plenty of sunshine and a light breeze.

After a group photo, the serious business started with Trevor Bartley acting as the starter with the groups playing the back nine of the course. The format was individual Stableford, the best scratch score winning the J.J. Paine Trophy, with men's and ladies handicap divisions in conjunction. Players had been encouraged to wear “period clothing” and some most impressive models were present.



	^{Action On and From the First Tee (Click for larger images)}

Scones greeted the returning players, then lunch and the results were delivered, and the day was capped off with the AGHS Captain explaining the relationship between James Gosper and the Howard family. A copy of the tales will be covered in the AGHS website shortly. Also, in response to questions from the players Ross detailed some of his grandfather’s (Tom Howard - 1923 Australian Open winner) background and achievements.


^{View Back Down the 15th (Click for larger image)}	^{Rosemary Phillis, Bev Marsden and Margaret Graves on the 18th Green (Click for larger image) Photos courtesy of Rosemary Phillis}	^{Rosemary Phillis and the redoubtable Tom Moore (Click for larger image)}

After having a layoff due to elbow issues and on his first game back, Steve Doorey was the clear winner of the J.J. Paine Trophy with a scratch Stableford score of 7 points. In an in-depth exclusive interview with the winner, the following bears reporting “The thing that got me across the line was a birdie on the 16th. A drive skillfully faded into the trees on the right, a punched driving iron - that never got more than a metre off the ground - through the trees to about 4 metres, and the only putt I sank all day. I thought about it on the way home, and I’m 98% certain that it’s the first birdie I’ve had with the hickories.” Thanks, Steve, for that insight into your round.

Don Graves continues to be a front runner in the event winning the men's handicap division. Not to be outdone, Bev Marsden greeted the scorer with 14 Stableford points to take out the ladies prize. Congratulations to both players. Again, Bev’s playing partner Steve supplied the following “Bev played steady golf. The highlight of her round was a par on the 11th, set up by a spectacular chip to about 1 metre.” Nearest the Pin prizes were claimed by Arthur Pringle and Rosemary Phillis.

A copy of the results is hereunder.

Player	Handicap		Stableford
Player	Daily	GA	Gross	Nett
Don Graves	19	17.3	6	14
Bev Marsden	36	32.7	4	14
Steve Doorey	21	19.9	7	13
Arthur Pringle	19	18.2	6	13
Rosemary Phillis	27	24.5	2	12
Graham Ruttley	16	14.6	5	12
Ross Howard	20	19.0	5	11
Rod Hartas	16	14.9	5	10
Steve Paxman	26	24.1	2	9
Arthur Penton	26	24.7	3	9
John Marsden	28	26.3	1	9
Graham Evans	29	26.8	1	7
Trevor Bartley	26	24.6	3	6
Ross Selig	18	17.0	1	5
Margaret Graves	43	38.3	0	5
Tom Moore	16	14.9	1	2

^{The event winners (l-r) - Don
Graves, Steve Doorey, Bev Marsden}

^{(Click for larger photo)}

A very pleasant day was experienced by all and special thanks to those who organised the event and to my playing partners on the day Trevor and Rod. Hopefully in 2020 we will see a larger field to contest this important trophy on the wonderful setting that is Windsor Country Golf Club.

Ross Howard
AGHS Captain

2019 Kiama Hickory Challenge

For the 8th staging of this event - played, as usual, to Stableford rules - the 15 players were greeted with a typically delightful and mild South Coast autumn day. The event was the second of two played in the Illawarra over the weekend, and for those who played on the first day, a chance to repeat the enjoyment of the hickory experience.

Players journeyed from Wagga Wagga, Sydney, the Southern Highlands and adjacent Illawarra Coast areas, a thanks to all who travelled.

It was pleasing to see seven new hickory participants who all responded positively to the question “How was that ?” to their newly acquired skill set after 18 holes. So . . . Morgan, Simon and Caroline, Ben, Rick, Corey and Nick - Welcome to the hickory playing roster, we sincerely hope to see again in the future.


^{Tony Mounstephens, Simon Cross, Carolyn Cross, Robert Jaeger (Click for larger image)}	^{Ross Howard, Corey Cruickshank, Tim Sayers, Rick Baldwin (Click for larger image)}	^{Andrew Wilson, Trish Wilson, Lachie Wilson, Padraic Skehan (Click for larger image)}

At the turn after 9 holes, the score cards revealed Tony Mountstephens leading with 18 points (courtesy of very consistent scoring) followed by Lachlan Wilson trailing by 1, with Morgan Lewis, Tim Sayers and Carolyn Cross tied on 15 points. The rest of the field ranged from 13 to 7 with some of the first-time hickory players acquitting themselves with not only determination but showing rapidly improving hickory expertise.

After dealing with the trickly “ninth”, a drink and nourishment seemed to affect some players dramatically with one making a charge (last year’s winner Padraic Skehan 19 points), others maintaining their scoring, and two individuals “firing” 17s on the back 9. The final 9 holes and the checking the cards revealed a close finish for second with four players on 31 points, but the winner had been busy accumulating a total of 34 with a 2nd nine of 16.

The end result was that Tony Mountstephens - who had scored on every hole on the course, a truly amazing effort - was crowned the 2019 Kiama Hickory Challenge winner, with Padraic Skehan being the runner up on countback. Host Andrew Wilson noted that Tim Sayers' score of 31 points off +1 equated to 70 strokes - there aren't many scores of 70 or better around Kiama with any kind of equipment, so a pretty good effort. A copy of the full field score card is below.

Birdies were in lesser numbers than last year with 5, Tim Sayers (playing off +1) recording 3. The field recorded 55 pars representing 20% of the holes played with the 6th, 10, 11 & 14th all having 6 noted.

Carolyn Cross from Highlands Club in the Southern Highlands, playing only her second game with hickories, recorded the only 4 pointer of on the day on the 14th, well done!

So, at the end of the day, last year’s hickory convert Padraic presented the Trophy to Tony (first time hickory winner) to have his name engraved on the trophy (Al Howard’s hickory shafted putter) at Kiama Golf Club, well done Tony.

^{2018 winner Padraic Skehan (l) presents to trophy to 2019
winner Tony Mountstephens (r)

(Click for larger image)}

To my playing partners on the day, Tim, Corey and Rick, I watched in awe at the ball flights off the hickories, hope everyone else enjoyed the day as I did.

Thanks go to Andrew Wilson for organising the event at his home course, which was in great condition and the greens proved to be a test of judgement and skill. For those who played, on behalf of our host (Andrew) thank you for participating & we all look forward to improving the field size in 2020.

Hole

Out

Par

Index

^2/21

^14/28

^12/27

^17/35

^5/23

^18/36

^4/22

^10/25

^7/30

^11/26

^16/34

^3/19

^9/31

^15/33

^1/20

^13/32

^6/29

^8/24

Player

Club

H/cap

Tony Mounstephens

Pymble

5/2

4/2

5/2

3/3

7/1

5/2

4/2

5/2

4/2

7/1

4/2

3/3

6/1

5/1

4/2

5/2

Padraic Skehan

Port Kembla

5/2

5/1

3/2

5/1

3/2

7/1

3/2

4/2

3/2

5/3

4/1

3/2

5/2

3/2

3/3

Morgan Lewis

Port Kembla

6/2

5/3

4/2

7/1

3/3

4/2

5/3

7/2

5/1

4/2

6/2

5/1

4/3

6/2

Tim Sayers

Bankstown

5/1

3/3

4/2

3/2

5/1

2/2

4/2

3/2

4/2

3/2

4/3

3/2

4/1

5/1

4/1

3/2

4/2

Lachlan Wilson

Wagga Wagga

6/1

4/2

3/2

5/2

2/3

7/1

5/2

4/2

4/3

3/2

6/2

4/2

3/2

4/2

6/1

Simon Cross

Highlands

5/3

5/2

4/1

5/2

3/2

7/1

4/2

4/3

3/2

4/2

5/2

4/2

6/1

Ben Fisher

Kogarah

6/1

4/2

5/2

4/1

5/2

4/1

5/2

4/3

3/2

6/2

3/3

5/2

3/3

5/2

Ross Howard

Long Reef

6/1

5/2

3/3

6/1

4/2

5/1

6/1

3/3

7/2

5/1

3/3

7/1

4/2

5/2

Carolyn Cross

Highlands

7/2

6/2

4/2

6/3

4/3

6/1

5/2

3/4

7/2

6/1

6/2

Rick Baldwin

Beverley Park

5/1

4/1

5/2

4/1

5/3

5/1

4/1

6/2

4/1

5/2

3/2

3/3

4/2

Robert Jaeger

Kiama

6/1

5/2

6/1

4/1

7/1

5/2

4/2

6/1

4/1

6/2

5/1

3/2

4/2

5/2

Andrew Wilson

Kiama

5/2

6/1

4/1

3/2

7/1

4/3

4/2

4/3

3/3

5/2

4/2

5/1

Corey Cruickshank

Beverley Park

5/2

5/1

3/2

5/1

3/2

4/1

5/1

5/2

3/2

4/1

6/1

4/1

3/2

4/2

Nick Guggisberg

Kiama

6/2

5/2

5/1

6/2

7/1

5/1

6/1

5/1

7/2

4/2

5/1

7/1

Trish Wilson

Kiama

6/2

5/1

7/2

5/1

7/1

5/1

8/1

5/1

8/1

5/1

6/2

Ross Howard
AGHS Captain

2019 Dan Cullen Trophy

After the disappointment of having to cancel the 2018 event due to lack of starters, 18 fellow hickory aficionados were able to enjoy the opportunity to compete for the Dan Cullen Trophy in cooler weather after a very hot summer. The holding of the event represents the 16^th time the trophy has been played for since the initial match in 2002, when Peter Read and Barry Leithhead were the inaugural winners. There were five previous winners - with eight wins in total - in the field of 19.

We welcomed five new hickory starters, and hopefully all will return for another “try”. Karin Watts was our first lady player in some years, while PGA Senior State Manager for NSW and ACT David Barker was a guest along with Andrew Daddo of Golf Show fame. John Johnston and fellow Long Reef member Tony Cohen were also on hand.

Prior to the game Les Browne and I were lamenting our lack of driving distance as age catches up, but the Long Reef Captain has a very simple solution - just measure the drives in yards. How good is that! I felt better straight away, and warming to the hickory challenge ahead. Since starting my club golf at The Reef in the late 1960s, the course has developed from the plainer version of 50 years ago into its current wonderful and interesting layout. It is a lasting reminder of the improvements since that time, and a tangible reward for the efforts of present and past Committees.

Playing off the Gold markers, our group consisted of 19 players with eight pairs and the final group of three. It was also great to see Tom Moore making an appearance, and following the various groups around the course by cart.

Whilst in previous years the event was conducted over the first 11 holes in a 2 ball Ambrose format with a par of 43, this year we played 10 holes from the 9th through to the 18th with a par of 40. The range of gross scores covered from one under par to 13 over, with handicaps covering a range from 2.6 to 30. The handicap applied was determined by dividing the joint gross handicaps by 4 for the pairs, and by 6 for the group of 3.

Of interest were the birdies recorded this year being 10 in total, same as 2017, with single birdie at the 10^th, 11^th, 13^th, a remarkable five at the 15^th and one each at the 16^th and 18^th. Of the nine groups, seven recorded a net of less than par, with three groups having net scores of less than 36.

With the scores tallied, in third place were Les Browne and Andrew Daddo with net of 35.95 (gross of 39) and the runners up were Paul Gladwin and Barry Meares with a net of 34.90 (gross of 41).

The winners, posting a net of 32.68 was the three-man team of Bruno Pase, Hugh Jolly and the writer with a gross of 40. This team had three birdies - at the 10^th, 11^th and 15^th - and stood on 16th tee two under the card. They could not maintain the “charge” finishing with two 5s despite being on the edge of both greens in two.

^{Phil Baird & Andrew Daddo

(click for larger image)}

^{Ross Howard, Bruno Pase, Hugh Jolly & Tom Moore

(click for larger image)}

So, two new names plus a four-time winner will grace this wonderful reminder of our dear departed patron. My personal thanks to Bruno and Hugh for being my partners on the day, and I trust all players enjoyed the day as much we did.

As in previous events the course was in great condition and drew many favourable comments. A vote of sincere thanks to Les Browne (Captain of Long Reef Golf Club) and Ben Russell (Golf Operations Manager) for arranging the event at the Reef, to Danny in the Pro shop, also the course staff for presenting the course in such great condition after a difficult summer.

- Ross Howard

AGHS Captain

Fourth Annual Festival of Tropical Hickory Golf - Organised and Hosted by the AGHS Queensland Chapter

On Saturday 10^th, Sunday 11^th and Monday 12^th November 2018, the Queensland Chapter of the Australian Golf Heritage Society conducted hickory golfing events at three of Brisbane's - and Queensland's - most historic golf courses:

Queensland Hickory Shaft Championship - at Royal Queensland Golf Club
Queensland Hickory Shaft Foursomes Championship - at The Brisbane Golf Club
AGHS 4BBB - at St Lucia Golf Links

Queensland Hickory Shaft Championship -- Royal Queensland Golf Club

The fourth annual Queensland Hickory Shaft Championship was contested again over Royal Queensland Golf Club's Eagle Farm links. The club's par 72 course was in perfect condition and the event was played over a layout approximating the length of the original 1920s Carnegie Clark-designed links.

The field of twenty contestants comprised regular AGHS players from local clubs Nudgee Golf Club, Royal Queensland Golf Club and The Brisbane Golf Club. This year, for the first time, we were joined by international visitors Tom and Susan Tracey from Boise, Idaho, USA. Interstate and country visitors included Greg Lawler from Devonport Golf Club, Tony Mounstephens from Pymble Golf Club, Matthew and Ryan McCarthy from Rowes Bay Golf Club (Townsville), Scott Hendry from City Golf Club (Toowoomba) and Geoff Skinner from Main Ridge Golf Club (Toowoomba).

Winner of the Queensland Hickory Shaft Championship for the second year running was former Royal Queensland Golf Club Captain Chris Cooper with a fine score of 79 strokes. In second place, just one stroke behind, was AGHS (Queensland Chapter) Treasurer Ross Haslam. This year, third place on the podium was occupied by previous two-time winner Alan Grieve with a very creditable score of 82 strokes.

Winner of this year's nett event was Ross Haslam with a remarkable score of 63 off a handicap of 17. Ross is the second recipient of the Monks-Earp Shield. Jointly named in honour of the inaugural AGHS (Queensland Chapter) Captain, Peter Monks, and our Patron, Charlie Earp, this handsome trophy was made and donated last year by Ross himself.


^{AGHS (Queensland Chapter) Patron Charlie Earp presenting the winner's trophy to 2018 Queensland Hickory Shaft Champion, Chris Cooper (click for larger image)}	^{Inaugural AGHS (Queensland Chapter) Captain Dr Peter Monks presenting the Monks-Earp Trophy to Ross Haslam (click for larger image)}

Drinks in the clubhouse were followed by presentations and dinner in RQGC's Silver Boomerang Room.

We thank the members and committee of Royal Queensland Golf Club for making their wonderful course and facilities available for this year's event. We also thank the club for waiving green fees for visitors to this event -- our most important of the year. As always, RQGC Manager Tim Gahan and his staff ensured a faultless day of golf and joyful evening of celebration. Also, special thanks to Steve Rhind and staff of the club's golf centre who so efficiently look after AGHS events throughout the year.

