The 2012 Championship Series
The 2012 Championship Series is expanding to include six of the most exciting and challenging hickory golf events available. Sponsored by Mountain Valley Spring Water, which is proud to associate its premium water with a “premium golf experience,” the six events comprise the most anticipated hickory series of 2012. The 2011 CS came down to wire with the title in contention until the final event in Mid Pines, N.C. Information on the six events is currently being finalized. Check back often for registration and other updates.
The Southern Hickory 4-Ball Championship
The first stop in the Championship Series, Tad Moore’s Southern 4-Ball Championship hosted a full field to start off the series. The event has been a popular hickory golf fixture in the "Deep South" with beautiful mansions and lovely countryside. The event was played at the historic Highland Park Golf Course in Birmingham, Ala. Built in 1903, the course – par 70 at 5,800 yards – has hosted many important events and was the site of a Bobby Jones victory when he was 14 years old. The stately Tutwiler Hotel in downtown Birmingham served as the official accommodation. For a wrap-up of the 2012 event, check the Tournament Results pages of this website.
Information and registration for the 2012 event will appear here later this year.
Contacts: Email Tad Moore or Keith Cleveland.
The Southern 4-Ball Hickory Championship is sponsored by Belfor Property Restoration.
The Belvedere Hickory Open
The Belvedere Hickory Open is a new addition to the Championship Series for 2012. This is a wonderful hickory event in the lovely lake setting of Charlevoix in northern Michigan. The course was designed in 1925 and was home to a young Tom Watson whose father was a member. Fee includes a Thursday, June 21 practice round, two tournament rounds, daily range balls, tournament favors, lunch at the turn on both Friday and Saturday afternoons, and complimentary celebratory cocktails after each tournament round. There will also be a “Welcome Party” on Thursday evening and a heavy hors d’oeuvres party with entertainment at the Belvedere Clubhouse on Friday evening. On Saturday evening the Belvedere Club will host a coat and tie dinner at the Belvedere “Casino.” This is a resort setting that is friendly, warm and accommodating in one of Michigan's most beautiful areas.
Click here to download the invitation letter and registration form.
For a wrap-up of the 2011 event, check the Tournament Results pages of this website.
Contact: Dennis "Marty" Joy at golfdenny@yahoo.com
231-675-2241
Heart of America Hickory Championship
The 35th Heart of America tournament for 2012 is the third leg of the SoHG Championhip Series sponsored by Mountain Valley Spring Water. The site this year is Otter Creek Golf Course of Ankeny, Iowa. Friday, July 13, is set aside for an optional practice round followed by a welcoming reception planned for that evening. The HoA, a parternship between the Hickory Golf Association, the SoHG and the Golf Collectors Society, is expanding to 36 holes of championship golf to be played over Saturday and Sunday, July 14-15. As in the past there will be categories of play for everyone: Men’s Open and Reserve, Senior Men’s Open and Reserve, Men’s Scramble, and Ladies Open and Scramble Divisions (depending on whether enough players warrant those divisions). There will be informal trunk trading in conjunction with Friday’s welcome reception and a Trade Show with Scottish culinary delights and a cash bar on Saturday evening. Sunday's final round is scheduled for a 9 a.m. shotgun start with an awards luncheon to immediately follow. This will aid the travel plans of many in attendance from other zip codes.
The Otter Creek GC is 15 miles north of downtown Des Moines on Int. 35 just north of the East-West Int. 80 and Int. 35 interchange. Download the link below for hotel and travel information. The trade show cost per table is $25.
Bill Reed - Tournament Director
Cell – 1-515-490-5159
Email – wreedassociates@aol.com
To download the tournament registration form, travel and event information, click on the following link:
heart registration.pdf
The U.S. Hickory Open
This is a major hickory event of the United States and is part of the Championship Series sponsored by Mountain Valley Spring Water. It is sanctioned by the Society of Hickory Golfers and will be contested on the Donald Ross Course (site of the 1926 PGA Championship) at the French Lick Resort in French Lick, Ind. Entry fee will be determined. Practice round on July 23 with welcome reception on Monday evening. Medal play on July 24 followed by dinner. Medal play on July 25 followed by awards luncheon. French Lick is an older resort community with a stately resort hotel. This Ross Course is a marvelous test of golf over rolling fairways. Reduced rates available at the West Baden Springs Hotel.
Click here for more information and a downloadable registration form.
For a wrap-up of the 2011 event, check the Tournament Results pages of this website.
Contacts: Hamp Munsey; or Dave Ellis.
Mountain Valley Hickory Open
The 7th annual Mountain Valley Hickory Open returns to Hardscrabble Country Club in Western Arkansas. The course, designed by Perry Maxwell in 1926 (Maxwell also designed the championship layouts of Southern Hills and Prairie Dunes) has served as the site of numerous Nationwide Tour events in recent years as well as women's professional events in the 1950's and earlier.
The format is two days of Open and Senior stroke play with net, gross, and low amateur trophies awarded. The event is one of six selected tourneys comprising the 2012 SoHG Championship Series.
There will be an optional practice round on Friday followed by dinner, drinks and a hickory club swap meet. The tournament starts with early tee times on Saturday followed by food and drinks in the evening at a location to be selected by area hosts Rob Goodfellow and Neal Cowne. There will be a shotgun start on Sunday to accommodate the travel plans of out-of-towners.
Mountain Valley Spring Water donates $100 for every participant to the First Tee of Arkansas.
For additional tournament information and registration, click here.
Contact: Breck Speed at bspeed@aol.com
www.hickorygolfers.com
Mid Pines Hickory Open
The final event in the Series, the Mid Pines Hickory Open in Southern Pines, N.C. provides a lovely setting to close the season. This is one of Donald Ross’ finest courses, perfect for hickory play. Neighboring course at Pine Needles hosts the foursomes competition on Friday of the event. Trade show on Saturday at Mid Pines. The golfing center of Pinehurst is nearby as is the Tufts Archives, a repository of Donald Ross history.
For a wrap-up of the 2011 event, check the Tournament Results pages of this website.
Registration and other information will be posted here, when available.
Contacts: Email Graham Gilmore or call him at 910-692-9362; or email Bob Esworthy.