Rick Woeckener is the 2019 U.S. Hickory Open Champion.
June 25 – Charlevoix, Mich.
By Jim Davis
Early last year, when organizers of the 12th annual USHO were planning the tournament, June 13-15 were the original dates of choice. Later, for logistical reasons, Belvedere GC’s Head PGA Professional, Dennis “Marty” Joy, moved the date back a week, to June 20-22. A stroke of genius, that. For the weekend of June 13-15 brought heavy downpours, some lasting many hours, throughout Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Belvedere was awash and the course was closed.
As if things weren’t tough enough, state game officials chose this time to destroy a beaver dam upstream of the creek that runs through the golf course. This scheme produced an inundation that resulted in man-made lakes on certain holes and turned mild creeks into torrents that might have enticed river runners looking for Class 5 rapids thrills.
In short, there was nae gowf that weekend.
As near as 10 days out from the tournament things looked dicey, but with Joy at the helm of a mighty organizing team, the prevailing deities had no choice but to relent and provide players with two days of brilliant blue skies, gentle cool breezes, and mere wisps of white clouds.
The 2019 U.S. Hickory Open, with no shame upon the event’s predecessors, far exceeded expectations to set a standard of enjoyment and socializing that will long be remembered.
Our hosts from the Belvedere Club, established as a summer resort in 1878, had everything in hand, beginning with an introductory video narrated by club member and veteran broadcaster Mike Tirico. Belvedere members include men of accomplishment from the worlds of business, finance, medicine, and advertising. Many of them have taken to hickory golf and were glad to answer Marty’s call for help. From scheduling to sponsor donations, to player gifts, and tours for guest spouses, the weekend was noticeable for its lack of complaint. One player was heard to say that both Friday and Saturday were “too sunny,” but his impertinence was quickly dismissed and he ran off to apply sunscreen.
Social events began with a Wednesday reception to honor the Society of Hickory Golfers’ new Patrons Fund members. Begun by two men of wisdom and foresight, the Patrons Fund is designed to benefit the U.S. Hickory Open, to raise it to a level that will garner the attention of the modern game’s media, to the scribes and broadcasters who report on golf’s events around the globe. Why should the U.S. Hickory Open not be among these? The dozen or so new members of the Patrons Fund enthusiastically invite others to join them in this endeavor.
Thursday evening was the night of the “Welcome to Belvedere” cocktail party at the Chicago Club, another turn-of-the 20th century resort of gracious cottages centered by a magnificent clubhouse with a wide front porch, and spacious lawn that falls away toward lovely Lake Charlevoix. Tables were set on the lawn. Guests enjoyed an open bar, and a buffet of dishes cooked to perfection. Conversations were brisk as long-time friends were re-acquainted and new ones made; such is the nature of the hickory golf community. What a wonderful night to precede the first round of the U.S. Hickory Open.
Here it must be noted that, in an unprecedented move, the Belvedere Golf Club turned its beautiful and historic course over to the USHO for the entire three days of the event, practice round included. The field would go off both the front and back nines by assigned tee times. More than 155 originally applied for a spot with only 120 guaranteed, but what with cancellations for a variety of reasons, the field eventually tallied 118, a record for this event.
The course was yet a bit damp on Friday’s first round and no ball could be said to “run.” The sharp shooters in the field knew exactly what this meant and they took full advantage. By the end of the first day such hickory artists as Fred Muller (Michigan), Peter Flory (Illinois), Taylor Jones (Alabama), Rick Woeckener (Ohio), Jeff Hunt (Illinois) and Jeremy Wright (Kentucky) were in the mix for the 2019 title. Among the Seniors, Bill Ernst (Wisconsin), Bill Geisler (Florida), Hugh Cameron (Corunna, Ont.), and Ross Hays (Florida) were checking the leaderboard with a hopeful eye. Super Seniors Michael Shiff (Florida) , James Hollon (Indiana), John Cova (Michigan) and Belvedere’s James “Doc” Gels all posted competitive scores.