Hickory Shaft Champion			Monks-Earp Shield
Pos	Player	Score	Pos	Player	Score
1	Chris Cooper	79	1	Ross Haslam (17)	63
2	Ross Haslam	80	2	Chris Webster (13)	70
3	Alan Grieve	82	3	Andrew Baker (11)	75
4	Chris Webster	83		Chris Cooper (4)
5	Scott Hendry	84		Scott Hendry (9)
6	David Klaffer	85	6	Alan Grieve (6)	76
7	Andrew Baker	86	7	Rob King-Scott (11)	77
7	Tom Tracy	86	7	Peter Monks (13)	77
9	Paul Adams	88	9	Greg Lawler (9)	79
	Rob King-Scott			Tony Mounstephens (19)
	Greg Lawler			Kevin Tuckwell (16)
12	Geoff Skinner	89	12	Tom Tracy (6)	80
13	Peter Monks	90	12	John Trubicyn (11)	80
14	Ian King	91	14	Ian King (10)	81
14	John Trubicyn	91	14	Arthur O'Shea (18)	81
16	Sue Tracy	94	16	Geoff Skinner (7)	82
17	Kevin Tuckwell	95	17	Paul Adams (5)	83
18	Tony Mountstephens	98	17	Sue Tracy (11)	83
19	Arthur O'Shea	99	19	David Klaffer (1)	84
20	Bradley Tatnell	101	20	Bradley Tatnell (11)	90

Queensland Hickory Shaft Foursomes Championship -- The Brisbane Golf Club

On Sunday 11th November 2018, twenty keen hickory golfers assembled at 7:00 am for a 7:30 am hit-off at The Brisbane Golf Club to contest the third annual Queensland Hickory Shaft Foursomes Championship. Having hosted the Queensland Open on the previous weekend, The Brisbane Golf Club's beautiful and historic Yeeroongpilly links were in superlative condition. It is a rare privilege for us to play our foursomes championship on a championship-quality course as set-up for a state open championship.

Local player Alan Grieve and USA visitor Tom Tracey provided a masterclass of controlled and imperious foursomes golf. With both members of the team playing off a handicap of 6, neither played a false shot during the entire round. Having demoralized the field with a score of 75 shots off-the-stick, their score could easily have been a number of shots lower with a fraction more luck on the greens. Runners-up with a score of 81 were Ross Haslam and Bradley Tatnell. Third on the day were the local pairing Kerrod Crocker and Chris Webster with a sore of 84.


^{Foursomes Champions Alan Grieve and Tom Tracey (click for larger image)}	^{Winners of the Treasurer's Trophy for the best nett score, Bradley Tatnell and Ross Haslam (click for larger image)}

The Treasurer's Trophy for the best nett score was won Ross Haslam and Bradley Tatnell with a score of 68. Runners-up with a score of 76.5 were locals Kerrod Crocker and Chris Webster and in third place was the city/country pairing of Paul Adams and Geoff Skinner.

Foursomes Championship			Treasurers Trophy
Pos.	Competitors	Score	Pos.	Competitors	Score
1	Alan Grieve (6) and Tom Tracey (6)	75	1	Ross Haslam (16) and Bradley Tatnell (10)	68
2	Ross Haslam (16) and Bradley Tatnell (10)	81	2	Alan Grieve (6) and Tom Tracey (6)	69
3	Kerrod Crocker (1) and Chris Webster (12)	84	3	Kerrod Crocker (1) and Chris Webster (12)	76.5
4	Paul Adams (7) and Geoff Skinner (5)	85	4	Paul Adams (7) and Geoff Skinner (5)	79
5	Geoff Egar (12) and Greg Lawler (9)	90	5	Geoff Egar (12) and Greg Lawler (9)	79.5
6	Andrew Baker (12) and Rob King-Scott (12)	93	6	Andrew Baker (12) and Rob King-Scott (12)	81
7	Matt McCarthy (16) and Ryan McCarthy (30)	104	7	Matt McCarthy (16) and Ryan McCarthy (30)	87
8	Tony Mountstephens (17) and Arthur O'Shea (19)	105	7	Tony Mountstephens (17) and Arthur O'Shea (19)	87

Drinks, presentations and a beautiful lunch were held in the charming and historic clubhouse of The Brisbane Golf Club.

Following presentations for the day's events, a `special' presentation was made by Ross Haslam to our youngest participant, eleven year-old Ryan McCarthy from Townsville. The gift comprised a full set of George Nicoll hickory shafted irons passed-on to Ross by stalwart NSW AGHS member Lachie Wilson. Having a very low swing weight, these clubs are sure to bolster Ryan's already impressive game. With a field spanning generations, with ages from 11 to 84, we believe the etiquette, manners and history of the game will have a dependable custodian in Ryan.


^{Ross Haslam and Ryan McCarthy (click for larger image)}	^{Ryan's note to Lachie Wilson (click for larger image)}

AGHS sincerely thanks the members, committee and staff of The Brisbane Golf Club for hosting our foursomes championship for the third year in a row and also for waiving green fees for visitors. This contribution to the growth of hickory golf in Queensland is greatly appreciated. Thanks also to Alan Grieve who managed all arrangements with the Club in the lead-up and during this event. Surrounded by displays of historic golfing artifacts and photographs which chart the club's illustrious history, it is hard to imagine a more appropriate venue for a hickory shaft competition.

AGHS 4BBB -- St Lucia Golf LInks

After playing our 4BBB event at Nudgee Golf Club for the past few years, major renovations to the South Course there necessitated the selection of a new venue this year: St Lucia Golf Links.

St Lucia Golf Links were home to Indooroopilly Golf Club for the first sixty years of its existence. Formed in mid-1925, the club's first nine holes were finished within a year and the full eighteen hole layout was in play by the end of 1926. The initial St Lucia course was designed by Scottish-born Daniel Gordon "Dan" Soutar, who emigrated to Australia in 1903. As a golf professional at Royal Sydney, Manly and Moore Park Golf Clubs, and as a foundation member of the Australian PGA, Dan Soutar had a profound influence on early Australian golf -- as an instructor, club-maker and course designer.

During the much reported 1926 visit to Australia by Dr Alistair Mackenzie, during which his primary responsibility was to re-design Royal Melbourne Golf Club's much celebrated West Course, the renowned British golf course architect also made a number of local and interstate side-trips; one of which was to Brisbane. The primary aim of Mackenzie's northern excursion was to suggest improvements to the recently inaugurated Carnegie Clark-designed layout of Royal Queensland Golf Club's Eagle Farm links. While he was in Brisbane, Indooroopilly Golf Club consequently engaged Mackenzie to recommend enhancements to its recently completed course at St Lucia.

This year, a record nineteen players participated in this popular event. The winners were Alan Grieve and Chris Webster with a fabulous score of 46 stableford points. Runners-up with a commendable tally of 45 stableford points were Rob King-Scott and Andrew Baker. In third place with a score of 43 stableford points were US visitor Tom Tracy and his Brisbane friend David Mason.

Special mention must be made of Tom Tracey's round of 73 off-the-stick, comprising at least five birdies during the afternoon. It was a great pleasure for Tom's opponents to witness such a demonstration of high-level hickory play.

^{Rob King-Scott with winners Alan Grieve and Chris Webster
(click for larger image)}

Australian Golf Heritage Society 4BBB
Position	Competitors	Stableford Score
1	Alan Grieve (6) and Chris Webster (13)	46
2	Rob King-Scott (10) and Andrew Baker (11)	45
3	Tom Tracy (7) and David Mason (27)	43
4	David Klaffer (1) and Ian King (10)	39
5	Matt McCarthy and Ryan McCarthy	38
	Bradley Tatnell (10) and Tony Cassimatis (15)
	Paul Adams (5) and Bradley Tatnell (10)
8	Greg Lawler (9) and Peter Monks (13)	35
9	Kevin Tuckwell (16) and Arthur O'Shea (16)	33

Photos follow . . .


^{The field at St Lucia (click for larger image)}

^{David Klaffer - The Wasp (click for larger image)}	^{Chris Webster (click for larger image)}

^{Tom Tracey - in "perfect form" - on his way to 73 off the stick (click for larger image)}	^{Andrew Baker - St Lucia (click for larger image)}

^{Brisbane G.C. - 4th green (click for larger image)}	^{Brisbane G.C. - 17th tee shot (click for larger image)}

^{Arthur O'Shea in the world's smallest bunker (click for larger bunker)}	^{Arthur O'Shea explodes from the world's smallest bunker (click for larger image)}

^{Bradley Tatnell - "all style" (click for larger image)}	^{Tony Mountstephens - a welcome regular visitor from NSW (click for larger image)}

^{Ryan and Matthew McCarthy - The Brisbane Golf Club - 18th hole (click for larger image)}	^{18th and 19th holes -- St Lucia Golf Links (click for larger image)}

Special thanks to:

Rob King-Scott -- who coordinated all three events; liaised with Royal Queensland Golf Club... and more
Ross Haslam -- who created and distributed posters; created ball markers and bag tags; loaned and provided clubs to other competitors; arranged Ryan's gift . . . and more
Alan Grieve -- who co-ordinated everything with The Brisbane Golf Club... and more
Peter Clark -- Director of Golf at St Lucia Golf Links -- whose co-operation and generosity made our afternoon there extremely pleasurable and memorable.

See you next year at: The Fifth Annual Festival of Tropical Hickory Golf

- Andrew Baker

AGHS - Queensland Chapter

Download the full report in .pdf format

2018 Australian Hickory Shaft Championship

The Event

Tuesday 11^th September and the West Course of the Royal Melbourne Golf Club greeted 60 players for the playing of the 24th Australian Hickory Shaft Championship, played over 18 holes of Stroke play with a Handicap section in conjunction. The Mens event drew a field of 57 with 16 of the players off a handicap of 5 or less and more than 50% of the total field off 10 or less - certainly the strongest field the Championship has seen in its 24 years since starting in 1995.

^{2018 Australian Hickory
Championship field.}

A sunny day with a maximum of 23 degrees and a northerly breeze that blew at speeds between 35-60 kilometres for the afternoon created a set of playing conditions that were testing to say the least. The course had been set up for hickory play to approximate 1931 card and players were presented with a copy of the original “bogey” 1931 card as a memento of the occasion.

Before the start many participants were heard to say “breaking 85 will be hard today” with the breeze. That prediction was subsequently proved to be very accurate with only 2 players shooting under 85.

The winner and Australian Hickory Shaft Champion for 2018 was Alex Sutherland from Eastlake (NSW) who shot 81 (40/41) with 3 birdies in his round. Peter Shaw from Royal Hobart was the runner up on 84 (40/44) with 2 birdies. Both fine scores considering the breeze and difficulty of stopping the ball on the greens. A schedule of the top 30 scratch scores is provided.

Top 30 Scores

In the Handicap division, Scott Hendry from Queensland was the winner with a fine net score of 77. Congratulations to Scott who had a very commendable scratch score of 87. For the first time in some years, the Ladies trophy was contested and the scratch winner was Paul Gompertz with a fine score of 111, with Kim Hastie only 3 shots astern. Congratulations Paula.


^{2018 Scratch Champion - Alex Sutherland (click for larger image)}	^{2018 Handicap Champion - Scott Hendry (click for larger image)}	^{2018 Ladies Champion - Paula Gompertz (click for larger image)}

In the aged divisions the over 55s, Peter Shaw was the winner and Kevin Tuckwell won the over 70s.

Thanks

Firstly, the AGHS wishes to thank Tony Rule and the Match Committee of the Royal Melbourne Club for making the course available for the first staging of the event outside NSW and I am sure the sentiment is reflective of all players. Secondly, the assistance, support and cooperation of Aaron Newnham (Director of Golf) and the Pro shop personnel and catering staff was first class.

To the photographers who supplied me with pictures of the winners and to Warren Smith who had the Foxtel camera crew on sight to record the start of the event, appreciate the thought and efforts.

Finally, to all the competitors who travelled from all points of the compass to the event, the AGHS sincerely thanks you for your support and participation. It was great to meet you all and hopefully we can meet again in 2019 for the 25^th event.

The thoughts and words of Graeme Ryan (President of Golf Society of Australia) were appreciated for assisting with the presentation and post-game function.

Ross Howard

AGHS Captain

2018 Tony Doggett Craigieburn Cup

The Craigieburn Cup has - in recent years - been the lead-in event to the Australian Hickory Shaft Championship. While it was still held in the same week as the Championship, the short two day turnaround and the fact that the Championship was played in Melbourne had a detrimental impact on the event, and only six players faced the starter. However, there was still some quality golf played!

Defending champion Simon Lawrance and Tasmanian visitor Greg Lawler played some exceptional hickory golf, and turned on 38 and 39 respectively. Over the second nine, the lead see-sawed on an almost hole by hole basis until shared bogies on the last hole meant that they had both completed the second nine in 36 strokes.

This was enough for Simon to successfully defend his title, win the Craigieburn scratch event for the third time, and ensure that his name is the first one recorded on the Tony Doggett Craigieburn Cup. Greg's nett 66 was good enough to take out the handicap event by four shots, and add his name to the Craigieburn Honour Board.

^{Simon Lawrance (l) and Greg Lawler
(r) (Click for larger image)}

2018 Colonial Golf Course Hickory Tournament

The Colonial Golf Course at Werrington provided a different way to celebrate Fathers Day this year when they held a nine hole hickory shaft tournament.

For those who aren't familiar with the Colonial Golf Course, it is located at 1 Werrington Road, Werrington NSW, 2747, which is out towards Penrith. The course is well suited to hickory golf as it is a flat, nine hole layout.

For the majority of the field of around 22 players, it was the first time they had seen a hickory shaft golf club. However, that didn't deter the players - they were out to enjoy the morning and to try and win the inaugural competition for men and ladies.

^{(Image - Putting on the 1st green. Click for larger
image.)}

The competition was stroke and some impressive scores were returned.

The winner of the men's competition was Phil from the Colonial-Orchard Hills golf club with 38 (nett).

The ladies winner was Rosemary from Richmond Golf club with 39 (nett). Rosemary is also a member of the Australian Golf Heritage Society who competes each year in the J. J. Paine Trophy at the Windsor Country Golf Club.

^{(Image - Putting on the 4th green. Click for larger
image.)}

Terry Ryan and the team at Colonial put on a great morning at the course. Tom Moore provided advice and support for the day. There were a lot of laughs along with some good golf.

Everyone had a lot of fun and hopefully - due to the success of the day - there will be future hickory events at Colonial.

If you are interested in playing at the course, why not give Terry Ryan and the team at Colonial a call on 9673 3639. Being modern times, they also have a Facebook page "Colonial Golf and Footgolf Course", where you can find more details

^{(Image - Some interested locals at the side of the
course. Click for larger image.)}

^{Mens Winner (Click for larger image).}

^{Ladies Winner (Click for larger image).}

IF you are interested in organising a hickory event at your course or club, the Australian Golf Heritage Society can provide advice on course set up, and assist with the provision of the necessary hickory clubs. See our "Contacts" page for further information.

2018 J. J. Paine

The annual J. J. Paine Trophy celebrates the first golf played in Windsor in 1905, on Gosper's Paddock which is adjacent to the current course. This nine-hole heritage golf event was jointly coordinated by the Windsor Country Golf Club and the Australian Golf Heritage Society, and listed as an Australian Heritage Festiva l event for 2018.

Monday dawned with a cool early morning with smoke haze from the Blue Mountains hazard reduction greeting the 15 players (two ladies & 13 gents), but after morning tea and a group photo session, the serious business started with Barry Leithhead acting as the starter with the groups playing the back nine of the course. The format was individual Stableford, with the scratch score winning the J. J. Paine trophy, and a handicap event incorporated. Players had been encouraged to wear “period clothing” and some most impressive models were present.


^{Pre-event carb loading in front of the J. J. Paine Trophy (click for larger image)}	^{2018 J. J. Paine Trophy group. (click for larger image)}	^{Pre-Paine practice putting. (click for larger image)}

The course presented in great condition, played off the blue tees and with the pin placements a little easier than last year, but still with a number of greens with plenty of slope. The weather during the morning was a delightful autumn day with plenty of sunshine and a light breeze.


^{First tee action (click for larger image)}	^{Historic Fairfield House, adjacent to the 13th tee (click for larger image)}	^{Up the 13th (r to l) and down the 14th (l to r) (click for larger image)}

After the results were delivered a delightful lunch was held and a most interesting talk on the original winners of the event was delivered by Barry Leithhead.


