(New images added. Frank Coffman has published several additional images of the event at the following link: http://www.221b.org/AAHO12.)
Randy Jensen has added another title to his collection, that of 2012 All American Hickory Open champion. With his customary steady play and crisp shots, Jensen posted a two-day 160 that only bested Tampa’s Mike Stevens by one shot. The two are often neck and neck at hickory golf events with one or the other gentleman coming away with the trophy. J.W. McMath took the Open Reserve medal followed by Dave Ellis. Mike Henderson was the Senior Division champ at 168, followed by Bert Coghill at 171. The Senior Reserve winner was the ever affable Joe Guerrard, runner up was Louisville Golf’s Mike Just. Of four Team Division entries, the Downers Grove team of Marius Kucinas, Ramesh Gupta, Uli Lohrmann, and Kevin Murray took first, followed by the Hinsdale Golf Club and a team from the Hickory Golf Association.
The days were beautiful at Downers Grove, the original site of the Chicago Golf Club. Sunny skies and light breezes on moderately warm days. The rolling hills of the course near Wheaton, Ill., the lovely shady trees, the creeks and ponds proved a good test for gutty play, set up to play at 4,907 for the Open division and 4,835 yards for the Seniors. The creek cutting across the second hole captured more than one ball, but as the McIntyre gutta ball floats, most were retrievable, one player removing shoes and socks to wade in and reach out with a long iron to urge his wayward shot to shore. As no ladies were immediately present, this display generated no censure from the Committee.
Tournament Director Connor Lewis did his best to dot all the I’s and cap the T’s, but his best efforts were somewhat diminished by a Saturday morning start that competed with Downer Grove’s regularly scheduled public golf leagues, some of which have been organized for 80 years. This slowed play on the front though the back moved to swift completion. Other minor glitches failed to inflict mortal wounds on the generous spirits of most competitors and players who enjoyed a wonderful course and the great camaraderie that is associated with such hickory golf outings.
A Friday night gathering at the Fairways, Greens & Clubs exhibit of the Center for History museum in Wheaton provided a pleasant evening for all, punctuated by Curator Alberta Adamson’s informative presentation on the origins of golf in the Chicago area. Exhibits on display include several devoted to the Foulis clan, the area’s golf clubs and their founders. For the gutta player, this was food for the soul.
(The image gallery on this page is of the Friday evening event at the history museum in Wheaton.)
Lewis, in a post-tournament poll, asked players for the best and the worst of the event and was rewarded with honest assessments. Many of the issues voiced have already been addressed by Lewis or will be done by the time the 2013 version comes around. Such is his passion for gutta golf that it is hard not to expect the All American to become a first-class event in every respect.
By all accounts, congratulations are due to Lewis for his efforts in mounting a worthy addition to the “Gutty Slam,” one that pre-1900 players are sure to enjoy for years to come.