Hickory golfers keep antique wooden clubs and past fashion in style

Vintage golf is more than just a sport; it places equal importance on meticulous attire and precise shots. This variation of golf requires players to use antique clubs made of hickory wood and wear vintage clothing from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, recreating the style of golf from yesteryear. This dedication to historical accuracy enhances the overall experience.

Hickory wood clubs were used worldwide from the 1840s until they were gradually replaced by steel clubs in the 1930s. In the early 20th century, these wooden clubs were mass-produced in the UK, USA, and Australia. Today, approximately 200 members of the Australian Golf Heritage Society still use these clubs, preserving a piece of golfing history.

Mr. Les Brown, the captain of the association, is particularly fond of the feel of traditional golf clubs. "About 20 years ago, a senior golf professional introduced me to vintage golf," said Mr. Brown. "I was immediately captivated by it, and like most people, once you start using vintage clubs, you fall in love with them. The clubs we use today are over 100 years old, but they are still as good as they were 100 years ago." This enduring quality is a testament to the craftsmanship of the era.

A golf club consists of several parts, including the clubhead, shaft, and grip. In vintage clubs, the clubhead can be made of wood or iron, while the shaft is made of hickory wood. Mr. Brown explained, "Early on, people used any wood they could find, but when golf became popular in America, they used wood from hickory forests, which is very strong and can not only bend but is also difficult to break." However, by 1930, steel became cheaper and more resilient, gradually becoming the primary material for golf club shafts.

Mr. Brown stated that steel clubs can be made with different levels of stiffness and flexibility as needed, while the performance of vintage clubs depends on the characteristics of the wood itself, and therefore varies. Using vintage clubs requires a slow and gentle swing. He said, "As long as you follow these simple rules, there are no problems. Wooden clubs are usually used for long-distance shots, while iron clubs are used for short-distance shots." This highlights the unique skill set required for vintage golf.

Recently, vintage golfers played a round at Wollongong Golf Club on the South Coast of New South Wales, one of Australia's oldest golf courses, opened in 1897, a links course with sandy coastlines and natural hazards such as undulating terrain, dunes, and bunkers. Mr. Aaron Keysers, the golf operations manager, looks forward to the annual arrival of vintage golfers and their annual tournament. "It showcases the tradition of golf... using old golf clubs and clothing, it's just fantastic," said Mr. Keysers. The event brings a touch of nostalgia to the course.

Suzanne Brown is the current New South Wales and Australian Women's Vintage Golf Champion. She said, "The idea of vintage golf is to understand what people did in that era, including fashion and old clubs." Men at the time would wear breeches and tuck them into argyle socks, while women would wear long skirts and petticoats. Ms. Brown added, "Women were very clever when it came to fashion. They needed something practical, easy to move in, but most importantly, as fashionable as what they wore off the course. Golf is a prestigious sport, and they wanted the clothing to be as stylish as the sport itself."

Golf historian Mr. Hugh Cholmondeley has been playing golf for 70 years. He said, "My father was very keen on the etiquette of golf, he thought it was a blueprint for life. The basis of the rules of golf is that you abide by the rules, but it's self-regulated, if you break a rule, you should tell your opponent. It's an example of good manners and decency." Mr. Cholmondeley also stated that businessmen with more leisure time founded golf in the Australian colonies. "You had to have some money to play golf, but if we go back to Scotland, it was always done in an equal way. So, if you met the foreman in the street, you might tip your hat to him, but on the golf course, you were all equals."