^{What looks suspiciously like a tartan railway bridge behind the 17th green. (click for larger image)}	^{Peter Hume approaches the 18th green. (click for larger image)}	^{Peter Hume & David O'Rose - 18th Fairway (click for larger image)}

Don Graves repeated his 2017 success and won the J.J. Paine Trophy with a scratch Stableford score of 6 points on a count back. In an in-depth exclusive interview with the winner (now a 4-time winner) it was the determined the reason for his success can be attributed to the fact that Don’s first ever set of clubs were hickories. So, the remainder of the field will just have to try harder in future.


^{David O'Rose approaches the 18th. (click for larger image)}	^{A putt sunk on the last. (click for larger image)}	^{Barry Leithhead's post-lunch address. (click for larger image)}

Barry Leithhead won the gent’s handicap with 14 points on a count back and Margaret Graves (keeping the trophies in the one house) won the ladies event with 17points.

^{Deja-vu at the J. J. Paine with the 2018 winners looking
very much like the 2017 winners.

(l - r) Don Graves, Margaret Graves, Barry Leithhead

(click for larger image)}

No one hit the green for the Nearest the Pin and the gent’s long drive was won by Hugh Jolly.

A very pleasant day was experienced by all and special thanks to those who organised the event and to my playing partners on the day Graham and Rod.

Hopefully in 2019 we will see a larger field to contest the important trophy on the wonderful setting that is Windsor Golf Club.

Ross Howard

AGHS Captain

Images courtesy of Rosemary Phillis

2018 Kiama Hickory Challenge - Sunday 22^nd April 2018

The 15 players entered in this year's Kiama Hickory Challenge were greeted with a beautiful sunny and mild South Coast autumn day, for the 7th staging of this event, played to Stableford rules.


^{Group Caddy, Glenday, Ballard, Ballard & Manning (click for larger image)}	^{Group Thomsen, Carpenter, Skehan & Francis (click for larger image)}	^{Group Sayers, Sayers, Mountstephens & Howard (click for larger image)}	^{Group Daibara, McLean, Wilson & Kitely (click for larger image)}

Players journeyed from Melbourne, Sydney, ACT and adjacent South Coast areas, a thanks are extended to all who travelled. It was pleasing to see that as a result of contact made at the AGHS tent at the Australian Open in November 2017, a number of players came from Port Kembla Golf Club to participate.

It was also great to see four junior members from the host club challenging the hickories for the first time along with Zac Sayers. This was the first year the event had been included in the National Heritage Festival running over April and May and hopefully this helped the entry level.


^{Richard Manning (click for larger image)}	^{Chris Francis (click for larger image)}	^{Ross Howard (click for larger image)}

Thanks go to Andrew Wilson for organising the event at his home course, which was in great condition and the greens proved to be a test of skill and judgement.

After the first nine holes, the score cards revealed Richard Manning leading with 14 points followed by Tim Sayers on 13, Padraic Skehan and Harrison Kiteley with tied on 12 . The rest of the field ranged from 11 to 7, with first time hickory players acquitting themselves with determination if not hickory expertise.


^{Tim Sayers (click for larger image)}	^{Zac Sayers (click for larger image)}	^{Anthony Mountstephens (click for larger image)}

A drink and nourishment seemed to affect some players dramatically with some falling back, others maintaining their scoring, and two individuals “firing” 16 points on the back nine.

The final nine holes and the checking the cards revealed a close finish for second with Tim Sayers on 27 points, but the winner had been busy accumulating a total of 28.


^{Gerry McLean (click for larger image)}	^{Will Daibara (click for larger image)}	^{Andrew Wilson & Harrison Kitely (click for larger image)}

The end result was that Padraic Skehan (playing off 2 from Port Kembla) was declared the winner, after scoring on every hole on the back nine, highlighted by a point birdie on the par 5 12th. Birdies were in greater numbers than last year with 7, Tim Sayers (playing off +1) recording 2.

So, at the end of the day, the new hickory convert gets to have his name engraved on the trophy (Al Howard’s hickory shafted putter) at Kiama Golf Club. Well done Padraic!

^{2018 Kiama Hickory Challenge Champion

Padraic Skehan

(click for larger image)}

As usual whilst enjoying our refreshments after the game, Andrew tabled a number of articles and photos of the course covering many years.
For those who played, on behalf of our host (Andrew) thank you for participating & we all look forward to improving the field size in 2019.

Ross Howard
AGHS Captain

Images courtesy of Andrew Wilson

Hickory Golf on the PGA Legends Tour

On Monday, 5th March, the PGA Ladbrokes Legends Tour ventured to Eagle Ridge Golf Club on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula for the annual Peter Stickley Vendor Advocacy Legends Pro Am.

Peter, a keen hickory player himself, put together a field of six hickory players for the inaugural Australasian 12 hole Hickory Cup. Not surprisingly few of the professionals entered the event - why should they with money on the line?

However, one pro who did get the antiques out was the Australian Golf Heritage Society's Tim Sayers who flew down from Sydney specifically for the event. Tim is a devotee of the hickory game and plays at least once a week with equipment that is now over 90 years old.

Played over 12 holes to replicate the original Open Championship at Prestwick in 1860, Tim won convincingly with a scratch score of 19 Stableford points (pro-am format) defeating his closest rival, Golf Society of Australia member Tony Rule by 5 points.

The event attracted a field of 6 at the top end of the tournament, only 2 less than the number who played in the 1860 Open Championship. Rodger Davis, one of the true legends of Australian golf, playing with Tim, was amazed at the distance Tim was getting off the tee - some drives
finishing within metres of his own. Rodger shot a fine 71 so it wasn't as if he was having an off day!

You may well ask, "Why would you play with hickories? Why would you make a conscious decision to make a difficult game even more so? Where is the logic in that?"

The answer is why wouldn't you?

Why wouldn't you test your skills using the same equipment that was used by some of the greats of the game? Imagine standing on the first tee of the Old Course with brassie in hand knowing that - before you - immortals of the game such as Old Tom Morris, Young Tom Morris, the great triumvirate of Baird, Taylor and Vardon and the Emperor himself, Bobby Jones, had all teed off on that very spot with a similar club in hand. What a thrill to try and match them!

Let us not forget when many of the great courses in Australia were laid out the equipment was hickories. It wasn't until 1930 that the R & A declared steel shafts legal. To play these courses with hickories truly reveals the strategies the architects originally intended.

The "Cup" will soon embark on a series of regional events comprising teams of 3 leading to another Legends Pro Am. Interested players should contact Peter on 0409 210 274 or Tim Sayers on 0404 877 697. Anyone with a GA handicap is welcome to play in the events.

Australia has two golf heritage societies, The Australian Golf Heritage Society based in Sydney and the Golf Society of Australia based in
Melbourne. For details please refer to their respective websites, www.australiangolfheritage.org.au and www.golfsocietyaust.com.


^{The Australasian 12-Hole Hickory Cup (Click for larger image)}	^{Carlitos Baltym, Peter Stickley, Tim Sayers & Rodger Davis (Click for larger image)}	^{The Winner - Tim Sayers (Click for larger image)}

-Text and images courtesy of

Peter Stickey & Tony Rule

Golf Society of Australia

The Third Annual Festival of Tropical Hickory Golf — Queensland Hickory Shaft Championships

Between Friday 3rd and Sunday the 5th of November 2017, Australian Golf Heritage Society (Queensland Chapter) conducted hickory golfing events at three of Brisbane (and Queensland’s) premier golf clubs: the Queensland Hickory Shaft Championship at Royal Queensland Golf Club; the AGHS 4BBB event at Nudgee Golf Club; and the Queensland Hickory Shaft Foursomes Championship at The Brisbane Golf Club.

Queensland Hickory Shaft Championship — Royal Queensland Golf Club

Played on a beautiful spring day in warm and relatively calm conditions, the third annual Queensland Hickory Shaft Championship was once more
contested at Royal Queensland Golf Club. The club’s par 72 links were in perfect condition and the Championship was played over a course of
approximately 5900 metres with a scratch rating of 70.

This year’s course was significantly more difficult than those presented in previous years because our event was run in parallel with a RQGC fixture known as ‘Clayton’s Challenge’. Named after course designer Mike Clayton, this is a regular affair in which club members play from the course’s backmost tees to some of its severest pin positions. Even though the hickory championship was played from shorter white tees, the day’s extreme pin positions placed huge demands upon short-game play and presented a supreme test to players prepared to accept the ‘challenge’ with technologically inferior implements. In prospect, this should not have caused any trepidation within participants. Because they were competing in a ‘championship’, all players were potential ‘champions’, however . . .

Up one in number from last year, the field of twenty comprised regular AGHS players from local clubs Nudgee Golf Club, Royal Queensland Golf Club and The Brisbane Golf Club. This year we were joined by interstate and country visitors Peter Shaw (Hobart), Justin Ryan (Bendigo), Tony Mounstephens (Sydney), Peter Quinlan (Coffs Harbour), Matthew McCarthy (Townsville), Scott Hendry (Toowoomba)and Russell Michael (Caloundra). We thank them for making the effort to travel so far to compete with us.

^{2017 Queensland Hickory Shaft Championship Participants
(click for larger image)}

Winner of this year’s Queensland Hickory Shaft Championship, with a fine score of 83, was former Royal Queensland Golf Club Captain Chris Cooper. Chris won on count back from two-time previous winner Alan Grieve. Last year’s runner-up, Rob King-Scott, came in third, just one stroke adrift.

^{2017 Queensland Hickory Shaft Champion, Chris Cooper
(click for larger image)}

Winner of this year’s nett event was Alan Grieve with a score of 76 off a handicap of 7. Alan is the inaugural recipient of the Monks Earp Shield.
Named in honour of the inaugural AGHS (Queensland Chapter) Captain, Peter Monks, and our Patron, Charlie Earp, this handsome new trophy was made and donated by master club maker and repairer Ross Haslam.

^{Winner of the Earp Monks Shield and runner-up (on count
back) in the Championship, Alan Grieve (click for larger
image)}

Results for the Championship (gross event) and the Monks Earp Shield (nett event) were:

Hickory Shaft Champion				Monks Earp Shield
Pos.	Player	H/cap	Gross	Pos.	Player	H/Cap	Nett
1	Chris Cooper	1	83	1	Alan Grieve	7	76
2	Alan Grieve	7	83	2	Rob King-Scott	7	77
3	Rob King-Scott	7	84	3	Scott Makiol	11	78
4	Joe Janison	1	86	4	Kevin Tuckwell	12	81
5	Scott Hendry	6	88	5	Scott Hendry	6	82
6	Peter Shaw	2	88	6	Graham Kildey	9	82
7	Scott Makiol	11	89	7	Bradley Tatnell	11	82
8	Graham Kildey	9	91	8	Ross Bishop	12	82
9	Justin Ryan	7	92	9	Matthew McCarthy	12	83
10	Kevin Tuckwell	12	93	10	Tony Mountstephens	13	83
11	Bradley Tatnell	11	93	11	Joe Janison	1	85
12	Ross Bishop	12	94	12	Justin Ryan	7	85
13	Matthew McCarthy	12	95	13	Arthur O'Shea	17	85
14	Ian King	8	95	14	Peter Shaw	2	86
15	Tony Mountstephens	13	96	15	Ian King	8	87
16	Andrew Baker	11	98	16	Andrew Baker	11	87
17	Ross Haslam	12	99	17	Ross Haslam	12	87
18	Arthur O'Shea	17	102	18	Peter Quinlan	18	92
19	Peter Quinlan	18	110	19	Russell Michael	16	109
20	Russell MIchael	16	125

^{The Monks Earp Shield (click for larger image)}

Drinks in the clubhouse were followed by presentations and a convivial dinner in Royal Queensland Golf Club’s Silver Boomerang Room.

We thank the members and committee of Royal Queensland Golf Club for making their wonderful Michael Clayton-designed golf links and exceptional facilities available for this year’s event. We also thank the club for waiving green fees for visitors to this event — our most important of the year. Despite recent illness, it was wonderful to greet our Patron, Charlie Earp, at the dinner and to hear and enjoy his reminiscences of days gone by. As always, Royal Queensland Golf Club Manager Tim Gahan and his staff ensured a faultless day of golf and evening of festivity. Also, special thanks to Steve Rhind who so efficiently looks after AGHS events all year and his colleague Andrew Vanstone from the club’s golf centre.

AGHS 4BBB Event — Nudgee Golf Club

On the lay-day between the individual and foursomes championships, AGHS Treasurer Ross Haslam organized an informal 4BBB event at his home club Nudgee Golf Club. Played over the club’s relatively flat and short par 69 South Course, the event was contested by an elite field of eleven players.

^{AGHS 4BBB at Nudgee Golf Club (click for larger image)}

Ross reports that participants had a ‘great afternoon’ and winners with nett 59 strokes were the dynamic pairing of Alan Grieve and Chris Webster,
both from The Brisbane Golf Club.

Thank you to the members and committee of Nudgee Golf Club for making their course and facilities available to AGHS for this event and for waiving green fees for visitors. Also, many thanks to the clubhouse staff for the lovely pre-round luncheon they provided.

Queensland Hickory Shaft Foursomes Championship — The Brisbane Golf Club

On the morning of Sunday 5th November, having participated in events at Royal Queensland and Nudgee Golf Clubs in the preceding days, twenty keen hickory golfers assembled at The Brisbane Golf Club to contest the second annual Queensland Hickory Shaft Foursomes Championship (six more participants than the inaugural event). Having hosted the Queensland Open on the previous weekend, The Brisbane Golf Club’s beautiful and historic Yeeroongpilly links were again in superlative condition.

In a wonderful display of golfing prowess, the winners of this event for its second running were again local pairing Alan Grieve and Joel Negline
with 75 strokes off-the-stick (three stokes fewer than their winning score last year). Runners-up with a gross score of 85 were Rob King-Scott and
Andrew Baker. In third place, with 89 strokes were last year’s runners-up, Justin Ryan from Bendigo and ex-touring professional Don Fardon, on count back from Matthew McCarthy and Allard Bernhofen.

^{2017 Queensland Hickory Shaft Foursomes Champions, Alan
Grieve and Joel Negline (click for larger image)}

The Treasurer’s Trophy for the best nett score was won by last year’s winners Rob King-Scott and Andrew Baker with 76. They edged out their
playing companions Russell Michael and Tony Mountstephens by four strokes. Third in this event for the second year running were Allard Bernhofen and Matthew McCarthy. This beautiful new trophy, featuring an ancient split-shaft driver head and a mesh ball, was also made by our Treasurer Ross Haslam.

^{The Treasurer’s Trophy (click for larger image)}

Results for the Championship and the Treasurer's Trophy were:

Foursomes Championship (gross event)			Treasurer’s Trophy (nett event)
Pos.	Players	Score	Pos.	Players	Score
1	Alan Grieve (7) and Joel Negline (3)	75	1	Rob King-Scott (7) and Andrew Baker (11)	76
2	Rob King-Scott (7) and Andrew Baker (11)	85	2	Russell Michael (16) and Tony Mountstephens (14)	80
3	Justin Ryan (7) and Don Fardon (+1)	89	3	Matthew McCarthy (12) and Allard Bernhofen (2)	82
4	Matthew McCarthy (12) and Allard Bernhofen (2)	89	4	Scott Hendry (6) and Mick Pett (12)	83
5	Scott Hendry (6) and Mick Pett (12)	92	5	Justin Ryan (7) and Don Fardon (+1)	86
6	Geoff Egar (11) and Don Fardon (+1)	94	6	Ross Haslam (11) and Chris Webster (13)	86
7	Russell Michael (16) and Tony Mountstephens (14)	95	7	Geoff Egar (11) and Don Fardon (+1)	89
8	Ross Haslam (11) and Chris Webster (13)	98	8	Paula Biscaya and Donna Vessamn	89.5
9	Andrew Cheyne (6) and Sayad Hussain (10)	103	9	Andrew Cheyne (6) and Sayad Hussain (10)	95
10	Paula Biscaya and Donna Vessamn	117

Drinks, presentations and a most convivial lunch were held in the beautiful and historic clubhouse of The Brisbane Golf Club. This year we were joined by eight family members of Sydney-based AGHS member Tony Mountstephens. Tony’s wife's grandfather, Dr. Eugen Hirschfeld, an early member of The Brisbane Golf Club, was also a founding member of Victoria Park Golf Club in 1898. Tony only recently came across this reference in the Norm Richardson article ‘Early Golf in Queensland’ in The Brassie. A number of Dr. Hirschfeld’s grandchildren still reside in Brisbane and surrounds and it was they (and their families) who joined us for the luncheon at The Brisbane Golf Club.