For the ladies, the field was comprised of Kate Tomkinson (Michigan), Donna Kuhn (Michigan), Sue Hays (Florida), Kris Ellington (Michigan), Sue Cova (Michigan), Sally Shiff (Florida), and Mary Jean Esselman (Michigan). These fair contestants all represented the country’s two peninsula states, one surrounded by fresh, the other salt water.
Friday evening’s USHO party was hosted at the Castle Farms, originally built in 1918 as a model dairy farm its buildings were modeled after Normandy’s stone barns band castles. The facility is now a premier destination for Midwest couples looking for a memorable wedding. The USHO raffle was also underway here, with items from Will Jacoby’s beautiful golf bags to choice apparel, original art, and clubs from Tad Moore and Louisville Golf. And that was a brief selection. The full list of donors would take a long page – and did, in the program booklet for the 2019 USHO.
For Friday and Saturday, organizers proved they had not overlooked the guests and spouses of competitors. Tours were arranged of both Castle Farms and of several Belvedere Cottages, most constructed before 1900 and featuring ornate, bargeboard cupolas, and textured wall surfaces. The club itself was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1974.
The final round of the USHO dawned bright and blue. The putting green, practice area, and chipping lawn were busy with nervous contestants honing shots and hoping for lucky breaks. If you went off the front, you dearly hoped your tee shot would clear that immediate steep slope with its unforgiving native grasses and gnarly ground covers. Well, the scratch players had no such worries. The game was on under the most benevolent and beautiful conditions that northern Michigan has to offer.
By the time the last card was turned in, the final scores revealed that Mr. Rick Woeckener had earned the Champion’s title for 2019, posting a two day score of 153 (75-78), besting playing partners Peter Flory (76-78) by one, Taylor Jones (78-77) by two, and Jeff Hunt (78-79) by four.
Woeckener is a perennial challenger for the title, having won it nine years earlier at Mimosa Hills (North Carolina). He was second both in 2011 at French Lick (Indiana) and in 2014 at the Country Club of Ashville (North Carolina). His father, Ed, was the Senior Division champion at Mimosa Hills in 2008, the first playing of the USHO. (Woeckener’s tournament record is posted in a separate story on this website.)
Woeckener not only won the Champion’s title but, as low amateur, the John Fischer II Low Amateur Award. This award recognizes one of the great amateurs of the U.S., one who was the last to win a prestigious USGA tournament with hickory clubs – the U.S. Amateur in 1936.
Results for the entire field may be found by clicking here. Top finishers for the various divisions are listed below.
Bill “Ernie” Ernst, left, his wife, Shirley, Janet Whitman, and her husband, Cal, enjoyed the reception at Castle Farms. Janet holds a caddie’s bib that she wore on the final round while accompanying her husband.
Wisconsin player Bill “Ernie” Ernst, who finished first in the Senior Division, voiced what most players and guests were thinking. “The annual Belvedere Hickory Open has always been a well run event hosted by the members of Belvedere,” he said. “They always make the hickory players and their spouses feel welcome. This year for the U.S. Hickory they surpassed even that. Just an outstanding event.”
It was a weekend to remember not only for the players, but for Belvedere club members who seemed to relish their club’s place in hosting this unique tournament. Following are reactions from several who worked on the tournament or had a large part in making things happen just right.
“The Belvedere Golf Club and the Belvedere Club was most pleased and appreciative of how the U.S. Hickory Open Championship was received by all, the players, club members, the Charlevoix community and, most importantly, the Society of Hickory Golfers,” said Rick Meyer, president of the Belvedere Golf Club. “Golf traditionalists understand the importance of giving back to the game. This is particularly so with hickory golf aficionados who promote a compelling part of golf’s history. We look forward to a continuing relationship with the Society, and to all who gave so much to make the 2019 USHO so successful, we thank you.”
