(Images in the gallery are courtesy of Jane Reheard.)
By Tom Johnson
The Foxburg Hickory Championship is a 36-hole pre-1900 event using the McIntyre gutty. It is held at the historic Foxburg Country Club in the hills of Western Pennsylvania, roughly an hour north of Pittsburgh. The 2012 event was played Aug. 10-11.
Foxburg, founded in 1887, is now 125 years old and considered the oldest course in continuous use in the United States. The event receives assistance from the Society of Hickory Golfers, Region 2 of the Golf Collectors Society, and the First Tee of Pittsburgh. The event follows the Society of Hickory Golfers tournament guidelines regarding equipment, rules, and handicaps.
The club also houses the American Golf Hall of Fame and Museum, a quaint, but rich in quality museum on the second floor of the club. If you are a collector or early golf enthusiast, you will enjoy seeing the collection they have amassed.
Considering the stressful weather we received this past summer, the course was in terrific condition. Joe “Tex” Texter (35 years as FCC greens superintendent), set up the course for pre-1900 play, and had the greens in terrific condition. An authentic 125-year-old course with cut stone sand tee boxes, with early American golf features, playing over 4,900 yards, Foxburg is a great venue for gutty golf. The course played to a relative par of 73, 36 on the first 9 holes, and 37 on the second 9.
The weather was very mild for the season; we did get a 20-minute shower on Friday, and a slight mist for a few minutes Saturday. Temperatures were in the mid 70’s the first day, and did not reach 70 on Saturday. Fine weather for gutty golf.
For the 2012 event, Captains were selected to recognize their contributions to the Championship over the years, and to give the event an official start.
The Captains selected for this year were Bill “Lang Willie” Engelson, and Mike Gardner.
Lang Willie was one of the first to be approached when the concept of a pre-1900 tournament was considered. His advice, his involvement with the Society of Hickory Golfers, and the framework the Society provided, were key in developing an event that is enjoyed by all participants. Lang Willie and his lovely wife, Donna, have been ardent supporters of the FHC, and rightly deserve the recognition provided with his selection.
Mike Gardner has been general manager of Foxburg Country Club for many years, and was instrumental in establishing the tournament at the FCC. In addition to his assistance, Mike’s selection also honors the members of FCC who open their course for our use during the practice round and the two tournament rounds. Other than Oakhurst, I do not know of any other course that is as accommodating as Foxburg Country Club, and that is due to Mike’s oversight and involvement with the event.
The Main Event:
Official tournament activities began at 10:45 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 10. Group photos, as well as individual photos, were taken by Jane Reheard. (Jane, we hope the recent knee surgery that prevented you from playing this year will not hold you back in 2013.) Immediately after the group photo, the Captains both knocked squarely hit tee shots off the 7th tee to get us started. Heck, there was only 40 or so of us watching, no pressure at all.
First day leaders were Tom Johnson with a round of 78 Dr. Dave “Dog” Ellis with 81. Dr. Bern Bernacki, J.W. McMath, and Brian Schuman were a few shots further back.
As noted earlier, the second day was perfect golf weather, cool, 60’s, and a slight Scottish haar in the air for a few holes. The Open Division was fairly close until the second nine, when a few rubs of the green cost Dog a few shots. Open Champion with a total score of 159 was Tom Johnson; Dog Ellis finished at 169 earning the Senior Open Champion (Dog was Senior Runner-up in 2011, and Senior Champion in 2010). First Runner-up in Open division was Brian Schuman (170), Second Runner-up Mike Heil in a scorecard playoff, last hole 5 (177), and Third Runner-up Tim Flynn last hole 6, (177).
In the Senior Division, First Runner-up was Terry Howarth (172), Second Runner-up FCC member Don “Duck” Smith (175), and Third Runner-up Mike Henderson (181).
Reserve Division Champion was Doug Marshall (148 net). Doug was also the reserve Champion in 2009. First Runner-up was Dr. Bern Bernacki (149). There was a scorecard playoff involving three players for the next two spots. Second Runner-up Jimmy Palk won the third hole in a scorecard playoff (150), Ron Taylor took Third Runner-up, and Bill Engelson fell short. Lang Willie will tell you he had the Reserve Champion medal in his hand, but let it get away on the last nine holes.
We also had three members of the First Tee Program of Pittsburgh join us Saturday to play hickory golf, and gain further lessons in golf history. The participants were Samantha Shumaker, Eddie Zhang, and Zach Flynn. Samantha was the low score of the group (82). We were able to honor her with the Ladies Championship silver plate.
Congratulations to all the above award winners, they are well deserving of the recognition.
Another facet of pre-1900 golf events was the celebratory meal after a day on the links, or snack between rounds, and that is no different at Foxburg. Lunch between nines on Friday consisted of Italian sausage and peppers, and chicken salad wraps. Dinner at the Captain Loomis Inn for 30+ people on Friday evening, and an excellent meal after the golf on Saturday (pecan crusted chicken, roast beef, red skin potatoes, noodles, for dessert pretzel salad (always popular), and brownies. There were many compliments on the Saturday meal, kudos to Ala Carte Catering, the unofficial caterer of the FHC. They have always been there for us, and hopefully for many years to come.
The participants’ wives and guests are also a big part of the activity of the event. Not much shopping at the 100+ store outlet mall this year, but there was plenty of activity in the Foxburg borough. Lunch at the Allegheny Grille overlooking the Allegheny River, several visits to see their friends at the Foxburg Winery, and I would not be surprised if there wasn’t a visit to the local chocolatier. The spouses and guests are certainly a welcome part of the event.
As with the past three years, the Foxburg Hickory Championship was an unqualified success. The weather was wonderful, the course set up as a fair but difficult challenge, the meals were outstanding, the Foxburg staff, as well as the members, were accommodating as usual.
It was great to see everyone from the contestants to the ladies, to the First Tee youngsters and the other guests. Karen and I thank everyone for attending, and look forward to seeing you next year. Here is hoping the few contestants who could not attend due to health issues or business priorities, are able to attend next year, we missed you.
The dates for the 2013 Foxburg Hickory Championship are Aug. 8-9. If you are interested in golf history, and playing a 125-year-old golf course (126 next year) with period equipment, you will want to attend. Not many events are as enjoyable for all involved.
To steal a phrase I heard some time back from a lifelong farmer, “it is the hardest work you will ever love.”