AGHS sincerely thanks the members, committee and staff of The Brisbane Golf Club for hosting our foursomes championship for the second year in a row and also for waiving green fees for visitors. This contribution to the growth of hickory golf in Queensland is greatly appreciated. Thanks also to Alan Grieve who managed all arrangements with the Club in the lead-up to this event. Surrounded by a wealth of historic photographs and antique golfing memorabilia, no more appropriate setting could provide a finale to such a memorable and delightful three-day weekend of hickory golf.

^{Click on images to view
the full sized version.}

^{Special thanks to renowned
sports photographer Neville Sandford}

Andrew Baker - Captain AGHS (Queensland)

2017 Al Howard Memorial Trophy

The teams from The Golf Society of Victoria (GSA) and The Australian Golf Heritage Society (AGHS) representing Victoria and NSW respectively were evenly matched in number having five players each.

The weather on both days was perfect with clear skies and temperatures in the mid 20s. Both courses were in wonderful condition, although the greens - whilst very true - did present some players with challenges during the day’s play.

Tuesday’s event was off the White markers at Royal Canberra Golf Club - with the course measuring 6,112 metres - under a modified Singles Matchplay format. Rather than the result of each match being presented in a net format, the total number of holes won by each player was used to determine the result

The following table identifies the day’s result with GSA players mentioned first, and the 'Handicap Differential' shown as a + or - figure for the AGHS player.

Group	Players	Holes Won		AGHS Handicap Differential
Group	Players	GSA	AGHS	AGHS Handicap Differential
1	Tony Rule v. Lachlan Wilson	6	3	+2
2	Peter Stickley v. Tony Mountstephens	8	5	-4
3	Claire Walker v. Barry Leithhead	4	10	-10
4	Neil Walker v. Andrew Wilson	9	9	-9
5	Rod Hiscox v. Ross Howard	8	4	-8
Day 1	Totals	35	31

So, at the end of Day One, GSA were 4 holes up, and perhaps quietly confident of retaining the Trophy for a second year in succession. Rod, Tony and Peter starred for the GSA with Tony having 5 pars, Peter with 3 pars and Barry was a key performer for the AGHS.


^{The assembled teams - sans the first match - at Royal Canberra. (click for larger image)}	^{The 11th Hole at Royal Canberra (click for larger image)}

Wednesday’s event was a singles stableford format off the Yellow markers @ QGC on a course measuring 5,562 metres, some 550 metres shorter, with the best 4 scores to be added to Tuesday’s results.

The following table identifies the day’s points result & final counts.

Group	Players	Score	Counting For
Group	Players	Score	GSA	AGHS
1	Barry Leithhead	24
	Neil Walker	22	22
	Lachlan Wilson	33		33
2	Tony Mountstephens	27		27
	Andrew Wilson	30		30
	Rod Hiscox	24	24
3	Peter Stickley	27	27
	Tony Rule	16	16
	Claire Walker	12
	Ross Howard	27		27
Totals	Day 2		89	117
	Day 1		35	31
	Final		124	148

Lachlan was the star at Queanbeyan shooting 8 pars in his round, with Barry, Andrew and Ross with 3 pars each. Clearly stableford favoured the AGHS starters and match play the GSA players. Birdie twos were scored by both Tony Rule & Tony Mountstephens on 8 and 17 respectively - well done.

^{Queanbeyan Golf Club

(click for a closer look at the kangaroo)}

Regardless of the results all players appeared to have a great time and enjoy the opportunity to play on courses that were not their home “tracks”.
Planning for the 2018 event is now in hand with the courses to hopefully be along the Murray River in a similar time frame with Howlong and Corowa being mentioned as the possible venues.

My sincere thanks to all those travelled to the event and I hope we can all meet again in 2018.

On a personal note, I was privileged (seconded) to caddy for Dad in 1955 when he played on the original Royal Canberra course (now under Lake Burley Griffin) during an ACT Open event, play again with Dad on the current course in late 1960s & 70s and playing for the 1st time @ Queanbeyan that Dad had changed & redesigned in the 60s & 70s, all wonderful memories.

Also, our thanks to Patrick Maher (Royal Canberra GC) and Jake Nagle & David Dale from Queanbeyan GC for making our event a success.

Regards
Ross Howard
Captain AGHS

2017 Australian Hickory Shaft Championship

The 23rd staging of the event was held on Thursday 21 September 2017 at Long Reef Golf Club in Sydney’s Northern Beaches. If you don’t know the course, Google it and see the setting via satellite - spectacular!

The day, setting and field enjoyed a very pleasant day, a course in good condition and a field of 31 with an entry of nine players on a handicap of 3 or less.


		^{The Long Reef Golf Course from the area of the first tee. (click for larger image)}

We welcomed to the Championship eight new players, Paul Skinner, Alex Sutherland, Nick Griffin, William Aguirrezabal, Tim Sayers, Simon Gore, Paul Padagas and Mark Meares who in the majority were having their first games with the “hickories” - we hope to see you all at future events.

The start of the day saw our Secretary/Treasurer Steve collecting money, issuing receipts and dispensing cards and playing conditions, Tony Pickrell providing hire sets, and Jim Glenday looking after the first tee photography - thanks guys for your invaluable assistance.

We had hoped to have a hit off “a la Masters” with past winners Peter Read (7 times), Des Froneman and the creator of the event Tom Moore way back in 1995, but a variety of circumstances prevented that happening - maybe next year.


^{Group 1 (l - r) - Mark Meares, Les Browne, Barry Leithhead & Tony Mounstephens. (click for larger image)}	^{Group 2 (l - r) - Warren Smith, Alex Sutherland, Paul Skinner, Darron Watt. (click for larger image)}	^{Group 3 - Luke Kavanagh, Simon Gore, Phil Baird, Tim Sayers. (click for larger image)}


^{Darron Watt}	^{Warren Smith}	^{Alex Sutherland}	^{Paul Skinner}

^{Phil Baird}	^{Tim Sayers}	^{Simon Gore}	^{Luke Kavanagh}

Without the leader board that was delayed (just joking) as the field passed onto the 2^nd nine, the scratch leaders were closely bunched with scores of 39 from Darron Watt, Paul Skinner, Phil Baird and Tim Sayers, with a further three players on 40 - Alex Sutherland, Ross Haslam and Nick Griffin.

Darron then birdied the 10^th (par 5) and was never headed carding an inward nine of 38 for a total of 77 to win by 2 from Paul Skinner (on countback) and Alex running in 2^nd and 3^rd places respectively with 79s. Over the back 9, three players carded 39s being Alex, Queensland stalwart Andrew Baker, and our host Les Browne.


^{Group 4 (l - r) - Barry Meares, Paul Gladwin, Geoff Martin & Warwick Stanwell. (click for larger image)}	^{Group 5 (l - r) - Andrew Wilson, Lachie Wilson, Alan Grieve, Nick Griffin. (click for larger image)}	^{Group 6 - Peter Watts, Paul Padagas, William Aguirrezabal. (click for larger image)}


^{Geoff Martin}	^{Warwick Stanwell}	^{Barry Meares}	^{Paul Gladwin}


^{Alan Grieve}	^{Nick Griffin}	^{Lachie Wilson}	^{Andrew Wilson}


^{Peter Watts}	^{William Aguirrezabal}	^{Paul Padagas}

So, our scratch winner for the 2^nd time was our 2015 winner Darron Watt from Wagga Wagga. Darron indicated that he had played very little golf in recent months, but obviously the break did not do him any harm.

In the hotly contested handicap section those with handicaps in the teens proved very hard to beat, and Paul Gladwin off 15 played consistent golf on both nines with a pair of 42s to record a net of 69. Our Queensland visitors finished 2^nd and 3rd - Andrew Baker and Chris Webster (on countback from another Queenslander Ross Haslam) with nets of 71 and 73 respectively .

Tim Sayers and Andrew Baker won the nearest the pins on 2^nd & 13^th respectively.


^{Group 7 (l - r) - Dennis Sundin, Ross Haslam, Andrew Baker & Chris Webster. (click for larger image)}	^{Group 8 (l - r) - Steve Doorey, Tony Pickrell, Ross Howard, Jim Glenday. (click for larger image)}


^{Ross Haslam}	^{Chris Webster}	^{Andrew Baker}	^{Dennis Sundin}

Of interest, there were 7 birdies recorded at 6 different holes. The easiest hole was the par 4 6^th (one birdie & 14 pars - 0.64 over par overall) and the hardest 14^th (two pars, 15 bogies & lots of 'others' - 1.57 over par overall).

To those that had travelled from north of the border, from Wagga Wagga and the South Coast we thank you for your commitment to this event.

In an endeavour to end on a humourous note, we have some advice to those using remotely controlled electric buggies. It is respectfully suggested a water hazard (Rule 26, particularly one with actual water in it) should not be traversed by a buggy, as it inevitably leads to considerable clothing and buggy damage, and your late arrival at the dinner table !

Also, whilst playing in my group at the tail of the field, our Secretary/Treasurer Steve appeared to steer his drive OB on the 17^th. By sleight of hand - but more probably the outside influence of a well-trained four-legged friend - the ball appeared in the middle of the fairway all without Steve’s intervention. Very curious, but it helps to have canine friends !


^{Scratch Winner Darron Watt (click for larger image)}	^{Scratch Winner Darron Watt (click for larger image)}	^{Nett Winner Paul Gladwin (click for larger image)}


^{Nett Winner Paul Gladwin (click for larger image)}	^{The Noisy Table (click for larger image)}	^{The Quiet Table (click for larger image)}

As those present on the day noted, two of our stalwarts were absent. Tom Moore - the founding father of the AGHS - was in hospital, and on the Friday had bypass surgery. I can report having seen Tom on Sunday, and he is progressing well. Our friend and fellow Committee member Tony Doggett also has a health problem, and we wish them both the best for the future.

Congratulations again to Darron on achieving a second victory, and to all who played. I trust you enjoyed the day.

Our sincere thanks to the Long Reef Club, Les Browne, Ben Russell, Danny Vera and the catering staff for their contributions participating in making this first event at a true links course memorable.

Ross Howard

AGHS Captain

2017 Craigieburn Cup

With less than 40mm of rain since July, it's been a very dry winter in the Southern Highlands. Normally, you would expect such a lack of rainfall to have a detrimental effect on a course without fairway watering, but this definitely was not the case at Craigieburn when we made out visit on Sunday 17^th September 2017. The course was well-grassed, and without the surface water which seems to have been the rule over the past few years.

While only nine players were present, there was a fair geographical spread - Richard Manning came up from Canberra, Ray Flynn and Bill Hayes travelled from the South Coast, Andrew and Trish Wilson represented the Illawarra, Simon Lawrance had done the commute from East Bowral, while Tony Pickrell, Ross Howard and Steve Doorey had travelled down the Hume from various parts of Sydney.

In the scratch section, competition was tight over the first nine. Both Richard and Andrew carded 38, while Simon - after a double bogey at the first - regrouped to score 39 at the turn. Slightly in arrears, but not to be discounted in any company, was the wily Tony Pickrell with 42. The ever so slightly easier - by one shot - second nine saw Andrew record 40 strokes, and Tony and Richard 39, but it was the fast finishing Simon who got the chocolates after carding a second nine 37 for a total of 76. Simon also won the event in 2013, and so becomes the first multiple winner at Craigieburn. Welcome back, Simon!

The handicap portion of the event was a little more open, but just as hotly contested. After nine holes, Andrew was looking favourite with a net 30, but not entirely out of contention were Tony on 31, Richard on 34, Ray, Ross and Steve on 35, and Simon on 36. Ray managed to make up two shots the second time around, Tony made up one, while Ross and Steve marked time. It was nowhere near enough to catch the Minnamurra Mauler, and Andrew added a Craigieburn title to his hickory CV.

Other items of interest:

Bill Hayes got his AGHS hickory career off to a flying start when he chipped in from about thirty metres for a birdie three on the first hole. We hope that encourages him to return in the future.
Trish Wilson made it a quinella for the Wilson clan by taking out the ladies prize. You have to be in it to win it!
Although the second nine is only one stroke less to par, three players scored 39 - Richard, Tony (improving 3 strokes) and Ray (improving six shots!). Steve returned 41, which included an 8 on the par three 10^th.

The full scores were as follows:

Player	Scratch	Handicap	Nett
Simon Lawrance	76	5	71
Richard Manning	77	7	70
Andrew Wilson	78	16	62
Tony Pickrell	81	17	64
Ray Flynn	84	19	65
Steve Doorey	85	18	67
Ross Howard	86	19	67
Bill Hayes	92	15	77
Trish Wilson	101	25	76


^{After teeing off from the top of the hill, the fourth fairway opens up.}	^{Looking towards the fourth green.}	^{Looking back at the fourth green}

^{Bill Hayes launches one on the sixth.}	^{Looking back at the seventh green.}	^{Andrew Wilson putting on the last}

^{Simon Lawrence taps in for a par on the last}	^{Scratch winner Simon Lawrance}	^{Nett winner Andrew Wilson}

Thanks to all who attended, and congratulations to the winners. See you next year for the event in Craigieburn's 99^thyear.

J. J. Paine Trophy - Monday 8th May 2017

The J. J. Paine Trophy annually celebrates the first golf played in Windsor at Gosper's Paddock in 1905. This 9-hole heritage golf event was jointly coordinated by the Windsor Country Golf Club, the Hawkesbury Historical Society and the Australian Golf Heritage Society and listed as an Australian Heritage Festival event for 2017.


^{(click for larger images)}

Monday greeted the 20 players (3 ladies & 17 gents) with a cool early morning but after morning tea and a group photo session, the serious business started with Barry Leithhead acting as the starter with the groups playing the back 9 of the course. The format was individual Stableford, with the scratch score winning the J.J. Paine trophy and handicap result also. Players had been encouraged to wear “period clothing” and some most impressive models were present.


^{(click for larger images)}

The course presented in great condition, played off the blue tees and with the pin placements from the weekend’s medal round proved an interesting test on a number of greens with plenty of slope to which the writer for one can attest. The weather during the morning was a delightful autumn day with plenty of sunshine and a light breeze.


^{(click for larger images)}

After a delightful lunch on the verandah overlooking the course and a most interesting talk of the heritage listed Fairfield House by Neville Dehn, the assembled players waited for the competition results.


^{(click for larger images)}

Don Graves repeated his 2016 success and won the J.J. Paine Trophy with a scratch stableford score of 8 points on a count back. Barry Leithhead won the gent’s handicap with 17 points and Sandy Kinnish also repeated her 2016 ladies win with 9 points on a count back.



^{(click for larger images)}

Nearest the pin on 13th was a family affair with Sandy and Neil Kinnish taking home the prizes. Graham Ruttley (Windsor GC Captain) won the gent’s long drive and Rosemary Phillis the ladies.

A very pleasant day was experienced by all and special thanks to those who organised the event and also to my playing partners on the day Graham & Rod. Hopefully in 2018 we will see a larger field to contest the important trophy on the wonderful setting that is Windsor Golf Club.

