All golf outings have a character of their own, from the thrill and nerves of a Major championship, to the friendly fun of a club social. If they stand the test of time, that character evolves. The first Open Championships were a few rough men in heavy clothes with elegant long nose clubs and feather balls. Today’s Open is a finely tuned affair with grandstands surrounding several holes, clubs of high-tech wizardry and players for whom 350+ drives are now commonplace. The U.S. Open, too, has come a long way since those early days on Long Island with C.B. Macdonald and John Shippen among those pioneering American players.
The U.S. Hickory is a relative newbie and still considered the offspring of a niche sport. It began a mere 13 years ago, on the Mimosa Hills GC in Morganton, N.C. About 60 or so players came on for the contest. It was by all accounts a low key and enjoyable program of golf, club trading, dinner, and awards. Today’s USHOs are now full-field contests with players from throughout the world. An Aussie won the title in 2011 at French Lick, Ind. Club professionals have been victorious the past several years and a new low amateur award was created in honor of John Fischer II, the last man to win a USGA major, the 1936 U.S. Amateur, with hickory golf clubs.
The 2019 U.S. Hickory Open at the Belvedere Golf Club in Charlevoix, Mich., has added a new and memorable wrinkle with a promotional video about the tournament hosted by Belvedere member Mike Tirico. Tirico, of course, is known as the highly knowledgeable, articulate, and congenial broadcasting host for NBC. His work spans golf, football, the Olympics and more. As a favor to his fellow Belvedere members, Tirico appeared in a couple of videos to promote the 2019 U.S. Hickory Open. It is a treat to see this consummate broadcasting professional talking about his favorite golf club, hickory golf, and the Society of Hickory Golfers.
And it something to see how far we have come as a Society. Many thanks to Mike and the Belvedere Club members for providing this very special welcome.
Click here to see the video, and don’t forget to register for the 2019 U.S. Hickory Open.