Tournament chair Ross Hays was beaming through the entire weekend. “The weather, the golf course, the parties, the fellowship and the competition were unmatched in my experience,” he said. “Kudos to Marty Joy and his staff, Belvedere GM David Gray and his staff, and head groundskeeper Rick Grunch and his staff. Special thanks to the Man in charge of the weather, and His staff. And thanks to all who made the trip ‘Up North.’ It’s not an easy place to get to the first time, but much easier to repeat.”
Ross Hays, 2019 USHO chairman, addresses guests at the USHO banquet on Saturday evening in the Belvedere Casino, the club’s gathering house.
For Jeffrey Buntin, a past Belvedere Club president and member of the 2019 Belvedere U.S. Open Committee, the weekend was, indeed, something special. “It was a blessed three days,” he said. “Perfect northern Michigan weather, a wonderful field, great organization on Marty Joy’s part, three spectacular nights and one of the world’s great golf courses. All of us at The Belvedere thank the Society and look forward to many returns here. Thank you.”
It was Buntin who arranged for the amazing video featuring Mike Tirico and additional video footage that was scheduled to be aired nationally. Another example of how the Club’s members polled their talents and connections to raise the event to something extraordinary.
Click here to see videos taken of the 2019 USHO, including the introductory video with Mike Tirico.
SoHG President Ed Ronco, like everyone else, was truly impressed by the generous treatment of the host club.
“The USHO is the premiere annual event for the Society,” he said. “For golf club members to give us three full days for only hickory golf is unprecedented. That showed how committed the Belvedere Golf Club was to making this an exceptional tournament. And they succeeded well beyond the standard that we, as a board, set for this event. Marty Joy and the Belvedere Golf Club USHO committee ran an incredibly quality hickory golf championship.”
As for host professional Marty Joy, the weekend was a busy one, certainly, but not the only large event on his plate. The club annually hosts the Michigan Amateur, and not a week or so after the U.S. Hickory Open, he will shepherd the largest Member-Guest tournament ever hosted at the club, with 54 teams. Throughout it all, he makes it look easy, beaming and ever ready to help with a question, handshake or pose for a camera.
“It was my personal goal to make this the best U.S. Hickory Open ever,” Joy said. “Closing the course for just U.S. Open contestants was a huge perk that no one else was ever able to do at a U.S. Hickory Open venue. Having played in many national hickory tournaments, I noticed the many things that we could improve on at Belvedere.”
Not only was the entire Belvedere Club and Golf Club proud to host this championship, but the entire community of Charlevoix was proud to show off its summer resort town, Joy said. “The day after the championship concluded, there wasn’t a restaurant, tavern or town shop that wasn’t talking about how well the championship went and how much they loved seeing all the participants in Charlevoix.”
It was a USHO for the record books. Our thanks go out to all the Belvedere Club members for their hospitality, to Marty Joy for his incredible skill in making it all happen, and to the many staff at both the golf club and the Belvedere hospitality division for their professionalism, kindness, and expertise.
Click here to see an album of photos from the event. As other photos or albums become available, we’ll share them here.
Marty Joy, Belvedere PGA Professional, left, and 2019 USHO Champion Rick Woeckener take a moment for the camera near the Belvedere scoreboard.
2019 USHO Leader Board Results
Open Division:
1st – Rick Woeckener
2nd – Peter Flory
3rd – Taylor Jones
Net 1st – Ray DeRoche
Net 2nd – Jeff Hunt – tie
Net 2nd – Glen Turk – tie
Senior Division:
1st – Ernie Ernst
2nd – Bill Geisler
3rd – Hugh Cameron
Net 1st – A. Gary Trapani
Net 2nd – Todd Stevenson – tie
Net 2nd – Doug Kuhn – tie
Super Senior Division:
1st – Michael Shiff
2nd – Larry Woods
3rd tie – John Cova and Howard Vogel
Net 1st – James Hollon
Net 2nd – Hamp Munsey
Net 3rd – Galen Peterson
Ladies Division:
1st – Kate Tomkinson
2nd – Donna Kuhn
3rd – Kris Ellington
Net 1st – Mary Jean Esselman
Net 2nd – Sue Hays
Net 3rd – Sally Shiff