The 2017 J. J. Paine victors (L-R) - Don Graves, Sandy Kinnish, Barry Leithhead
^{(click for larger image)}

Cheers
Ross Howard - AGHS Captain

Kiama Hickory Challenge - Sunday 30^th April 2017

A beautiful sunny and mild South Coast autumn day greeted the 12 hickory competitors with a slight south easterly breeze for the 6th staging of the event, played to Stableford rules. Players journeyed from Sydney, ACT and adjacent South Coast areas, so a big 'Thanks' to all who travelled. It should also be noted Andrew has a much better conduit to the “weather controller” than does the writer’s recent efforts.


^{Group 1 (l - r) - Rob Downie, Dennis Sundin, Ross Howard & Neville Rider. (click for larger image)}	^{Group 2 (l - r) - Raymond Flynn, Trish Wilson, Andrew Wilson, Tony Doggett. (click for larger image)}	^{Group 3 - Tom Moore (substituting for the photographer), Jim Glenday, Peter Manning, Richard Manning. (click for larger image)}

The course was in great condition and the greens proved to be a test of skill and judgement, and sincere thanks go to Andrew Wilson for again organising the event at his home course.


^{Rob Downie driving from the 1st tee. (click for larger image)}	^{Hickory first timer and current Craigieburn Cup champion - Peter & Richard Manning on the 5th. (click for larger image)}	^{Our host Andrew Wilson successfully plays a simple chip shot to the 9th green. (click for larger image)}

At the turn after 9 holes, the score cards revealed Steve Doorey and Richard Manning tied on 13 points, with Tony Doggett, Andrew (our host) and Neville Rider following closely on 11. The rest of the field ranged from 10 to 3 with first time hickory player Peter Manning on 8.

A drink & nourishment seemed to affect some players dramatically with some falling back, others maintaining their scoring and one individual “firing”. The final 9 holes and the checking the cards revealed a close finish for second with Dennis Sundin and Richard Manning on 25 points, but the leader had been busy accumulating 29 with a 2nd nine of 16.

The result at the end of 18 holes was Steve Doorey proclaimed the winner, who had tallied four 3 pointers in his round. Birdies were in short
“supply” with only with 2, Dennis Sundin on 6th and Jim Glenday on #17, both par 3s. Dennis Sundin won the nearest the pin on 6th with a shot that finished 137 centimetres from the hole.

For the statistically minded, it was interesting to note the hardiest hole on the course was # 15 with average of .58 Stableford points, and the easiest # 17 with 2.25 points average.

So, at the end of the day, the AGHS Secretary-Treasurer gets to have his name engraved on the trophy (Al Howard’s hickory shafted putter) at Kiama - well done Steve.


^{Details of the Al Howard Trophy for the Kiama Hickory Challenge (click for larger image)}	^{The Al Howard Putter (click for larger image)}	^{The winner of the 2017 Kiama Hickory Challenge (click for smaller image)}

Whilst enjoying our refreshments after the game, Andrew tabled a number of articles and photos of the course covering many years.


^{Kiama Golf Club - 1948 (click for larger image)}	^{Kiama Golf Club - mid 1960s (click for larger image)}	^{Kiama Golf Club - 1981 (click for larger image)}

	^{Kiama today with the original nine holes overlaid. (click for larger image)}

For those who played, we would like to extend a sincere thank you on behalf of our hosts (Andrew and the Kiama Golf Club), and we all look forward to a larger field in 2018.

Ross Howard
AGHS Captain

Dan Cullen Trophy Event - Thursday 20 April 2017

Finally, we were able to enjoy the opportunity to compete for the Dan Cullen Trophy after two false starts due to bad weather. The holding of the event represents the 15th time the trophy has been played for since the initial match in 2002 when Peter Read and Barry Leithhead were the inaugural winners.

As in previous events the course was presented in great condition and drew many favourable comments. A vote of sincere thanks to Les Browne (Captain of Long Reef Golf Club) for arranging the event at the Reef, to Danny in the Pro shop, and also the course staff for presenting the course in such great condition. As a player who started his club golf at The Reef in the late 1960s, it is a wonderful tribute to the Long Reef Club that the course has been developed from the plainer version of 50 years ago into its current wonderful and interesting layout.


^{Long Reef Golf Club - far from unattractive. (Click for larger image)}	^{Tools at the ready. (Click for larger image)}	^{Tony Doggett gets one out of the screws. (Click for larger image)}

Playing off the Gold markers, the weather gods smiled on our group of 21 players with a beautiful autumn afternoon. Our playing group included some new faces, Mark, Wayne and Josh, welcome and we trust you enjoyed the experience and will return to do battle with the hickories in the future. Also, great to see Mal Bray down from the Sunshine Coast, and Tom Moore making an appearance even though he did not play.

A number of past winners (8) including 3 players with multiple wins to their names fancied their chances on the day hoping to add their names to the trophy board.

The event was conducted over 11 holes in a 2 ball Ambrose format, from 1st hole to 11th, with a par of 43. The range of gross scores ranged from one under par to 10 over. The handicaps also covered a range from 1 to 26. The handicap applied was determined by dividing the joint gross handicaps by 4 (except for 6 in the group of 3).


^{Group Two on the first hole. (Click for larger image)}	^{On the green. (Click for larger image)}	^{Tony Pickrell - backbone of the winning pair trio. (Click for larger image)}

Of interest were the birdies recorded this year being 10 in total (8 last year), with 2 @ 1st, 1 @ 4th, 2 @ 6th, 2 @ 7th, 1 @ 8th and 1 each @ 10th & 11th. Obviously as a group we are getting better with the “hickories”! The hardest holes were the 4th and 5th averaging 5.1 against a par of 4, the easiest was 7th being only .2 over par. Of the 10 groups 7 recorded a net less than par, with 4 groups having net scores of less than 40.

With the scores tallied, in 3rd place were Paul Gladwin and Geoff Martin with net of 39.25 (gross of 45) and the runners up were Josh Whitehouse and Steve Doorey with 37.50 (gross of 42). The winners, posting a net of 37 was the three-man team of Tony and Martin Pickrell and Wayne Grundy (a novice hickory player) with a gross of 47.

^{The winners (L-R) - Martin Pickrell, Tony Pickrell & Wayne
Grundy - with Dan Cullen Jnr.

(Click for larger image)}

So, a new set of names will grace the wonderful reminder of our dear departed patron, Dan Cullen Jnr. also played in the field and presented the winners with the Dan Cullen Trophy. Of interest, we now have a pair of triple winners of this trophy plus a further double winner.

My personal thanks to Dennis for being my partner on the day, and I trust all players enjoyed the day as much we did.

Ross Howard (Captain)

Beverley Park Golf Club Show & Tell - Tuesday 28 February 2017

An increase of 25% in players over 1st hickory event of 2017, the advertising must be working!

Five hickory participants ventured forth to tackle the revamped Beverley Park course in Sydney’s southern suburbs on a day forecast with showers & that happened exactly as we were getting the clubs out of the cars, but that was the only shower of the day. A light south easterly breeze prevailed for 18 holes of stableford competition starting at 11am (with senior’s rates of $17 per round) and the playing conditions were very pleasant.

The golf course has undergone $1.3 million worth of improvements, adding a creek and ponds that encompass the old, 7th, 8th, 10th, 11th and 12th holes as part of a major redevelopment of the course that took a year to complete. The changes have been carried out as part of Georges River Council’s flood mitigation program that will hopefully overcome flooding that has affected the above-mentioned holes as well as local residential concerns. The 18-hole layout is now a 70-par course covering 5570 metres and was reopened in September 2016.

^{Part of the flood mitigation
work on the first hole (click for larger image).}

Stuart Maurice, Steve Doorey, Bruno Pase, David Brydson & the writer made up the five ball as we tackled the new layout. The course on this Tuesday was very lightly patronised with only one group of two playing through us. Would be a good venue of one of the competition events in the future.

The shot of the day was Stuart’s iron tothe 130 metre par three 2nd which - whilst not as close as his outstanding Randwick effort - gave him the opportunity to sink a putt for a 2 a 4, a good start!

At the turn, Stuart lead with 16 points (1x4, 2x2s, 4x1s), with a 5 points advantage on the best of balance of the field.

After some rehydration and suitable morsels, the 2nd nine produced better good scoring as we started to improve the rhythm of the swing and manage the pace of the greens.

Stuart’s first 9 effort was apparently draining & he troubled the scorer on only 6 holes in the back nine to record a total of 26. Bruno amassed 16 to tie with Stuart on 26, Steve and David amassed 14 and 12 points respectively to end with totals of 23. Meantime the scribe was improving on the front 9 effort of 11, with 18 points from 8 scoring holes to accumulate 29 points & be declared the winner. The group declared the course to be an improvement on the old layout, and very hickory friendly.

^{The second green - the scene
of Stuart's heroics - showing the new hazard (click for larger
image).}

To those who played on the day, thanks for a most enjoyable and pleasant few hours and to those of you who could not appear please mark Beverley Park as a course to play in the future.

Please don’t forget the Dan Cullen Trophy at Long Reef on Thursday 16th March, with sign on time of 1pm.

- Ross Howard (Captain)

Queensland Chapter - January 2017 Event

AGHS Queensland Chapter’s first hickory event for 2017 was a nine hole stableford competition held in the afternoon of Friday 27th January 2017
over the back nine of Royal Queensland Golf Club’s Eagle Farm links. The event was contested under threatening skies by eleven eager
participants.

Winner on the day was Alan Grieve with 18 stableford points (39 off-the-stick) on a countback from John Hains (see page 7 of the December 2016 issue of 'The Brassie' for further explanation). On this occasion, John avoided water problems by asking a playing partner to retrieve a ball lost in a water hazard rather than risking an ignominious dunking similar to last year’s. In third place was Brisbane Golf Club newcomer Joel Negline who scored 17 points (40 off-the-stick).

These results indicate that hickory golf in Queensland this year will continue to be equally as competitive as in previous years. The spirited
conversations and bonhomie experienced during post-round drinks indicate that hickory golf in Queensland will also continue to be an enjoyable and gratifying activity for our small but committed cadre.

Andrew Baker
Queensland Captain

Randwick Show & Tell - 19th January

Only four hickory participants fronted Randwick Golf Course at Malabar in Sydney’s eastern suburbs on a mild and overcast day, with light south easterly breeze for 18 holes of stableford competition starting @ 9:30am. Apart from a short sharp shower around the 2nd/3rd, the day was great weather for playing with the hickories.

I must confess I had never played Randwick, par of 59 (30/29) with length 3,545 (1,860/1,685) meters, with 13 par 3s. Located along the western foreshore of Malabar Cove and adjacent to The Coast Golf course with an adjoining boundary marked by white posts, the course proved to ideal for the hickories.

^{The first hole at Randwick (click for larger image).}

Stuart Maurice, Steve Doorey, Bruno Pase & the writer made up the four. Unfortunately, Bruno’s bag consisted of a variety of hickories & steel shafted clubs so his results could not be taken into account.

At the turn, Stuart lead with 18 points (2x3s, 5x2s & 2x1s points), closely followed by the writer with 17 (2x3s, 5x2s and 1x1 point) & Steve running 3rd with 12.

The 2nd nine produced some good scoring with Stuart amassing 19 points (1x4, 3x3, 2x2 but unfortunately 2 wipes), accumulating a total of 37 points. Steve meantime had finished his 2nd nine run with 17 points for a total of 29. The writer meantime was making his run with 21 points (5x3s, 2x2s and 2 singles) to claim top of the leader board with 38 points.

The shot of the day was Stuart’s iron to the 157 metre par 3 13th, which went very close to the cup. Not to be outdone, his three playing partners also put their tee shots onto the green. And yes, he did sink the putt for 2 a 4 . . . the other 75% of the group only managed pars.

^{Left to right - Bruno Pase, Stuart Maurice and Ross
Howard stand over their potential birdie putts at the 13th.
The fourth member of the group had gone back to his bag to get
a divot tool to repair the crater at bottom left (click for
larger image).}

Having played the course Randwick is certainly an ideal hickory style course and AGHS will utilise in the future.

To those who played on the day, thanks for a most enjoyable and pleasant few hours and to those of you who could not appear please mark Randwick as a course to play in the future.

From the day at The Coast last year, Dennis Sundin had kindly donated to me a mashie, branded/stamped “Made in Scotland, Warranted Hand Forged, STAR emblem, SPECIAL with Tom Howard Concord in oval outline”, with “5” punched in the sole. Tom Moore had subsequently performed his magic on the club and it was the Show & Tell item.

^{The view south from the 15th tee at Randwick - The Coast
G.C. next door, with St. Michaels in the distance (click for
larger image).}

- Ross Howard (Captain)

Muirfield Hickory Experience

It would be entirely fair to say that the 'Hickory Experience' was firmly embraced by the members of the Muirfield Golf Club on Sunday 27^thNovember. On a pleasantly cool Sunday afternoon, six groups of four - including the General Manager, Club Professional and Club Captain - were on hand for the 3:00 p.m. shotgun start of the inaugural 'Muirfield Hickory Day'. The event decided upon was a four person Ambrose over the first nine holes, using the forward 'Gold' tees.

In the scratch event, there were two scores under par returned. The four of AGHS Captain Ross Howard, Muirfield professional Peter Jones, Muirfield Captain Matt Cashman and Chris Nicholson (who I'm sure is qualified in some way, I just didn't find out how) came in with a 3-under 31, which included four birdies and a single bogey. They edged out Tony Pickrell, Craig Pickrell, Muirfield General Manager John Edward and Jackson Edward, whose 33 showed two birdies and one bogey.

In the net section of the competition, things were not so cut and dried. A post-play check of the calculated handicaps in the scorers tent found an extra ¹/₈ of a stroke for the group of Paul Gladwin, Denny Gladwin, Barry Meares and Robin Thompson, and this slight revision was enough for them to take out the net prize . . . by ¹/₈ of a shot.

There were also some individual prizes on offer in the form of Nearest the Pin and Long Drive competitions. The Nearest the Pin on the 2^nd was taken out by Lucy Harris, the 6^th by Paul Gladwin, and the 9^th by John Edward. The Mens Longest Drive was well struck by Jackson Edward, and the Ladies was claimed by Lucy Harris.


^{Three quarters of the scratch winning four - Chris Nicholson, Matt Cashman, Ross Howard (click for larger image).}	^{The winners of the net prize - Barry Meares, Robin Thompson, Denny Gladwin, Paul Gladwin (click for larger image).}	^{Nearest the Pin prize winners - Paul Gladwin, John Edward, Lucy Harris (Click for larger image).}

After some refreshment and/or rehydration, most of the players withdrew to the function room for dinner. There were additional guests at the dinner, and the room was considerably enhanced by the presence of Mae Faichney, widow of the much lauded Slazenger Australia clubmaker Alex "Sandy" Faichney; Marea Parsons, one of the stars of Australian ladies golf in the 1960s and 70s; and the winner of the 1957 and 1961 Australian Opens, Frank Phillips.

In a short after dinner address, Frank shared some entertaining and insightful anecdotes on some of his much more celebrated contemporaries, along with some painfully true comparisons between golf in the 1950s and 60s and today . . . like the amount of prize money they pay. Frank was fulsome in his praise of the work the Society do, and his comments were very well received.

^{A couple of young fellows who should know better than to
play

up in front of the crowd (click for larger image).}

Muirfield Golf Club are to be congratulated on the effort they put into the day. Everything went perfectly to plan, and a fine time was had by all present. The 'Hickory Experience' can be held at any club, and a package can be tailored to suit almost any particular needs. Anyone interested in running an event at their club can contact the Society via hickoryexperience@australiangolfheritage.org.au .

