Philly Cricket to host 2013 National Hickory Championship

[Powell Arms]

Mark your calendars for June 6-8, 2013 , the week before the US Open at Merion.  The National Hickory Championship will be contested at the Philadelphia Cricket Club's St Martins course, which hosted the 1907 & 1910 US Opens. (and the course on which George C Thomas won the club championship in 1914 and 1916)

In early October, the renovation of St Martins was competed based on a master plan by Keith Foster.  The work was largely accomplished in house. Photos and more information is here:


http://philacricketgm.blogspot.com/2012/10/st-martins-complete.html

And within days of the conclusion of the National Hickory Championship at Cricket and US Open at Merion, construction will start on the Keith Foster renovation of the Wissahickon Course, designed and built by club member A.W. Tillinghast.

Exciting times in the next 18 months!

[Joe Bausch]

Excellent stuff Powell.

[MWagner]

This is shocking.  This executive nine that is surrounded by amazing homes in the historic  Chestnut Hill district was a course you would pass on for a quick 9 after work or at lunch.  These pictures post Mr. Fosters work is amazing. This course is known as the super senior and children's course of the 3 courses Philly Cricket has in their stable.  I am super excited to check it out.  Thank you kindly for this post...Keith is a Gentleman and knows his business.  The closing hole must have been amazing coming back to the gorgeous clubhouse 100 years ago and now we can relieve that walk up 9  with this revitalized historic course. It still bothers me that 9 holes are gone for good.

[Mike Policano]

The National Hickory Championship started in 1998 at Oakhurst. The tournament requires the use of pre-1900 original or reproduction equipment.  Only reproduction gutta-percha golf balls, original or reproduction long nose woods and smooth faced irons are allowed as I understand it.

None of those modern scored and punched irons or Haskell golf balls from the 1910's are allowed.

Later in July, the US Hickory Open will be held up the Black Horse Pike at Seaview outside Atlantic City on the Bay Course.