Greetings everyone,

Unbelievably, it is our 14th year, we look forward to another nice get together. Karen and I are grateful to everyone who has taken the time to attend any of the previous 13 Foxburgs, we look forward to seeing many of you this year.

The entry fee for 2022 is $260 ($210 for long distance Foxburg Country Club members, $160 for local members).  The entry DOES NOT include the cost of golf balls. You will find more on golf balls for 2022 below.

Click here for an entry form.

It will be a great year for pre-1900 golf at Foxburg Country Club.  If you have not heard, the 2022 National Hickory Championship will be held at Foxburg June 2 – 4. More on this topic below.

Other than the golf ball changes noted below, we expect the routine for the 2022 to be very similar to the past years. I have placed the itinerary from 2021 below to help understand the events and timing.

We have secured the Quality Inn in Clarion as the ‘tournament hotel’ again this year. The number for the Quality Inn in Clarion is 855-516-1093, mention the Foxburg Hickory Tournament to receive the $75 a night rate. There are many options in the Clarion and local Foxburg area, including the Foxburg Inn, local B & B, and VRBO options in the area as a few have found out.

Golf club sales are encouraged, generally there is room on the porch if you have a few clubs you would like to sell or barter, playable clubs have always done well.

Saturday, we anticipate hosting several First Tee members.  We are proud of our association with the First Tee of Pittsburgh.  Young golf enthusiasts experiencing history, playing with proper equipment on America’s oldest course, with adults of all people.

NHC

Back to the National Hickory Championship. I am very excited to see the NHC held at Foxburg. Foxburg Country Club is a legitimate pre-1900 venue and will result in a worthy Champion.  The NHC will also bring national attention to Foxburg, with additional revenue to help in their restoration.

GOLF BALLS

Golf balls can be ordered at the time you submit your entry. I will have an update of the cost in the next email. When ordering Parks, please note if you prefer line-cut, brambles, or a mixture.  The Open Divisions are expected to play with the Park model.

In commemoration of the NHC coming to Foxburg, I am making the following allowance affecting the Reserve Divisions of this year’s Foxburg Hickory Championship.

All players, with the exception of the Open Divisions, will be permitted to use any golf ball previously used in the NHC. This includes the Oakhurst line-cut ball, the Bromford mesh models we used the early couple of years at Oakhurst, or the Braid ball currently used. We’ll wait on the count before we determine separate Divisions. So, get your old line-cuts out and give them a whirl. This is a one-year trial only, you can likely retire them Aug. 14.

Anticipated schedule of events:

Thursday Aug. 11
Registration opens at 10 a.m.
Practice rounds until 4 p.m. or so
Dinner on your own but there will be groups meeting somewhere, many of us will go to the Red River Roadhouse next to the Quality Inn.

Friday, Aug. 12
9 a.m. – Registration opens, group photo at 9:30 a.m.
9:30 a.m. – Group Photo,  Practice area confined to the practice green and the 7th fairway.
10 a.m. – Shotgun start for all contestants.
Noon – Break after 9 holes for lunch and libations
2:30 p.m. – golf is completed for the day, course is open for additional play.
Dinner on your own, there are plenty of options in Clarion and generally one big group at one location. The local Allegheny Grille along the river in Foxburg is always a winner.

Saturday, Aug. 13
9:30 a.m. – Shot gun start for all contestants. Play straight through 18 holes
1:30 p.m. – Rounds near completion, scores tabulated
1:30 p.m. – Meal is ready, contestants and guests enjoy
2:30 p.m. – Awards
3 p.m. – Hugs and safe travels

Additional relevant information

Foxburg Country Club is in the hills of Western Pennsylvania, roughly an hour north of Pittsburgh.Foxburg Country Club was established in 1887 and is considered the oldest golf course in United States.

There are multiple competitions within the Foxburg Hickory Championship. The Championship’s pre-1900 categories include Open, Senior (55-65) Masters (66-75), HOF (76+), Open and Senior (65+) for the post-1900 division.

The featured event is the pre-1900 Open division; the FHC is one of the few pre-1900 competitions, along with the National Hickory Championship, the Wisconsin Gutty Challenge, and the Northwest group has some gutty activity, I promise to have more information on the next email this spring.

Entry fee includes golf both days and contestant meals at the course.Gutty balls engineered for period play balls will be available at the event’s cost. Meals at the course include Friday brunch on the first day, and a very nice buffet luncheon Saturday afternoon, immediately after play has completed.

The course plays at 4,500 yards for the pre-1900 Championship. Even with the ‘modern’ hickories, the small greens and tricky layout will test your patience and skill level. The course has proven to be a fair test and tremendous fun. As with all hickory events, contestants are encouraged to dress in period.

There is a nominal additional cost to include your spouse/guest for either Friday’s lunch or the award buffet. We also have a nice meal the evening of the first day at a local restaurant (not included in the entry fee) you are sure to enjoy.

Activities for non-playing spouses and guests include a large outlet mall nearby, and the quaint Foxburg Wine Cellars at the bottom of the hill. The more adventurous may enjoy the canoe livery or the local Segway and bike rental shop.

Additional championship information can be obtained from Tom Johnson (Tournament Director) at Foxburghickory@aol.com or 330-677-8997.