March 1, 2019
By Jim Davis
While you’re celebrating Cinco de Mayo and the wonderful cultural heritage of our Mexican neighbors, add a hickory golf round to the day. The first Sunday in May has been designated as World Hickory Golf Day.
Conceived by American hickory golfer and chairman of the APNational Golf Club, Durel Billy, the day was first celebrated in May 2016 as National Hickory Golf Day. As hickory golf is too big to be constrained to any one country, everyone who enjoys the sport across the globe is invited to celebrate.
According to Greg Smith, coordinator for WHGD in the U.S. and the SoHG, “The idea is that all hickory golfers wherever possible get out and play, to celebrate and honor the game. Take photos, post them to social media, share your stories of hickory golf. If it’s too cold or snowy where you live, then get together with other hickory golfers and enjoy an indoor gathering to honor the sport in some way.”
In North America, World Hickory Golf Day is promoted by many regional hickory golf groups throughout the U.S. and Canada. Both The Society of Hickory Golfers and The Golf Heritage Society support and encourage the enjoyment of the sport on this day set aside for its celebration.
Smith, who also is the vice president of the SoHG, is working promote the day with regular posts on social media and on such websites as the SoHG and the GHS. He also hopes to make promotional materials available to regional hickory golf groups who would share with their members and friends.
Smith says he hopes to post weekly interviews with hickory players who will share their interest in and enjoyment of the sport.
However you celebrate World Hickory Golf Day, whether by getting out for a round with friends, promote a trade show, showcase hickories in a special day at the local practice range, in an tournament of some kind, or just by gathering with friends to “talk” hickory golf, send your photos to Greg, post them to social media, and let everyone know just how special this sport is. When we all get together to promote this sport, the results can be amazing.
Click on the link to visit the World Hickory Golf Day on Facebook (it’s still called nationalhickorygolfday on Facebook).
Smith’s first hickory golf spotlight, below, is on the originator of the concept Durel Billy.
We begin our interview series with Durel Billy, chairman of the APNational Golf Club in Seattle, Wash.
Playing golf with hickory clubs slipped into Durel’s golf game when, without an introduction to hickories, he thought it might be fun, found some clubs, played with them and has been hooked ever since. After some research he discovered others playing hickories in Washington State. His involvement has grown from there.
The pleasure he derived from playing with wooden golf clubs prompted him to look for a way to give back. Several members of his club got together one day to honor the sport and Durel was inspired to come up with the concept of a national day each year to do so. He interested the SoHG and others in the idea with the result that National Hickory Golf Day was first celebrated in May 2016.
Durel, however, likes to think big. Why just a National Hickory Golf Day, why not a World Hickory Golf Day, and maybe it should be for the entire month of May?
It might happen, Durel. The “World” part certainly took off.
For now, a special day to celebrate the sport is just right. Contact Greg Smith at hickorysmith500@gmail.co for information on how to participate or receive a promotional flyer for the big day.
Just like they do in Wisconsin.