核桃木杆世界杯
World Hickory Open Returns To Carnoustie Country
This October, the World Hickory Open 2014, an international golf competition celebrating golf’s hickory heritage, will ensure the east of Scotland remains in the global media spotlight after the Ryder Cup.
2014 World Hickory Champion - Sandy Lyle
Paolo Quirici - 2013 Champion
This is the third year Carnoustie Country has hosted the World Hickory Open, with this year’s tournament being played on 7/8 October across the world-famous links course at Panmure, on the outskirts of Carnoustie, Angus. “The World Hickory Open 2013, which was at Montrose, was an outstanding success,” said Lionel Freedman, co-founder and Director of the World Hickory Open, who explained that competitors in this tournament use hickory golf clubs almost identical to those favoured by golfers a century or more ago.
“The Carnoustie Country courses have a fabulous golfing history which complements hickory golf perfectly,” continued Lionel. “The golfers who travel from across the globe to compete in the World Hickory Open really appreciate being able to play golf as the game was played in days gone by on such historic courses.”
Cllr Mairi Evans, Angus Council’s golf spokesperson said: “It’s apt that we are welcoming so many of the world’s top hickory golfers back to Carnoustie Country – a destination steeped in golfing heritage and history. After all, we have been home to the Open seven times since 1931 and can also boast the fifth oldest golf course in the world, Montrose Medal, which has celebrated its 450th anniversary.”
Lionel Freedman explained that, following the highly-favourable response to the informal tournament held immediately after the 2013 World Hickory Open between a team of American hickory golfers and a team of international hickory golfers, it had been decided to make this tournament a regular part of the hickory golf calendar. “As a result, we’ll be holding the first World Hickory Grand Match, the International Hickory Cup, at Monifieth Medal on 9/10 October,” continued Lionel. “The International Hickory Cup will follow a Ryder-Cup-style format, with two teams – Team USA and Team Rest Of The World – competing for a trophy donated by the Society of Hickory Golfers.”
2014 Poster - Click image to enlarge
Scotland’s David Kirkwood is the captain of Team Rest Of The World. “The Grand Match will be a wonderful international occasion – but with a very competitive element,” said David. “Ideally, Team Rest Of The World will come out on top – just!”
David Brown, caption of Team USA, revealed that he’s travelling to Carnoustie Country in May for a few practice rounds of hickory golf at Panmure and Monifieth. “I’m sure Captain David Kirkwood will assemble as fine a group of players and gentlemen as we hope to bring,” said David Brown. “The competition in both the International Hickory Cup and the World Hickory Open will be fantastic – and the camaraderie will be even better, as that’s the hidden secret of hickory golf!”
The World Hickory Open 2014 is for amateur and professional golfers and, although experience of hickory golf is helpful, it’s not compulsory. Entries cost £240 per golfer, which includes the warm-up competition at Forfar Golf Club, two rounds on Panmure Medal, hire of hickory-shafted clubs and the gala prizegiving dinner, with an additional cost of £120 for the two-day International Hickory Cup at Monifieth Medal.
To find out more about the Carnoustie Country 30 golf courses within a 40-minute drive of Carnoustie Championship, including ‘stay and play’ packages, visit www.carnoustiecountry.com, ‘like’ the Carnoustie Country Facebook page or follow Carnoustie Country on Twitter.
The Rules of the World Hickory Open Golf Championship
• ANTIQUE HICKORY SHAFTED CLUBS:
This category is for equipment whose club heads were made prior to 1935
• MODERN AUTHENTIC HICKORY SHAFTED CLUBS:
This category is for equipment made to replicate, as nearly as possible, clubs that were made prior to 1935
• RETRO FITTED CLUBS:
This category is for clubs that were made in 1935 or before and at the time of their release were available with both wood and steel shafts. We do allow these pre-1935 wooden club heads to be fitted with period or new hickory shafts ONLY if they were offered with the two differing shaft materials.
2013 World Hickory Open Championship - Final Scores
