Heart Of America Hickory Golf Tournament Des Moines

[northplatteriver]

Just looking to see if anyone on this board is playing in the Heart Of America Hickory tourney this weekend.  It is the longest continuously running hickory tournament in the U.S.  Would be nice to meet you if your out there.

[ezgoer]

3 hours ago, northplatteriver said:

Just looking to see if anyone on this board is playing in the Heart Of America Hickory tourney this weekend.  It is the longest continuously running hickory tournament in the U.S.  Would be nice to meet you if you’re out there.

First I’ve heard of this. I’ve not delved into hickory as of yet but have been getting more and more interested and now want to take the leap. I’m about 4 hours north of Des Moines in MPLS so not too terribly far away. I haven’t heard of any hickory in my area. 
 

I know a collector in Des Moines. I wonder if he knows about this? Will reach out tomorrow. Ive talked with him about getting some hickory clubs late last year but we never did anything about it. Have done a few deals with him already on more modern 50’s-60’s vintage clubs. Funny thing is he is just like all of us. Collecting, border line hoarding, yet he has never heard of us and our community. 
 

Thank you for posting this and making me aware. I’m definitely interested in the future and you’ve given me a target to shoot for. 

Edited July 12, 2024 by ezgoer

[Hickory4ever]

@northplatteriver, it should be a great event and I hope @ezgoer gets in to hickory as well. Unfortunately, Des Moines is a long way from me. We have so many events here that I have to limit my long road trips. 
 

We have a regular hickory group that plays every Friday with big stakes involved ($3)😀 and is pure fun.

[northplatteriver]

Hopefully our paths will cross at some point.  Goal is to play the U.S. Hickory Open at some point in the near future which seems to be one of the larger ones.  They had it here in Omaha, Nebraska two years ago, but I was not ready for tournaments at that time.  Will be easier when I am retired to travel for these, but that is a ways off. 

 

EZgoer... Bill Reid is the director of this tournament and I know he lives in Des Moines.  Is that the person your referring to?

 

Hickory4ever... those sound like my kind of high stakes games!

[ezgoer]

3 hours ago, northplatteriver said:

Hopefully our paths will cross at some point.  Goal is to play the U.S. Hickory Open at some point in the near future which seems to be one of the larger ones.  They had it here in Omaha, Nebraska two years ago, but I was not ready for tournaments at that time.  Will be easier when I am retired to travel for these, but that is a ways off. 

 

EZgoer... Bill Reid is the director of this tournament and I know he lives in Des Moines.  Is that the person your referring to?

 

Hickory4ever... those sound like my kind of high stakes games!

No his name is Dave K. About to reach out to him. I don’t know even if he plays hickory. Just know he’s a club junky like us and have done some decent deals with him in the past.

 

Always look forward to a chance to meet anyone on here!

[Hickory4ever]

7 hours ago, northplatteriver said:

Hopefully our paths will cross at some point.  Goal is to play the U.S. Hickory Open at some point in the near future which seems to be one of the larger ones.  They had it here in Omaha, Nebraska two years ago, but I was not ready for tournaments at that time.  Will be easier when I am retired to travel for these, but that is a ways off. 

 

EZgoer... Bill Reid is the director of this tournament and I know he lives in Des Moines.  Is that the person your referring to?

 

Hickory4ever... those sound like my kind of high stakes games!

FYI, one of the most fun events is the Canadian Hickory Open which is held in Edmonton Alberta. There are eight of us from Ontario attending this year (August 14-16). It is their 25th year and there isn’t a better atmosphere for enjoying hickory golf. The Wednesday is a 4 person scramble (80 played in 2023), Thursday a two person scramble (80 last year) and Friday is the 27 hole stroke play championship (94 played in 2023). Fun first, competition is second.

 

We are also holding the Ontario Hickory Championship in Niagara Falls September 22-24 which is our Golf Historical Society of Canada event. Always fun, would love to have more American friends attend.

[The Aspidistra in the Hall]

Are these events for replicas or originals, it doesn't seem to say?

 

For interest I picked these up yesterday, proper hickories can still be found including a couple of playable scare-necks, a Bulldog spoon and a Junior Mammoth niblick.

[Hickory4ever]

25 minutes ago, The Aspidistra in the Hall said:

Are these events for replicas or originals, it doesn't seem to say?

 

For interest I picked these up yesterday, proper hickories can still be found including a couple of playable scare-necks, a Bulldog spoon and a Junior Mammoth niblick.

Very nice find. 
 

At our events, we allow replicas but the vast majority play original clubs. Our focus is more on enjoyment first, the competitive element is secondary. I am more interested in getting people playing the clubs than being too strict on equipment issues.
 

In your neck of the woods, you have more originals available given the long history of the game there. For our pre 1900 events, virtually everyone has replica woods since what few originals remain are not in playable shape. 
 

Personally, I prefer playing the originals and have a good assortment of playable clubs. I have a few replica woods and a replica set of irons that I use primarily when weather is an issue. I have played close to 500 hickory rounds in the last six years, so my clubs get a lot of play. 

It is too bad that we are an ocean apart, I would enjoy having an opportunity to play with you.

 

[The Aspidistra in the Hall]

27 minutes ago, Hickory4ever said:

Very nice find. 
 

At our events, we allow replicas but the vast majority play original clubs. Our focus is more on enjoyment first, the competitive element is secondary. I am more interested in getting people playing the clubs than being too strict on equipment issues.
 

In your neck of the woods, you have more originals available given the long history of the game there. For our pre 1900 events, virtually everyone has replica woods since what few originals remain are not in playable shape. 
 

Personally, I prefer playing the originals and have a good assortment of playable clubs. I have a few replica woods and a replica set of irons that I use primarily when weather is an issue. I have played close to 500 hickory rounds in the last six years, so my clubs get a lot of play. 

It is too bad that we are an ocean apart, I would enjoy having an opportunity to play with you.

 

The 2 scareneck woods are by Alex Herd of Huddersfield Fixby Golf Club....the same Alex (Sandy) Herd who won the Open in 1902 with the first Haskell ball