Full scores for the afternoon's play:

Players	Scratch	Handicap	Net
Ross Howard Peter Jones Chris Nicholson Matt Cashman	31	6 ¹/₄	24 ³/₄
Kris Murgatroyd Geoff Murgatroyd Debbie Carter Bruce Carter	38	11 ¹/₂	26 ¹/₂
Peter Read Barry Ambler Nigel Black Ann Pile	34	6	28
Paul Gladwin Denny Gladwin Barry Meares Robin Thompson	36	11 ³/₈	24 ⁵/₈
Joanna Corrigan Tom Moore Lucy Harris Steve Doorey	36	6 ³/₈	29 ⁵/₈
Tony Pickrell Craig Pickrell John Edward Jackson Edward	33	6 ³/₄	26 ¹/₄

Festival of Tropical Hickory Golf

Between Friday 4th and Sunday the 6th of November 2017, AGHS (Queensland Chapter) conducted a trio of hickory golfing events at three of Brisbane - and Queensland’s - premier golf clubs: the Queensland Hickory Shaft Championship at Royal Queensland Golf Club; the AGHS 4BBB event at Nudgee Golf Club; and the Queensland Hickory Shaft Foursomes Championship at The Brisbane Golf Club.

Queensland Hickory Shaft Championship—Royal Queensland Golf Club

Played in warm and blustery conditions, the second annual Queensland Hickory Shaft Championship was again played at Royal Queensland Golf Club. The club’s par 72 links were in fine condition and the championship was played over a course of approximately 5900 metres, with a scratch rating of 73 and slope rating of 126. As always, visitors and locals alike were challenged by the strategic layout of the course and its fast, undulating greens.

This year’s field of nineteen players included interstate and country visitors. Justin Ryan travelled from Quarry Hill Golf Club in Bendigo, Lachlan Wilson from Wagga Wagga Golf Club, Matthew McCarthy from Rowes Bay Golf Club in Townsville, and Scott Hendry from City Golf Club in Toowoomba. The field also included three professional golfers - Joe Janison and Reece McRae from The Brisbane Golf Club, and Royal Queensland Golf Club’s recent Belgian import Jean Relecom.

^{Competitors in the 2017 Queensland Hickory Shaft
Championship, Royal Queensland Golf Club

Runner-up: Rob King-Scott (front-left), Champion: Alan Grieve
(front, right)

(Click for larger image)}

The winner of the Queensland Hickory Shaft Championship for the second year running was Alan Grieve with a fine round of 79 strokes. A model of consistency, Alan recorded the same score over the same course as last year’s inaugural event. His reward this year is a magnificent new trophy featuring a bronze sculpture of Bobby Jones. Generously donated by AGHS Secretary Ross Haslam, this will be the perpetual prize for subsequent champion golfers.

^{The Championship Trophy

(Click for larger image)}

This year’s runner-up with a fine round of 80 strokes was Rob King-Scott. While significantly shorter off the tee than Alan, Rob’s peerless short-game and superlative putting kept him in the running until the final hole. Playing in the same group as Alan, Rob registered a par on the 480 metre par five final hole — only to be pipped at the post by Alan’s winning birdie.

Once again, the cream rose to the top. Last year’s runner-up and third place getter, Ralph Heading and Joe Janison respectively, this year finished tied on 86 strokes, with Ralph edging ahead of Joe on a countback to attain place third. With scores under ninety strokes and exhibiting their usual high calibre of play, good rounds were recorded by Reece McRea, Ross Haslam, Chris Cooper, Chris Webster, Jean Relecom and Ross Bishop.

Winner of the Captain’s Trophy for the best nett score was Rob King-Scott with 71 off a handicap of 9. He was followed, in order, by Chris Webster, Ross Haslam, Kevin Tuckwell and Ross Bishop, who all scored lower than 77 nett.


^{The Captain's Trophies - Men's (left) & Ladies (right) (Click for larger images)}

AGHS Ladies’ Event

For the first time, this year’s event attracted two female participants: Paula Biscaya from City Golf Club in Toowoomba, and Royal Queensland Golf Club Ladies’ Vice-President Jan Kildey. Paula and Jan played a modified stableford event and in a closely fought contest Jan won the Captain’s Trophy with 37 stableford points to Paula’s 35.

Dinner

Presentations and dinner took place once more in the Royal Queensland Golf Club's Silver Boomerang Room. Showing great stamina, inaugural AGHS Queensland Captain Peter Monks made the presentations. Having arrived back from London at 1:00 am on the day of the event, Peter’s effort was greatly appreciated.

Thanks

We thank the members and committee of Royal Queensland Golf Club for making its wonderful Michael Clayton-designed golf links and facilities available for this year’s event. We also thank the club for waiving green fees for visitors to this event—our most important of the year. As always, Tim Gahan and his staff ensured a faultless day of golf and evening of merriment. Also, special thanks to Steve Rhind who so efficiently looks after AGHS events all year and his colleague Jill McKeiver from the club’s golf centre.

The AGHS 4BBB Event—Nudgee Golf Club

On the lay-day between the Championship and Foursomes Championship, AGHS Treasurer Ross Haslam organised an informal 4BBB event at his home club Nudgee Golf Club. Played over the club’s relatively flat and short par 69 South Course, the event was contested by an elite field of twelve players.

^{Nudgee Event Participants

(Click for larger image)}

Winners were the experienced and wily duo Arthur O’Shea and Ross Bishop with an outstanding score of 46 stableford points. Ross Haslam reports, “I was fortunate to play in Arthur and Ross’ group. Arthur’s driving and short game were at their absolute best, his putting especially was outstanding. An extra 2– 3" of roll on the slow Nudgee greens and their winning 46 points could easily have been 50+ points. Ross’ control of ball-flight into the wind was as good as it gets in hickory golf. If it hadn’t been 34 degrees in brilliant Brisbane sunshine we would have sworn we were watching a seasoned Scotsman manoeuvring his way around a windswept links course. His knockdown shots were second to none.”

Runners-up were Chris and Greg Cooper (not related) with a most creditable 43 points on countback from Lachie Wilson and Chris Webster, and also Alan Grieve and Matt McCarthy. Geoff Egarr and Ross Haslam on 39 points avoided the wooden spoon on countback from Rob King-Scott and Justin Ryan.

Thank you to the members and committee of Nudgee Golf Club for making their course and facilities available to AGHS for this event and for waiving green fees for visitors. Also, many thanks to the clubhouse staff for the lovely pre-round luncheon they provided.

Queensland Hickory Shaft Foursomes Championship—The Brisbane Golf Club

On the morning of Sunday 6th November, having participated in events at Royal Queensland and Nudgee Golf Clubs in the preceding days, fourteen keen hickory golfers assembled at The Brisbane Golf Club to contest the inaugural Queensland Hickory Shaft Foursomes Championship. Having only recently hosted the Queensland Open, The Brisbane Golf Club’s beautiful and historic Yeeroongpilly links were in superlative condition.

In an impressive display of golfing skill and strength, the winners of the inaugural running of this event were local pairing Alan Grieve and Joel Negline with 78 strokes off-the-stick. Runners-up with a gross score of 84 were ex-touring professional Don Fardon and Victorian visitor Justin Ryan. In third place with 86 strokes were Allard Bernhofen and Townsville-based Matthew McCarthy.


^{Foursomes Winners - Joel Negline & Alan Grieve (Click for larger image)}	^{Foursomes Third Place - Matthew McCarthy & Allard Bernhoffen (Click for larger image)}

The Captain’s Trophy for the best nett score was won by Andrew Baker and Rob King-Scott with 77.5. They edged out Ross Haslam and Chris Webster by a single stroke, with Allard Bernhofen and Matthew McCarthy a further half-shot behind in third place.

Thanks

AGHS sincerely thanks the members, committee and staff of The Brisbane Golf Club for hosting our inaugural Foursomes Championship and for waiving green fees for visitors. This contribution to the growth of hickory golf in Queensland is greatly appreciated.

Luncheon

Drinks, presentations and a most convivial lunch were held in the beautiful and historic clubhouse of The Brisbane Golf Club. Surrounded by a wealth of historic photographs and antique golfing memorabilia, no more appropriate setting could provide a finale to such a memorable and delightful three-day weekend of hickory golf.

Download the full results of the three days' competitions.

Andrew Baker

Captain, AGHS (Queensland Chapter)

^{Rob King-Scott lines up his putt on the 18th at Royal
Queensland

Click for larger image)}

Canterbury City Golf Course - Friday 28 October, 2016.

On the 9-hole course managed and expertly manicured by ex-PGA Australia Chairman & PGA Life Member Geoff Scott and his team, the small group of 5 enjoyed a wonderful afternoon of golf and tale swapping. All players enjoyed the ability to recover their shots that had strayed off the
fairway.

I must confess to never having played this little jewel of a course - designed and constructed by my late Dad Al Howard in 1965 - but the
experience rekindled the memories of the Howardesque mounds around the greens and relative lack of bunkers. An ideal course for the hickories and the AGHS will be back for more next year. My thanks to Kyle Francis as host on the day, just a pity we did not have more starters.

Tom Moore, Bruno Pase, Alan and Robert Stead, and the writer fronted the starter and played a 5 ball. Bruno - using a set of clubs on loan from
Lachie Wilson - proved to be the star of the group snaring 2 consecutive birdies on holes 7 and 8 and carding 38, 4 over for the nine holes. Alan
and Robert had not played with our group for many years and acquitted themselves well with the hickories.

All in all a most enjoyable afternoon of golf and socialising.

Ross Howard

AGHS Captain

Old Course Hickory Match - Australia v. Sweden

Recently, on a welcome and surprisingly balmy mid-September day in St Andrews, Chris Cooper, a member of Queensland AGHS Chapter, Royal Queensland Golf Club and The Royal and Ancient Golf Club, struck up a hickory match with another enthusiast from Sweden, Andreas Wijkstrom.

^{Sweden's Andreas Wijkstrom and
Australia's Chris Cooper shake hands on the first tee at St Andrews.}

^{(click for larger image)}

As the picture shows, word of the international match quickly spread. An excited and substantial crowd gathered and jostled for position in anticipation as Andreas and Chris greeted, settled a bet (based on drinks) and prepared for a match from the medal tees.

Chris approached the first tee shot quietly confident, having brought his hickories with him from Australia, that he had the advantage over Andreas’s borrowed weapons. But confidence was tested when they passed the turn at 41 shots apiece with Andreas 1 up (with the assistance of handicap shots making the difference).

The battle continued into the testing back nine as they turned for home. Chris found himself still 1 down standing on the 17th (Road Hole) tee. Jokes about ABBA, and other distractions, were called upon. Slices around the Old Course Hotel were well executed and the fairway found. Not even the call of the nearby Jigger Inn could distract the players. But a 5 by Andreas (with a shot) was enough to beat Chris’s 5 (without a shot) and the match was won by Andreas 2 and 1. The result did not lessen the joy of a playing the 18th on this historic course. Final stroke scores were Chris 83 and Andreas 85.

Chris Cooper

AGHS - Queensland Chapter

Bobby Locke Trophy Results

Round One of the 2016 Bobby Locke Trophy got under way in earnest at Woollahra Golf Club on Wednesday 14th September when number four qualifier met number five qualifier Geoff Martin. In a pretty one-sided match, Geoff prevailed over the donor of the Bobby Locke Trophy to the tune of 6 and 5.

As three of the remaining six qualifiers were members of the Avondale Golf Club, it was suggested that the remaining matches be played on the Avondale course, and this was arranged for Friday 30th September. Unfortunately, the match between Dennis Sundin and David Brydson could not be played on that day due to prior commitments, but the remaining two went ahead.

In the first match, Avondale member Warwick Stanwell took on Barry Meares from Monash. Although only a recent convert to hickories, Warwick managed to prevail over his more experienced opponent to the tune of 5 and 4. In the second match, Avondale member Paul Gladwin did battle with Muirfield's Tom Moore. According to our on-site correspondent, Tom took the lead on the second hole and held that lead throughout, winning 4 and 3.

^{Barry Meares, Tom Moore, Warwick Stanwell & Paul Gladwin at
work (click for larger image)}

The 2016 Bobby Locke Trophy is now poised as follows:

Round One	Semi-Final	Final
Dennis Sundin (1) v David Brydson (8)	?????? v Geoff Martin (5)
Des Froneman v Geoff Martin
Paul Gladwin v Tom Moore	Warwick Stanwell (2) v Tom Moore (6)
Warwick Stanwell v Barry Meares

^{Avondale member Ian Pont putts out on the 18th (click for larger
image).

Images courtesy or Mr Andrew Wilson.}

2016 Australian Hickory Shaft Championship

The surroundings were familiar, and the participants were mostly familiar. As has been the custom, the Carnarvon layout had been 'shortened' to accommodate the differences between today's equipment and what was in use on the day. What was also evident were the improvements that have been made to the course since our last outing - particularly the bunkers.

We were able to welcome to Richard Manning from Federal G.C. in the A.C.T., Chris Webster from Palmer Gold Coast, and Trevor Edgoose from the North Ryde club. While Richard and Chris had played the previous week at Craigieburn, Trevor was having his first serious hit out with the wooden shaft devices.

Come high noon, captain Ross Howard started marshalling the 28 starters on the first tee.


^{Ross Haslam on the First Tee}	^{Captain Ross Howard marshalls the players (top) & Group Three warm up (bottom)}	^{Rob Downie on the First Tee}

In the scratch section of the Championship, Alan Grieve stole an early march on the competition by starting par-birdie-par. He dropped a shot at the fourth, but birdied the fifth to be one under after five holes. Of the contenders, Phil Baird was one over, Darron Watt and Lachie Wilson two over, Stephen Fletcher three over, and Richard Manning and Rob Downie four over.

From there, Phil, Darron and Lachie all finished the nine with three pars and a bogie, Rob and Richard scored a brace of pars and bogies each, Alan three bogies and a par, and Stephen four bogies.

So at the turn, Phil and Alan were on 38 strokes, Darron and Lachie on 39, Rob and Richard on 42, and thirty year plus Carnarvon member Stephen on 44.

As has happened here several times in the past, the start of the second nine coincided with things starting to happen in the competition.

Darron carded par figures for the first five holes against the two over figures for Phil and Lachie. Rob was three over for the five, and Alan four after recording his only double bogie of the day on the 12^th. Richard and Stephen had dropped back after both having a bad 10^th hole and only being able to par one other. Making the final turn back towards the club house, Darron lead on 59 shots from Phil on 60, Lachie on 61, Alan on 62 and Rob not yet out of it on 65.

Rob scored four bogies to finish, while Darron and Lachie carded three bogies and a par. Phil scored three pars and a bogie - as did Alan - but Phil's steadiness over the last nine secured him his first Australian Hickory Shaft Championship with a score of 77. After being runner-up last year, his win was not entirely a surprise.

Dan Soutar was a great golfer, and filled the runner-up spot in the Australian Open on seven occasions. It seems that Darron Watt is approaching this record after again finishing runner-up on 78, but one suspects that Darron has a win or three still in his bag. Alan Grieve finished the trio in the 70s with a 79, with Lachie Wilson on 82 and Rob Downie on 85 rounding out the top five.


^{The quiet time before dinner is for rehydration, post mortems, and war stories (click to enlarge).}

In the handicap competition, the scratch leaders also figured prominently. After nine holes, Alan Grieve led from Richard Manning and Stephen Fletcher, with Carnarvon's John Honeybrook sneaking into fourth spot. Then followed by Phil Baird, Lachie Wilson, Darron Watt and Rob Downie. Not out of calculation - being only six shots behind the leader - were 2011 winner Barry Meares, and Tony Pickrell - back to back winner in 2007 and 2008.

Ultimately, his strong play that kept him in contention for the scratch title meant that the handicap title went to Lachie Wilson, whose net 70 was five ahead of Phil Baird, Darron Watt and Alan Grieve, and six clear of Chris Webster and Tony Pickrell.

