Hickory golf and marketing

[Ken Moum]

Ken,
I don't think you mean 1935.
The periods we are most concerned with are in the decade following WWI and then again in the early part of the 1920s, following the first ball rules.
The magazines of the era will typically have hole descriptions that include a recommendation for the club. I recommend going out and trying to recreate the shots so that you can see for yourself. I have found an iron shot into a 3 par to be the best test for a comparison.

It is unfortunate the books on balls don't deal with this subject, but there purpose is more about 'valuation'.

You're right, I meant 1931, when the 1.68" ball was created.

Since I don't have any of the magazines you mention, where would you suggest looking for a good reference?

K

[Pete Lavallee]

John,

My wife and I wee playing Rancho Bernardo Inn GC last year and ran into Chris McIntyre, who is the head of Play Hickory Golf. They specialize in running events in which they will outfit the entire field with hickory clubs and more importantly period balls. He was then in the process of perfecting both rubber and gutta percha balls. Hit cut in front of us and with our permission drove of 3 different types of balls with a circa 1890's driver. All three drew beautifully and landed in a tight grouping about 185 off the tee. Here is a link to his website:

http://www.playhickory.com/

I must admit he did look dapper in his plus fours, shirt with tie and Hogan cap.

[RSLivingston_III]

Ken,
I don't think you mean 1935.
The periods we are most concerned with are in the decade following WWI and then again in the early part of the 1920s, following the first ball rules.
The magazines of the era will typically have hole descriptions that include a recommendation for the club. I recommend going out and trying to recreate the shots so that you can see for yourself. I have found an iron shot into a 3 par to be the best test for a comparison.

It is unfortunate the books on balls don't deal with this subject, but there purpose is more about 'valuation'.

You're right, I meant 1931, when the 1.68" ball was created.

Since I don't have any of the magazines you mention, where would you suggest looking for a good reference?

K

Try the periodicals section here;
http://www.usgamuseum.com/researchers/usga_segl/
Rummage through their collections of The Golfer, American Golfer, Golf Illustrated, USGA Bulletins.

[John Mayhugh]

John,

My wife and I wee playing Rancho Bernardo Inn GC last year and ran into Chris McIntyre, who is the head of Play Hickory Golf. They specialize in running events in which they will outfit the entire field with hickory clubs and more importantly period balls. He was then in the process of perfecting both rubber and gutta percha balls. Hit cut in front of us and with our permission drove of 3 different types of balls with a circa 1890's driver. All three drew beautifully and landed in a tight grouping about 185 off the tee. Here is a link to his website:

http://www.playhickory.com/

I must admit he did look dapper in his plus fours, shirt with tie and Hogan cap.

I played with the 1920s style ball shown on his site.  The balls are pricey, but mishits did not seem to go nearly as far offline - they just didn't go anywhere.  I almost managed to lose one ball at Kingsley, but found it on my next round of the day.

Have you tried hickories?

[Joe_Tucholski]

I occasionally see the Bobby Jones Calloway Hickory Sticks for sale and was wondering if anyone knew how these clubs would play when compared to vintage or era clubs from the 30's and earlier.  The woods are persimmons and the irons are somewhat modern (70's/80's) cavity backs all with hickory shafts.  It looks like these clubs would not be permitted in hickory golfers assoc. tournaments so I'm guessing that means they will play more like modern clubs.

[Ken Moum]

I occasionally see the Bobby Jones Calloway Hickory Sticks for sale and was wondering if anyone knew how these clubs would play when compared to vintage or era clubs from the 30's and earlier.  The woods are persimmons and the irons are somewhat modern (70's/80's) cavity backs all with hickory shafts.  It looks like these clubs would not be permitted in hickory golfers assoc. tournaments so I'm guessing that means they will play more like modern clubs.

Those are actually steel-shafted clubs.  That's why they are allowed in hickory competitions.

The hickory shafts were bored and the steel shaft was inserted in the hole.  I seem to recall a story about Dick Helmstetter in which he said he got hired because of his experience as a billiard cue designer--something about application of technology to the golf biz.

But the hickory stick company was actually formed by Richard Parente and Dick De La Cruz, who sold it to Ely Callaway.

K

[Mike Policano]

Ralph, congratulations on the award you received from the Society of Hickory Golfers. It was well deserved.

[RSLivingston_III]

I occasionally see the Bobby Jones Calloway Hickory Sticks for sale and was wondering if anyone knew how these clubs would play when compared to vintage or era clubs from the 30's and earlier.  The woods are persimmons and the irons are somewhat modern (70's/80's) cavity backs all with hickory shafts.  It looks like these clubs would not be permitted in hickory golfers assoc. tournaments so I'm guessing that means they will play more like modern clubs.

Those are actually steel-shafted clubs.  That's why they are allowed in hickory competitions.

The hickory shafts were bored and the steel shaft was inserted in the hole.  I seem to recall a story about Dick Helmstetter in which he said he got hired because of his experience as a billiard cue designer--something about application of technology to the golf biz.

But the hickory stick company was actually formed by Richard Parente and Dick De La Cruz, who sold it to Ely Callaway.

K

Ken I assume that was a typo.
The old Callaways are NOT allowed in any 'hickory'events that I know of.
Over the years people have tried to sneak them into wood shaft tournaments.
FYI; Over the years I have tried to convince some of the people interested in the early steel shafts to start there own events.
no success, yet.

[Mike McGuire]

John,

My wife and I wee playing Rancho Bernardo Inn GC last year and ran into Chris McIntyre, who is the head of Play Hickory Golf. They specialize in running events in which they will outfit the entire field with hickory clubs and more importantly period balls. He was then in the process of perfecting both rubber and gutta percha balls. Hit cut in front of us and with our permission drove of 3 different types of balls with a circa 1890's driver. All three drew beautifully and landed in a tight grouping about 185 off the tee. Here is a link to his website:

http://www.playhickory.com/

I must admit he did look dapper in his plus fours, shirt with tie and Hogan cap.

Our club rented a bunch of hickory sets from Chris McIntyre several years ago for a hickory event on our 75th anniversary.  It was a huge hit and I recommend Chris's company.