Andrew Reynolds the head pro at Deal is the best hickory player in the UK.. Ran played there with me 3 years ago with his hickories and fell in love and got crushed by the course- That said, if he tells the tale, he shot 65 and George Duncan's ghost came out and gave him the Open Championship trophy.

The author wrote this which bothered me:
Now, though, the club is looking to the future while revelling in its past. Changes are bringing it up to modern standards and it is not beyond the realms of possibility that the Open might return there one day. The Great Triumvirate would certainly approve.


Deal was already up to modern standards when I first played it in 2000 and that is one of the main reasons I became a member.. Was it up to hosting an Open Championship, that is a fair question.  I think it easiy can with the modifications done by Martin Ebert, but I'm hoping for the ryder cup instead.

There will be eventually, a limited engagement- Tucofest after my alterego at Deal.  Hickories may be available for that day.

Great article Ed thanks.

Playing with hickories on a firm running links is an experience no keen golfer should miss.

There may stillbe those on here who don’t know that our own Alfie Ward offers this same service in Scotland.  It’s an experience no keen golfer should miss.  IN addition Alfie makes his own balls and you can experience the low flight, bound and roll.


You can contact Alfie on     alfie@fernie55.freeserve.co.uk

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/interviewward.html

tony, i'm well aware that you directed me to alfie earlier this year and i haven't updated you... i still mean to contact him for our visit to east lothian in june '08...

Ed,

Thanks for posting the link to the article. I just started playing with hickories on a fast and firm course. It is a blast. My friends and I are also surprise how far the ball will go on the ground.

So after hunting down lefty hickory clubs, thank you Tad Moore, I am now on a mission to find old balatas to play.

Cheers

So after hunting down lefty hickory clubs, thank you Tad Moore, I am now on a mission to find old balatas to play.

Mike - I am also a lefty and didn't realize that hickories were available for the sinister player! I'm going to Tad Moore's website post haste! Thanks!

Quote from: Mike Policano on November 19, 2007, 04:40:00 PM

So after hunting down lefty hickory clubs, thank you Tad Moore, I am now on a mission to find old balatas to play.

Mike - I am also a lefty and didn't realize that hickories were available for the sinister player! I'm going to Tad Moore's website post haste! Thanks!

Mike
As per Tony's response Alfie does have a lefty hickory set which I can thoroughly recommend!



Alfie did tell me that he thought the lefty set was a better balanced set than his other sets.  Give it a try if you are ever in the East Lothian area - its great fun!

Good article Ed. Of course I am biased !

And my apologies for apparently hi-jacking your thread, courtesy of a few friends !

Lefties ? Yes I did say that I thought that my lefty set were much better balanced, Andrew. Not that I would REALLY know, mind you ! It continues to amaze me how competent some people are at playing golf the wrong way round. "Erse fur elby", as we would say in Scotland.
......

Craig,

The cane stand in Andrew's pic are not available commercially, as you ask. But they are available if you happen to take ten minutes to make one. I pinched the idea off my mate Chris (Hickory) Homer who uses them with 'his' sets of hickories.
What you need is two pieces of bog standard cane,
a small piece of string,
and a split pin.
Add a wee bit of gumption to put it together - and away you go. (Patent pending)

Tip : don't try to use it to support your bag of modern scrap metal. If you do require one for such a purpose, then just substitute the cane for two 6" H-beams and a bolt.  

...........

Tony,

How much do I owe you now ? For those who are unaware - Tony can supply you with any kind of pot plant you can imagine ; garden furniture of the very highest quality and durability ; trees 1' - 100feet high ; fertilisers to suit every putting lawn ; gnomes, fish for ponds and much more besides.
Delivery free within 3000 mile radius.

thanks mate - we're quits !


Alfie.

If you want authentic repro balls for 1910-1930 clubs check:
http://www.hickorygolf.com/pages/ForSale.html
Chris has done a wonderful job with these.