Although Modern Hickory Golf is enjoying a veritable renaissance around the globe, Feathery Golf is almost never played. My only dalliances into feathery golf have taken place over the 36 hole Bruntsfield Short Course in Edinburgh, Scotland, and along those most ancient links of Musselburgh, also in Scotland. I love Feathery Golf, but other than my pal Win Padgett, not many Hickory players share that affection.
My Guttie Golf is played primarily in the United States at Oakhurst Links, in West Virginia, which happens to be America's oldest golf course (est. 1884, and perhaps earlier). Each year, a select field of hickory players (present company excepted) gathers to enjoy Lewis Keller's hospitality and participates in the playing of golf in a way which dominated the golfing landscape for the better part of a half century. The Oakhurst tee boxes are made of sand, and sheep roam freely across the course as its primary gardening and fertilizer service. Some 65 players participate in the National Hickory Championship, which was first orchestrated by Peter Georgiady in the summer of 1998. 2004 represents the 7th playing for the National Hickory Championship, and I am fortunate to have participated in the last six of these great tournaments. I usually finish in the top ten at the NHC, with my best finish being a 5th in a rain shortened, asterisk laden, event.
Pete's primary concern at the National Hickory Championship is to ensure the players utilize clubs which reflect conditions in 1895 and earlier. The Tournament Committee is responsible for checking each player's golf clubs for period authenticity. Reproduction equipment is allowed, as reproduction guttie equipment is more cost effective, and Oakhurst maintains a large supply guttie clubs for hire by National Hickory Championship players.
From my own experience, authentic golf clubs are always preferred. My guttie clubs are like old friends, as we have been to war each year and we know each other's eccentricities (trust me - there are more than a few of these with regard to the player). Though it requires a larger investment and more energy in restoration, playing golf "the authentic way" is a great experience, and I am sure the historical aspects of the championship are best served. Nevertheless, all players are utilizing the same reproduction gutta percha golf ball, which represents a blend of materials designed to recreate the Guttie Golf experience. Having played golf with real gutta percha golf balls, I can tell you with sincerity that reproduction golf balls are preferred, both in terms of expense and playability.
My set of Guttie Golf clubs has been established through various acquisitions I have made over the years, and as always, I try to maintain my equipment to the highest standards of playability. Because the Oakhurst rough can be fierce, the weather can be dicey, and some of the clubs have value independent of their playability, I will offer my primary club selections, and include a short list of backups. Also, the tournament originally featured a five club rule, which allowed for a play club, a putter, and three iron headed clubs. Though the rules of the tournament have changed to allow more golf clubs, I still just carry five, if for no other reason that doing so makes the walk over Oakhurst's wonderful links at least a few clubs lighter, and club selection is a snap.
Putter - Although iron headed putters of the period are now permitted, I am a firm believer in utilizing the long-nose style. If the weather is nice, I have a fantastic long-nose putter made by Tom Morris, which dates to around 1885. This old veteran features stymie markings on the shaft, and is slightly bowed to reflect the "St. Andrews Bend." It was wonderfully restored by my friend Philip Knowles, of Edinburgh, Scotland, who helped me take a very rough club and reestablish it as a real beauty. If the weather is an issue, my authentic long-nose putter does not benefit from the rain. Thus, I also pack a reproduction putter made by Barry Kerr, of Heritage Golf in St. Andrews, which replicates a long-nose putter made by Hugh Philp. Though it is a neat little putter, the fact that it is only a few years old takes away greatly from the Guttie Golf experience.
Morris Long Nose: Loft 13¡, smooth-face
Philp Long Nose: Loft 12¡, smooth-face
Play Club - Not many players are able to bring out authentic equipment for their play club. If you have a real version of this essential weapon, and it is in sufficient condition for play, you must be equally adept at lighting money on fire. Socket head clubs are not allowed, which means that every play club must have a splice. I have had some success with an authentic Willie Park Compressed Head brassie, which is used on the nicest of days. Chuck McMullin graciously sold that club to me for the right price, which is about the only excuse I have for risking its use. However, the best consistency I have gained is through a long-nose play club, which was made for me by Barry Kerr, after a play club which was originally made by McEwan. I like the look of a long-nose, especially when used on the teeing ground. Both of my play clubs feature a leather insert in the face, which would have been used to protect the club face from direct collision with the hard gutta percha ball. It is very rare that I am presented with a fairway lie which allows for the use of my play club.
McEwan Long Nose Play Club: Loft 19¡, leather-face
Rut Niblick - I was fortunate to be given a great rut niblick by Ralph Livingston III, upon my first appearance in the National Hickory Championship. This little club was made by Tom Stewart in the middle 1890's, and though most of the Stewart markings have worn away, the pipe still shows, and I come to like the small shape of the head. One of the fun things about the tournament is experiencing how even the smallest headed club can still hit a golf ball the right way. Even though the head on my rut niblick is about the size of a large lime, I can recall very few instances wherein I have shanked the ball. The fact that I am losing my memory and I am otherwise scared out of my wits with each swing may more to do with that perception than truth.
Stewart: Loft 57¡, smooth-face
Lofter - My lofter is a basic little club, which has plenty of loft. I don't know why the club works for me, but it does. I have several playable lofters, but they don't all work consistently for me. The method of selecting clubs by feel is typical of Guttie Golf. Back in the day, most guttie clubs were held, waggled and played with before purchase, as no formal specifications were available. The Anderson lofter has been nicely restored for play, and is the primary means by which I navigate Oakhurst Links. It has an uncanny knack for hitting the ball straight, and extracting me from difficult lies, and one encounters more than a few of those at Oakhurst. If I were required to carry no more than four clubs, they would be those listed as putter, play club, rut niblick and lofter, depending on the weather.
D & W Anderson: Loft 45¡, smooth-face
T. Morris (Stewart) Loft 39¡, smooth-face
Unknown maker Loft 38¡, smooth-face
Iron - This club has plenty of loft from a Modern Hickory standpoint, but is too steep for many Oakhurst lies. While other players may rely heavily on their iron, it is not my strength to dig golf balls out of difficult lies, especially with a low lofted club. Therefore, I like to have this club available if I need something off the tee that is less than my play club, or if I am graced with a superior lie. This club can provide an exceptional means of hitting chip shots around the green with lots of top spin. My primary iron is very long in shape, and is a true guttie club. Players who have irons with short heads are not enjoying the true guttie experience, regardless of whether the club is permitted for play. My Carrick has a reproduction shaft, and is mule strong. I like it less, simply because its shaft is not authentic.
Unknown maker: Loft 33¡, smooth-face, D-2
F & A Carrick Loft 31¡, smooth-face
Bag: None, I carry a Truett-style stick stand
Glove: Next question, please
Tee: Metal sand tee mold, expertly made by Arlie Morris
Clothier: www.premierclothing.com Check it out. Please don't wear plus-four's at Oakhurst. That's like bringing a Volkswagen to a Porsche rally. We should all do our part to reflect the Guttie Golf era properly. If you look like Bob Jones when you play off a sand tee, you are not doing it right.