Kelly, Tony et al,
"In a nutshell what do you define as the "concept"?"
My definition of the hickory concept relates to what we actually provided for our customers at Arbory. Lot's of people around the globe play with hickories in some way or fashion and that's great IMO. Whether they use gutta balls or Titliest doesn't really matter, if it works for them, fine ?
The things you mention were the basic concept for the business (trying to sell an experience of playing 19th century golf "as it was" and with many of it's trappings) ! The clubs (replica hickory shafts) ; the balls (repro gutta's & gutties) ; and the natural lie of the land (the turf) ! Even the clothing was a factor for some who really entered into the spirit of the occasion. Some golfers actually turned up at Arbory resplendant in their hired Victorian / Edwardian costume.
Authenticity was paramount to our way of thinking right from the start, but we still had to consider some compromises for the modern golfer in certain areas. Purism can be taken too far, and in our circumstance, was totally impractical (eg, feather balls and long nosed clubs or greens fashioned from the existing turf) ! Of course, being honest Joe's, the few phoney elements were fully explained to everyone ! The first greens at Arbory would have been nothing like the grand sports turf we put down and were, (almost certainly) much smaller than our "new" greens averaging a paltry 90 square yards or thereabouts. Imagine playing to any green that size today ? Modern Joe would go aff his nut and walk off the course in a tantrum
So in some ways we did create our own concept, but firmly designed with authenticity in mind.
We had a "few" critics in regard to us using "replica" clubs. Hardly worth talking about and these critics were alleged hickory enthusiasts ?
The balls were also replica's - but REAL gutta's, just made (authentically) 100 years out of date (like the clubs).
But the course - well it was something else. We had the original layout sketch ; it was only 25 acres in area making our dreams feasible re - the costs ; the ground was undulating and interesting from a golf perspective ; the ground was also completely non-arable and had never seen the sharp edge of a plough, so was virtually untouched in a century ; and most important of all, we had a sypathetic farmer who allowed us to commandeer his ground with a free hand to do as we wished.
Then we had to do some soul searching as to just how authentic we made this course for "business" purposes ? For example, there were grassy knolls all over the course which Harry couldn't come to terms with, so eventually after great debate, I conceded to allow him to get Duncan (the farmer) to try rolling out these lumps on the ground with his heavy roller. Thankfully, it didn't work, and they remained the same hazard they were 100 years past. (phew)
We did create two small ponds which again, I was totally against at the time - but they grew on me as time went by. I remember seeing gorgeous blue luminescant dragon flies hovering over the surface one day and thought - "ah well, they wouldn't have been there if we hadn't dammed up the ditch ?"
Sorry, I'm wandering again.
We didn't encourage modern clubs, but some people did want to use them. Again, how far do you take purism, especially when you desperately need to get some income ? I did welcome golfers who were booked for hickory play, to bring their own clubs with them (or a few including their driver) so that they could immediately compare the differences in respect of distance and difficulty. I was happy with that !
Then there was the aspect of what do we preach in relation to golf history ? Tom Morris, Willie Park, Allan Robertson, The Old Course, Prestwick etc...? No. We had a small gallery of old photo's (copies) in our small pavilion depicting the defunct local courses of yesteryear and that's what I tried to impress on visitors. The importance of golf and it's ordinary people had, for me, a story that needed to be told and emphasised - if the "discerning" ear was willing ?
Better wind up, my supper's getting cold.
Then there was the wild stoat's, the fox who came down from the hill, the wild viola's that littered the course, the wonderful people themselves, the.............
Hope this answers your question, Kelly. Whatever it was ?
Alfie