^{2016 Australian Hickory Shaft Champion -

Mr Phillip Baird}

^{2016 Australian Hickory Shaft Championship Handicap
Winner -

Mr Lachlan Wilson (left)}

For the statistically minded, a few points to ponder:

The easiest hole on the course was the par 3 12^th, averaging 1.00 over par. There were five pars and five double bogies, everyone else recorded a four.
The hardest hole on the course was the par 4 15th, averaging 1.74 over par. Four pars, and lots of 'others'.
The easiest holes to par were the par 3 3^rd, the par 4 5^th, the par 3 16^th and the par 4 18^th with seven each. We'll split the tie by saying that there were three birdies carded on the fifth, making it the easiest hole to birdie.
In total, there were 92 pars and seven birdies recorded.
There were no single hole scores in double figures, a first for many years.

^{He's a good bloke, and a fine golfer.}

The sincere thanks of the Society are extended to all those that participated in the event, and to those that played a part in its organisation. To those that were playing in the Championship for the first time, we hope to see you next year, and at events between now and then. Thanks are also well and truly due to the Carnarvon Golf Club, its pro-shop, bar and restaurant staff. As usual, the service from all was outstanding.

2016 Craigieburn Cup

Anyone who was not at Bowral on Sunday 11^th September 2016 missed one of those delightful early spring days that the Southern Highlands conjures up from time to time - warm enough to play in shirtsleeves, no wind to speak of, and crystal clear under a bright September sun.

The course at Craigieburn was opened on Wednesday 2^nd April 1919 (read a report on the official opening from the Robertson Advocate of 8^th April 1919), and the layout has changed little since. Although the greens had been very recently renovated, this in no way detracted from the course.

^{The bottom of the Craigieburn course (click for large
image).}

A field of eleven - including Queensland tourists Alan Grieve and Chris Webster and Canberran first-timer Richard Manning - eventually hit off under the watchful eyes of the winner of the 1957 and 1961 Australian Open Frank Phillips and long-time friend of the Society - retired professional Edgar Oakman. Both are residents of the Southern Highlands, and their presence adds a certain gravitas to the event.

^{Frank Phillips and Tom Moore, the winners of the 1963 NSW
PGA Foursomes

Championship at Killara back together at Craigieburn.}

The standards of the golf varied, but there can be no doubt about the winner. Brisbane Golf Club's Alan Grieve carded a one-over-par score of 64 to take the scratch prize - and the Craigieburn Cup - from Federal Golf Club's Richard Manning. Richard - playing his first eighteen holes with hickories - recorded a fine 70, and his net score of 63 was good enough to take out the handicap section. Both were fulsome in their praise of the course and the event, and are worthy champions.


^{Scratch Winner Alan Grieve (left) and Net Winner Richard Manning (right)}

Full score rundown:

Player	Handicap	Scratch	Net
Tony Doggett	14	82	68
Ross Howard	20	87	67
Tony Pickrell	16	86	70
Tom Moore	16	87	71
Alan Grieve	4	64	60
Raymond Flynn	22	88	66
Chris Webster	13	82	69
Rob Downie	9	72	65
Richard Manning	7	70	63
Steve Doorey	17	87	70
Arthur Penton	23	101	78


^{Shots from the higher parts of the course clearly show the park-like nature of the Craigieburn layout (click for large image).}

2016 Bobby Locke Trophy Qualifying

Twelve starters plus the Trophy’s donor faced the revised layout on a day that threatened to rain on our parade. Apart from a couple of holes with a sprinkle around the half way point, we all survived albeit feeling a bit cold from the chilly westerly breeze.

Welcome to new / first time players Bill Hayes and Geoff Fish who enjoyed the experience and indicated their intentions to return again to do battle with the hickories.

Playing off the yellows and scratch, the course proved a good test for the hickories with first nine leader Paul Gladwin having 45 on the outward journey and then local member Tony Pickrell proving the advantage of home course and “bolting” home with 36, including an eagle on # 11, par 4, holing out with his 2nd shot, a mashie.

Certain players on the day had already indicated their intention of not contesting the match rounds, pity because Team Pickrell, with Tony & Julian shot 86 and 88 respectively.

However when all cards were reviewed and tallied, the number one qualifier was Dennis Sundin with 89, closely followed by Warwick Stanwell and Paul Gladwin both shooting 90s, then the close packed remaining group of qualifiers with scores of 92 to 97.

Interesting to note, apart from Tony’s eagle, there were 5 birdies and 42 pars across the field. That represents 21% of the holes were played in either par or better.

Round One	Semi-Final	Final
Dennis Sundin (1) v David Brydson (8)
Des Froneman (4) v Geoff Martin (5)
Paul Gladwin (3) v Tom Moore (6)
Warwick Stanwell (2) v Barry Meares (7)

Our thanks to Tony for suggesting the venue and to the North Ryde Captain and Club Professional Marty for their support of the event.

To those left in the event, good luck in the next two rounds, to be played off scratch. Please contact your opponent to arrange the venue and date.

The North Ryde Vets who had playing in front of our group, were also intrigued with the clothing and the clubs, particularly those brought into the Clubhouse after the event.

Ross Howard
Captain

2016 J. J. Paine Results

On the first Monday in May players of hickory golf, and those with an interest in history, make a bee-line for the Windsor Country Golf Club for the J. J. Paine Trophy event. Played over the second nine holes at Windsor as an individual Stableford event with both scratch and handicap prizes on offer, the event is popular with members and visitors alike. A dainty tea is served prior to the first tee-time of the day, and the game is followed by a luncheon, and a brief history talk that is guaranteed to engage the participants.

The J. J. Paine event celebrates the playing of the first golf in the Windsor area at Gosper's Paddock in 1905. While it has not been definitively proven, current research suggests that the practice fairway at the adjacent Rum Corps Barracks Golf Course is built on or about Gosper's Paddock.

Sixteen players greeted the starter on the 10^th tee, and set off down the hill to do battle with Windsor's back nine. Scores were down on previous years, and this is a little difficult to explain given the condition of the course. After 2015's somewhat soggy conditions, the course this year was an absolute picture, and the course well set-up for hickory golf.

^{J. J. Paine Winners (l-r) - Graham Evans, Sandy Kinnish & Don
Graves}

When the scores had been passed by the scrutineers and tabulated, the scratch winner - and the J. J. Paine victor - was Don Graves with seven points. The handicap section was taken out by Graham Evans with a score of sixteen points. The ladies winner was Sandy Kinnish. Full run-down of the scores is below.

Player	Handicap	Scratch	Net
Don Graves	16	7	14
Graham Evans	26	6	16
Rod Hartas	12	6	11
Sandy Kinnish	19	5	13
Steve Doorey	18	5	12
Ross Selig	18	4	13
Richard Doyle	15	4	9
John Marsden	28	3	11
John Hope	17	3	6
Barry Leithhead	22	2	9
Trevor Bartley	24	2	7
Neville Dehn	26	1	9
Bev Marsden	28	1	9
Neil Kinnish	27	1	7
Arthur Penton	24	1	11

Following the luncheon and presentation, Barry Leithhead gave a short talk on Carnegie Clark and his family's place in the history and development of golf in Australia. A number of Carnegie Clark clubs - spanning the first 50 years of the 20^th century were also laid out for the examination and appreciation by those in attendance. There were lively discussions had over these wonderful artefacts, and more than a few questions were asked of those who had some knowledge of the clubs.

^{Click on any of the photos to
enlarge.}

Like previous J. J. Paine events, this year's was an unqualified success. Thanks are extended to Rod Hartas, Trevor Bartley, Barry Leithhead, the hard-working staff at Windsor Country Golf Club, and Chris Dehn for acting as unofficial, unpaid, backup photographer.

AGHS and Riverstone & District Historical Society member Rosemary Phillis was on hand for her first look (and try) at hickory golf. Rosemary also selectively photographed and videoed the event, and - in a first for our website - we offer action packed highlights of the day. Thanks Rosemary!

^{J. J. Paine Video Highlights
(0:02:56 - 85.97mb)}

2016 Kiama Hickory Challenge Results

The fifth annual Kiama Hickory Challenge was played on Sunday 3^rd April. It looked as if there might be a bit of inclement weather in the offing, but - apart from a very short sprinkle that didn't even require umbrellas to be unfurled - the day turned out to be excellent for golf. Not too hot, not at all cold, and with no wind to speak of. Typical Kiama day according to the locals.

Ten Illawarra players were joined by five from the Sydney metropolitan area for eighteen holes of individual Stableford play. The Sydney players are dyed-in-the-wool wood shaft tragics, while the south coast contingent included a number of hickory tyros. At the end of the day, it was the locals that carried the day.

According to informed sources at the late afternoon lunch table, Andrew Wilson has been spotted on the odd occasion showing his hickories around the Kiama layout. It paid off in spades when Andrew finished the round with a very creditable 31 points - six points clear of hickory first-timer Gerry McLean. The Ladies prize was also claimed by a hickory first timer - Liz Montgomery.

As is usual at Kiama, the organisation and welcome extended to visitors was exemplary. The course was well-presented as always, and thanks are deserved by all those involved. Any member who is contemplating organising a hickory event at their club would be well-advised to seek the counsel of Mr Andrew Wilson. Thanks Andrew - see you next year.

Full Scores

Player	Score
Andrew Wilson	31 points
Gerard McLean	25 points
Jim Glenday	25 points
Ron Hall	24 points
Brain Keane	24 points
Robert Jaeger	24 points
James Hoskins	23 points
Liz Montgomery	22 points
Tony Doggett	21 points
Steve Doorey	20 points
Rob Downie	19 points
Brian Creen	19 points
Janelle Hoskins	15 points
Tom Moore	15 points
Trish Wilson	14 points

Nearest The Pin (6th)	James Hoskins
Drive & Pitch (10th)	James Glenday

Ladies Winner	Liz Montgomery
Ladies Novice Winner	Liz Montgomery
Mens Novice Winner	Gerry McLean
Best Dressed Lady	Janelle Hoskins
Best Dressed Gentleman	Curly Keane

^{Winner Andrew Wilson accepts the Al Howard Putter and
congratulations

from AGHS stalwart Tom Moore.}

2016 Dan Cullen Trophy Results

The weather gods smiled on our group of 25 players - one of our biggest ever Dan Cullen fields - after it looked earlier in the day as if wet weather gear may have been required.

Our playing group consisted of the usual hard-core hickory group, including a number of past winners who fancied their chances on the day, plus some new faces - Tristan, Jim, Mick, Tim and Stephen - and we trust you enjoyed the experience enough to return and do battle with the hickories in the future.

Teeing off in groups of six, the event was conducted over Long Reef's first 11 holes in a 2 ball Ambrose format, with a par of 43. The gross scores covered a range from par to 10 over. The individual handicaps covered a range from scratch to 26, with the team handicap determined by dividing the joint gross handicaps by 4, except for the group of 3 where the joint gross was divided by 6.

Eleven of the twelve groups recorded a net score less than par, with 8 groups having net scores of less than 40. Of interest were the birdies
recorded - 2 at the 6th, 1 at the 7th, 3 at the 8th, and one each at the 9th & 10th.

Remarkably, Tony and Martin Pickrell consecutively birdied the par 4 6th and par 3 7th, while the pairs of Ian Hamilton/Steve Doorey, Tristan
Perrett/Michael Sheret and Jim Goth/Bill Colhoun - playing in the same group of six - birdied the 8th, 9th and 10th respectively.

After all the scores were tallied, the Pickrells were in third place with a net of 37¾, and the silver medalists were the three player team of Tom
Moore, Geoff Martin and Warwick Stanwell with 37½.

The winners were Michael Sheret and Tristan Perrett - handicapped at 25 & scratch respectively - with a gross of 43, and a net of 36¾. Some thirteen years after sharing a win in the event with his father, Dan Cullen Jnr was on hand - after playing in the event - to present the winners with the Dan Cullen Trophy.

2016 Dan Cullen Winners
^{2016
Dan Cullen Trophy Winners Tristan Perrett & Michael Sheret, with
Dan Cullen Jnr.}Finally, a vote of sincere thanks to the Captain of Long Reef, Les Browne, for arranging the event, to Danny in the Pro shop, also the staff in the
clubhouse and the course staff for presenting the course in such great condition. The rain over the previous days had assisted our old clubs
taking a bite in some of the greens.

Ross Howard - Captain

Full Scores

Pairing	Gross	Handicap	Nett
Tristan Perrett Michael Sheret	43	6¼	36¾
Tom Moore Geoff Martin Warwick Stanwell	43	5½	37½
Tony Pickrell Martin Pickrell	45	7¼	37¾
Ian Hamilton Steve Doorey	47	8¾	38¼
David Brydson Steve Nyul	46	7½	38½
Dennis Sundin Neville Rider	48	9	39
Ross Howard Les Browne	46	6½	39½
Jim Goth Bill Colhoun	47	7¼	39¾
Dan Cullen Mick Brooker	44	4	40
Paul Gladwin Barry Meares	46	5½	40½
Bruno Pase Tim KIng	50	7¼	42¾
Eddie Emerson Stephen Hannan	53	7	46

2015 Bobby Lock Trophy Results

While we are reasonably certain what went on in the bottom half of the draw, it seems that what went on in the top half of the draw is to be filed under 'secret men's business'. Nonetheless, we have a reasonably reliable account of what occurred at the end of the competition . . .

Under a clear blue sky, on a hot March morning, two veterans set out at the Auburn City Links to contest the final of "The Bobby Locke Trophy." "Curly" Keane from the Shire was playing last years winner Tom Moore from the West. Play began with a half on the 1st hole. Tom managed to win the 2nd, but this was quickly wiped out when Curly won the 3rd. Tom won the 4th, but again Curly squared by winning the 5th. The 6th was halved in pars, then Curly forged ahead with a good win on the 7th. Tom then summoned up the courage to win both the 8th and 9th to go to the turn 1 up.

Curly played a beautifully controlled shot onto the 10th green, to take the hole and square the match once again. Tom the managed to win the 11th to again go 1 up. The 12th and 13th were squared, but Tom worked his way to win both the 14th and 15th, leaving him dormie 3.

Solid pars by both players on the 16th, saw Tom run out the winner by 3 up and 2.

Brian Keane should be both congratulated and admired based on his performance in this year's Bobby Locke Trophy. Brian made it to the semi-final stage last year when he was not a well man, and went one better this year when his health was even less conducive to good golf.

Brian, our thoughts are with you, and if you can go one better in the 2016 Bobby Locke, there won't be one person that begrudges you the fruits of your efforts.

Round One	Round Two	Final
Tom Moore (1) v Arthur Penton (8)	Tom Moore (1) v ??	Tom Moore (1) 3 & 2 v Curly Keane (4)
David Brydson (2) V Ross Howard (7)
Des Froneman (3) 4 & 3 v Dennis Sundin (6)	Des Froneman (3) v Curly Keane (4) 3 & 1
Curly Keane (4) 3 & 2 v Andrew Wilson (5)

2015 Bobby Locke Trophy Results

Word has filtered through that the first of the 2015 Bobby Locke trophy semi-finals has been played. According to an 'informed source', Brian 'Curly' Keane has prevailed over Des Froneman 3 & 1 at Curly's home course, Woolooware. In the absence of any hole by hole description of play accompanied by high resolution graphics, all we can offer is the progress and draw thus far . . .

Round One	Round Two	Final
Tom Moore (1) v Arthur Penton (8)	Tom Moore (1) v ??	?? v Curly Keane (4)
David Brydson (2) V Ross Howard (7)
Des Froneman (3) 4 & 3 v Dennis Sundin (6)	Des Froneman (3) v Curly Keane (4) 3 & 1
Curly Keane (4) 3 & 2 v Andrew Wilson (5)

2015 Bobby Locke Trophy Results

The third of the Round One matches has been played, and - judging by the photographs that accompanied the results - on a picture perfect day on a rather attractive seaside links course. Over to our man on the spot, Andrew Wilson . . .

"Our Round One Bobby Locke match was played yesterday, 11 January at Wollongong Golf Club. It was won 3 & 2 by Brian 'Curly' Keane, who played very steady golf after a slightly wobbly start. Too good for me anyway. I have attached a few photos of the "action" The course was a picture, as you can see. A genuine links. Bit too hot for the plus 4s though."

