Monthly Event -26 January 2024
Match Report - 1st Monthly event of the year
Australia Day 24
Happy Australia Day! What better way to spend Australia Day than playing 9 holes of hickory golf with a group of mates.
The Australia Day event was our first regular monthly event for 2024 and kicks off the Player of the Year competition. January heat and humidity along with tropical cyclone Kirrily put a question mark over the afternoons event. However the golfing gods smiled upon the hickory group yet again and and we all made it around without raising an umbrella.
Those same golfing gods took a particular liking to to one of our favourites, Arthur O'Shea. Arthur took no notice of the oppressive humidity and sailed around 9 holes returning an impressive score of 24 stableford points and winning the competition.
The normally modest Arthur was happy to expand on his play making on the 8th hole which resulted a very nice 4 points. The day started well for Arthur scoring 3 points on each of the first 5 holes. Well done Arthur!
Second place went to David Jones with a score of 22 points (a score that would normally win the monthly event). David has started 2024 just like he finished 2023 and is making an early charge for Player of the Year.
Third place went to new member Peter Kyffin with a fine score of 20 points. We all welcome Peter to HGQ.
The handicapper has advised that all 3 place getters cards will be scrutinised before the next round!
Upcoming events
Our next monthly event is scheduled for 23 February at RQ. Registration open for this event and invitations will be sent on 2 February.
The Queensland Hickory Championship will be held on 21 and 22 April. The field will be limited to 24 players. More information and registration details will be sent to all members in due course.
Brisbane Golf Club is going to host Sunday 18 hickory events through out the year. The first is will be held on 12 May with tee times around midday. The events are designed to encourage golfers who can't make to the course on Fridays to try hickory golf. If you know anybody who wants a game of hickory this may the ideal starting point. Special green fees of only $40 are offered as an incentive. More detail will be available soon.
Report by PA
Reflections - by Arthur O'Shea
Francis Ouimet was an American amateur golfer who was born on May 8, 1893. He is often referred to as the Father of Amateur Golf . His victory at the 1913 US Open set off an explosion in the sport in the United States that transformed the game as we know it today.
He is remembered more than a century on for taking down Harry Vardon and Ted Ray, two of the greatest players who have ever lived. As a 20 year old at the 1913 US Open he matched the two with a score of 304 over 72 holes, won the 18 hole playoff and stunned the golfing world.
Ouimet was a member of the first Walker Cup team in 1922, was involved in 11 of the matches and only lost one. No small feat when considering the hickory clubs which he used. He carried 10 clubs. Driver, Brassie, Spoon, a wooden cleek, Sammy, Jogger, Mid-iron, mashie and putter. His clubs were made by Tom Stewart, a famous St Andrew club maker (much sort after clubs by today's hickory players)
Eddie Lowery .was the 10 year old caddie at the 1913 US Open. The pair would remain lifelong friends and the photograph of the pair during the event has become legendary. Francis died in 1967 aged 74 years.
The film The Greatest Game ever Played is recommended viewing. A.T.