By Ross Hays
The U.S. Hickory Open Championship Committee and the Society of Hickory Golfers are proud to introduce the USHO Patrons Fund.
It is our belief that, as our sport has developed and grown, it is important to showcase our most important event, the U.S. Hickory Open Championship. This tournament should stand alone, atop all others, in terms of each participant’s golfing experience, and in the perception of the golfing public, hickory or modern, that this event is our standard – the singular event designed to identify the country’s champion hickory golfer of the year.
Tournament entry fees and raffles alone cannot provide the funds necessary to take our Championship to the next level. Media, advertising, signage, function enhancement, venue availability, and tournament general expenses, are all areas that should benefit from additional funding through the Patrons Fund. The growth of our hickory game also will benefit from the spotlight shining on the Society’s premier event.
Two passionate Society members have agreed to seed the Patrons Fund by matching the first $10,000 of contributions from Society members. If you, too, are passionate about growing our game, and enhancing our premier event, we hope you will consider making a donation to the fund.
Any amount is appreciated; however, contributions of $100 or more will receive a Steurer & Jacoby leather bag tag. Contributions over $300 will receive a long sleeve shirt with the USHO logo.
And a donation of $1250 will receive a Lifetime Membership to the SoHG.
For our international Members who would like to receive the bi-annual Wee Nip Journal, a donation of $1600 will receive a Lifetime Membership to the SoHG.
You may make your contribution/donation payable by check to the Society of Hickory Golfers, earmarked Patrons Fund; or click the Patrons Fund PayPal button below
Checks should be mailed to Michael Sloan, 10515 Saddlehorn Trail, Houston, Texas, 77064. Michael is the treasurer of the SoHG.
Our goal is to build a sustainable fund that will be available for all future USHO Championships. Funds will be used only to enhance the USHO tournaments, and no event should use more than half the funds collected each year, in an effort to sustain funding for future events.
Thank you for considering this method of helping us to grow our game. We hope to see you soon at the USHO Championship, or one of our other Society events.
Ross Hays, of Tampa, Fla., has been a member of the Society of Hickory Golfers since 2010 and is serving on the 2018 USHO Committee. He is a member of the Belvedere Golf Club and a regular at many hickory golf events throughout the year.