^{The Victor - Brian 'Curly' Keane (click to enlarge)}

^{The Vanquished - Andrew Wilson (Click to enlarge)}

With a single Round One match to be played, the results - and draw for Round Two - now looks like this:

Round One	Round Two	Final
Tom Moore (1) v Arthur Penton (8)	Tom Moore (1) v ??
David Brydson (2) V Ross Howard (7)
Des Froneman (3) 4 & 3 v Dennis Sundin (6)	Des Froneman (3) v Curly Keane (4)
Curly Keane (4) v Andrew Wilson (5)

2015 Bobby Locke Trophy Results

It has been reported that the second of the Bobby Locke Trophy Round One ties has been played, and Tom Moore has prevailed over Arthur Penton at Muirfield Golf Club. Congratulations to Tom, and commiserations to Arthur.

Round One	Round Two	Final
Tom Moore (1) v Arthur Penton (8)	Tom Moore (1) v ??
David Brydson (2) V Ross Howard (7)
Des Froneman (3) 4 & 3 v Dennis Sundin (6)	Des Froneman (3) v ??
Curly Keane (4) v Andrew Wilson (5)

2015 Queensland Hickory Shaft Championship

On Friday 23 October 2015 eighteen Australian Golf Heritage Society members and guests assembled on the links at Royal Queensland Golf Club to contest the inaugural Queensland Hickory Shaft Championship.

AGHS (Queensland Chapter) was pleased to welcome interstate AGHS members Rob Downie and Michael Sheret who made special efforts to attend. We were also delighted to welcome non-AGHS members Joe Janison (Brisbane Golf Club), Chris Webster, Chris Dower and Geoff Fairweather (all from Wynnum Golf Club), who helped make up a healthy field for the first running of the event.

The Championship

The Championship, an eighteen hole stroke-play event, was won by Alan Grieve with a score of 79 strokes. Considering the windy conditions, difficult bunkers, and speedy greens and surrounds, this was a wondrous round of golf. Being a previous winner of the U.S. Hickory Open Championship and double winner of the Australian Hickory Shaft Championship, it was a rock-solid performance by the firm favourite. In second place, with an equally impressive round of 83 strokes, was former Royal Queensland Golf Club Captain Ralph Heading. In third place, with a fine round of 85 strokes, was PGA member and Director of Golf at Brisbane Golf Club Joe Janison.

Ralph Heading - 2015 Queenland Runner-Up

^{Left - 2015 Queensland Hickory Championship Winner Alan Grieve
& Right - 2015 Queensland Hickory Championship Runner-Up Ralph
Heading}

The Captain’s Trophy

The Captain’s Trophy, an eighteen hole handicap stroke-play event held in conjunction with the Championship, was also won by Alan Grieve with a nett score of 71 (off a handicap of 8). Alan was five strokes clear of his nearest rival, Ross Haslam, who had a nett score of 76 (off a handicap of 11). Third place was shared by Ross Bishop (off a handicap of 10) and Chris Webster (off a handicap of 13) with nett scores of 80.

Nearest The Pins

Ensuring an almost clean-sweep for the day, the winner of the nearest-the-pin prize on the 4th hole was Alan Grieve. The nearest-the-pin winner on the difficult 11th hole was ever-reliable Ross Haslam.

Presentations and Dinner

A very enjoyable day was had by all and we were extremely pleased to be joined at dinner by the Chapter’s Patron, Charlie Earp. After presentations, Michael Sheret gave a brief description of the historical displays installed for the day around the clubhouse and the ‘special’ putters he had supplied for the enjoyment of all.

Drinks, a nourishing dinner and stories of the day’s events were then shared. They were preceded by a secular grace recited in perfect Scots brogue by Dr Sheret—it went as follows:

Gowfers Grace

Some hae meat and cannae eat
And some wad eat that want it
But we've been on the links taeday
An' aw oor troubles blown away
An' here we sit
We hae oor drink
An' afore ye think
O' aw the putts that didnae sink
Think o' the wan that sankit
An be gled ye didnae shank it
Noo we hae meat
An we cin eat
So yays yir paws
An open yir jaws
An let yir gods be thankit

... with apologies to Robert Burns

$Chris Cooper with A Schenectady Putter$

$Headless Putter With the Longnose$
^{L to R - Chris Cooper tests the borrow on the RQGC carpet with a
Schenectady; Silver Boomerang Room Dinner; 'Not up, not in' on the
RQGC carpet with a longnose putter.}

About the Silver Boomerang Room

The room in which the players dined is named after the silver boomerang presented by Royal Queensland Golf Club to the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews in 1923—a replica hangs at the room’s entrance.

In 1923, two years after Queensland Golf Club was opened by Governor-General Lord Forster (and subsequently received its Royal Charter), there followed an exchange of gifts with the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews. Royal Queensland presented to St. Andrews a silver boomerang, which is currently played for annually as the Queensland Silver Boomerang by Members of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews at their Autumn meeting. In return Royal Queensland received a replica of the famous St. Andrews Silver Club “instituted for competition among the gentlemen golfers of St. Andrews in 1754”. This is the Club’s prized St. Andrews Trophy, played for annually by the Members.

Acknowledgements

AGHS Queensland Chapter would like to thank the Members and Committee of Royal Queensland Golf Club for making their marvellous links, practice facilities and clubhouse available for the running of this event.

In particular, would like to express our gratitude to the RQGC Match and Greens Committee and especially the Club’s President Andrew Corrigan, Captain Suddy MacKechnie and Vice-president Rob King-Scott for their ongoing support of AHGS and hickory golf in Queensland.

We would also like to thank RQGC Golf Operations Manager Steve Rhind for his exceptional management of the event (and the nine others we have held so far this year), General Manager Tim McGahon, Executive Assistant and Event Manager Cathy Keighley, and the house staff for providing such a well organised and delicious dinner.

- Andrew Baker (Captain - AGHS Queensland Chapter)

Download a full breakdown of the 2015 Queensland Hickory Shaft Championship from here.

2015 Bobby Locke Trophy Results

Our roving correspondents tell us that the first of the Bobby Locke Trophy Round One ties has been played, with Des Froneman running out victor over Dennis Sundin at the Woollahra Golf Club. Congratulations to Des, and commiserations to Dennis.

Round One	Round Two	Final
Tom Moore (1) v Arthur Penton (8)
David Brydson (2) V Ross Howard (7)
Des Froneman (3) 4 & 3 v Dennis Sundin (6)	Des Froneman (3) v ??
Curly Keane (4) v Andrew Wilson (5)

The Australian Hickory Shaft Championship Comes of Age - The Captain's Report

The 21st staging of the event was held on Friday 25 September 2015 at Carnarvon Golf Club. The Society’s wish to move away from the November heat of previous years was rewarded with a day of 18°C, but showers and a good zephyr at times made for an interesting afternoon’s golf.

Our thanks to John Lock and Steve Fletcher – as Carnarvon committee members – and the Club’s management for their support of the event, to the catering staff for the meal, and to the grounds staff for the set-up of the course. There were many positive endorsements of the tee and pin positions.

We welcomed to the Championships five new players – Warren Smith, Nigel Black, Mark Pullen, Steve Byrnes and Tony Kelly – competing for the first time with the “hickories”. We hope to see you all at future events.

The start of the day saw our Treasurer Steve dispensing cards, local rules & John Lock performing as the starter for 36 players, thanks guys for all your assistance. Whilst they were hard at work, I was “wandering” meeting and greeting players, and then being drawn to the pro shop working bench where Lachie Wilson was performing “surgery” on some of Phil Baird’s irons by means of pieces of equipment the likes of which I had never seen.

And here I was thinking acquired clubs remain as acquired, oh no, the technology involved in blade & shaft angles, was most interesting. Made me wonder if Grandpa Tom ever changed the clubs he played with in the hickory days apart from weights that I know about, I certainly cannot remember, in my days as “lackey” in the pro shops at Monash and Rosnay with Dad, ever altering lofts and shaft angles.

^{Julian Pickrell, Barry
Leithhead, Martin Pickrell, Tony Pickrell (click to enlarge)} ^{Nathan Black, Geoff Martin, Paul
Gladwin, Barry Meares (click to enlarge)}

However, onto the actual event. The scratch leaders after 9 were closely bunched with scores of 37, 38, 40 and 41, being – respectively – Darron Watt, Phil Baird, Lachie Wilson and Brian Keane. Over the back 9, a couple of players reversed their front nine form and produced scores of 39 and 41 respectively, being Warren Smith and Luke Kavanagh.

^{Mark Pullen, Stuart
Maurice, Tony Kelly, Steve Byrnes (click to enlarge)} ^{Lachie
Wilson, Rob Downie, Tony Doggett, Darron Watt (click to enlarge)}

But when the cards were in, the winner had recorded a 77 to win by 4 shots. Our 2015 winner was Darron Watt from Wagga Wagga after being a runner up on a number of previous occasions. Phil Baird finished 2nd with 81, followed by Mark Pullen on 85. Darron in a short speech expressed his great joy at winning, and having his name on the trophy alongside many notable former victors.

^{Ross Haslam, Jim
Glenday, Steve Fletcher, Rod Clark (click to
enlarge) Warren Smith, Des
Froneman, Tom Moore, Alan Grieve (click to enlarge)}

After 9, the handicap leaders had net scores of 32, 34 and pair of 35.5s, being Brian Keane, Lachie Wilson, Steve Doorey and Darron Watt. The 2nd nine changed the final result with Steve Doorey winning with a net of 68, closely followed by Brian Keane on 69, and Andrew Wilson on 73. Of note is that the handicap runner up had a “10” on 17th which most certainly was not desirable.

^{Michael Sheret,
Luke Kavanagh, Bruno Pase, Phil Baird (click to
enlarge) Andrew Wilson, David Brydson,
Neville Rider, Dennis Sundin (click to enlarge)}

Paul Gladwin and Ross Haslam won the much coveted Treasurers Cup prize with their nearest the pin shots on the 7th and 16th holes respectively.

^{John Fletcher, Brian Keane,
Ross Howard, Steve Doorey (click to enlarge)}

A toast was proposed to Tom Moore to recognise his commitment to the Championship since the initial event in 1995. The gathering was also able to “sing” Happy Birthday to Julian Pickrell to celebrate his 81st birthday.

Also on display was a set of “sheathed” irons once used by my grandfather Tom that have finally found their way “home” after a journey of over 80 years. My thanks to Phil Wood, Henry Paterson, and particularly to Tom Moore who has restored the clubs to be amazing examples of the early post hickory irons.

One for the calendar – 23 October 2015 – the Queensland Chapter of Australian Golf Heritage Society via Andrew Baker have advised that Royal Queensland Golf Club have indicated their willingness to host the inaugural Queensland Hickory Shaft Championship after receiving permission and unqualified support from Golf Queensland.

Lastly, the gathering was made aware of the idea of creating “the hickory experience”, whereby the AGHS take to Clubs the visions of the past gone days, tactile display items, short videos, and access to hired hickory sets. We have a couple of Clubs already interested in the idea, so more news soon.

Congratulations again to Darron on achieving a significant and notable goal and to all who played.

^{Phil Baird (left) congratulates
Darron Watt on his win (click to enlarge).}
Phil Baird

I trust you enjoyed the day.

Ross Howard – Captain

The Craigieburn Cup - The Captains Report

To our hosts Peppers Craigieburn, home to the annual Hickory Cup Heritage Golf Tournament on a course that is over 100 years old and still features the original course layout, a big thank for the day.

^{The first tee at Craigieburn (click
to enlarge)}

Our AGHS organisers on the day, Tony Doggett & Steve Doorey also achieved a high distinction in providing a delightful rain free afternoon. For those who have not visited the course, there are 9 greens attacked from 18 tee positions. The event is played as a scratch format for the trophy, with a handicap section as well.

Fourteen players were announced on the 1st tee, coming from as far afield as Nowra, Kiama & the Sydney environs. With the course presented in good condition (albeit damp on some slopes) & the greens provided some challenges, the “14” attacked the 18 holes with high hopes.

^{Players gather at the first tee
(click to enlarge)}

Thru 9 holes the scratch leaders with 38 were Rob Downie & Andrew Wilson, closely followed by your scribe on 39 & Tony Pickrell on 40. The handicap leader board showed your scribe with net of 28.5, Tony Pickrell on 31, closely pursued by Andrew Wilson 31.5 & Steve Doorey on 34.

The 2nd nine showed the steadiness of Rob Downie finishing with another 38 for total of 76 as our scratch winner. One shot back was Andrew Wilson with the Pickrells (Tony & Julian) together on 80s. The handicap section was set alight by Steve Doorey (after long layoff) carding a net 28 for the 2nd nine to finish the count back winner on 62. Tony Pickrell ran 2nd with your scribe failing to maintain the 1st nine performance & finish with net 63. Andrew Wilson also showed his consistency & finished with a net 64.

Of interest is that only one birdie was recorded on the day by Geoff Martin on the 9th. So another successful & enjoyable day was concluded by a few refreshing ales, wines & soft drinks before the team journeyed back to their abodes.

On behalf of the AGHS, a big thank you to all who attended & we hope that in 2016 the event may draw maybe a bigger field to compete for this trophy.

Whilst in the writing mode, I understand that the 2014 (yes 2014) Bobby Locke Trophy winner emerged from the day, being Steve Doorey who beat Jim Glenday.

Also our best wishes to Dan Cullen who has had a fall (in hospital) and to a previous winner of this event - Rex McKay - who is recovering from a stroke.

Ross Howard – Captain

Bobby Locke Trophy Qualifying

Held – Tuesday 25 August at Cabramatta Golf Club

Again, like at Rosnay in July, the weather outlook was not good for the day, but the Hickory Golf weather God smiled on our group and the day stayed fine, albeit windy. The field comprised 11 players intent on staking their position in the field of eight for the match play to follow the qualifying round and most of us found the layout challenging with the hickories playing off the white markers.

The field included Andrew Wilson who was escaping the rain down south at Kiama and Neville Rider who subsequently joined the AGHS as a member post the game. Welcome Neville, and we hope to see your smiling face at many more games.

Because of the recent rain many bunkers had considerable casual water lying in them, it was determined bunkers be regarded as GUR and the local rule on the day was 30cm preferred lie on the fairways.

That said, no player was able to record a nine with a score on each hole, perhaps indicative of the conditions encountered on the day.

The clubhouse leader was established from the first group home & he was never headed. The scores on the day ranged from 24 down to 12 in total with a number of players having considerable difference on their score card on each nine some varied by as much as 6 points.

As the tallying of the scores progressed 3 players indicated they were not wishing to participate in the subsequent match play rounds, so the field was effectively reduced to 8 in the event.

The players who qualified were in descending order of scores :-

Tom Moore, David Brydson, Des Froneman, Curley Keane, Andrew Wilson, Dennis Sundin, Ross Howard and Arthur Penton. So now the match play starts off handicap with 1 v 8, 2 v 7, 3 v 6 & 4 v 5.

Round One	Round Two	Final
Tom Moore (1) v Arthur Penton (8)
David Brydson (2) V Ross Howard (7)
Des Froneman (3) v Dennis Sundin (6)
Curly Keane (4) v Andrew Wilson (5)

Ross Howard - Captain

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2015 Bobby Locke Trophy Results

2015 Bobby Locke Trophy Results

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The Championship

The Captain’s Trophy

Nearest The Pins

Presentations and Dinner

About the Silver Boomerang Room

Acknowledgements

2015 Bobby Locke Trophy Results

The Australian Hickory Shaft Championship Comes of Age - The Captain's Report

The Craigieburn Cup - The Captains Report

Bobby Locke Trophy Qualifying

Held – Tuesday 25 August at Cabramatta Golf Club

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2018 Kiama Hickory Challenge - Sunday 22^nd April 2018

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