Mike Stevens, left, director of the U.S. Pro Hickory Championship, presents
the John Shippen Cup to 2013 winner Paolo Quirici of Switzerland.
By Bushwood Gopher
Freelance contributor
TEMPLE TERRACE, FL 1/21/13 – I remember watching a playoff football game in the fourth quarter with both teams tied in a tense battle and the clock winding down. John Madden, calling the game for network television commented that at this point it would come down to someone from one team or the other stepping up and making a play. Such was the case at the third annual United States Professional Hickory Golf Championship as Switzerland’s Paolo Quirici contemplated his approach to the 18th green. Clearwater’s Richard Bullock in the house at 75 and Sarasota pro John McCann teeing off tied with both Quirici and Bullock at 2 over par. It was Paolo who stepped up. An excellent approach and putt for birdie wrapped up the John Shippen Cup for the former European Tour player who now spends his days helping the average Joe improve his or her golf game.
While areas north of the Florida border were dealing with freezes and wind chill, 26 golfers teed off in picture perfect weather at the Temple Terrace Country Club with clubs and balls from a long forgotten era of American golf. It was as if Gene Sarazen and Walter Hagen stepped out of the Model T Ford parked at the front door of the stately clubhouse replete with wooden shafted clubs, plus-four trousers and argyle stockings. As Mike Stevens, tournament director, put it, “This is a day to celebrate and remember how the game of golf came to this country and the great champions who made the game popular with the masses.” And celebrate they did, men and women from the United States, Canada, Switzerland and Scotland toting implements that Mark Twain proclaimed unsuitable for the job required. In modern lingo it is referred to as hickory golf and many in the field play it regularly while others were here out of curiosity and the chance to collect a piece of the $5,000 prize fund.
Ninety years ago Scotsman Tom Bendelow laid out 18 holes in what was America’s first planned development of homes and roadways in Temple Terrace, Fla. It has remained intact and as such the U. S. Parks Service has recognized the property by naming it to the National Register of Historic Places. It is the only 18-hole golf course in Florida with such distinction. In 1925 all the top professional golfers in the nation assembled here to compete in the Florida Open. It was one of the last great championships played with hickory shafted golf clubs the only tools of the trade in America from 1895 to 1927. Because of his desire to keep some of that history alive, Mike Stevens, golf teaching professional at MacDill Air Force Base and three-time National Hickory Champion, created the United States Professional Hickory Golf Championship to commemorate a time in golf mostly forgotten today. Judging from the enthusiasm and smiles on the faces of the 26 competitors, this event just might grow into something for future generations to remember how golf in America started.
Links to articles on the tournament:
Heritage Golf Event
Tee Time Capsule (this one includes a video)
Tournament Results
Paolo Quirici, Switzerland 74 $1500
Richard Bullock, Fla. 75 $850
John McCann, Fla. 75 $850
Adam Varney, Fla. 78 $450
Jon Benson, Fla. 78 $450
David Rummells, Fla. 79 $300
Mike Stevens, Fla. 80 $162.5
Mark Harman, S.C. 80 $162.5
Jim Garrison, Fla. 81 $100
Jennifer Cully, Fla. 82 $62.5
Jeff Leonard, Fla. 82 $62.5
Eddie Peckels, Fla. 83 $17
Tom McCrary, Fla. 83 $17
Bill Geisler, Fla. 83 $17
Brian Schuman, N.Y. 84
Ben Plaunt Canada 85
Ron Tickle, Scotland 85
Willie Ducherer, Canada 85
Clay Thomas, Fla. 88
Greg Vogelsang, N.Y. 90
Cathy Reynolds, Pa. 92
Troy Schnelle, Canada 92
Kevin McDowell, Fla. 93
Ewan Glen, Scotland 93
Jim Peters, Ky. 94