It is fair to say that I am obsessed with golf. I was nineteen years old when my father took my brother Brian, my friend Chris and myself for our first game at Allandale Golf Course, a Stanley Thompson nine hole course. I loved the game right from the start and so my golf journey began. I was fortunate that my career in sales required me to travel and play courses across most of Canada. My early beginnings at Allandale made me appreciate the old historic courses even more.

My introduction to hickory golf was started by my friend Gerald. For years, he had extended an invitation to try the old clubs, and in 2018, shortly after retirement, I took him up on the offer. At his suggestion, I contacted Paul Dietz and bought my first set of hickories and the rest was history. I already had a fascination with the old courses and playing with historical equipment was a natural enhancement to my golf journey. 

What fascinates me about the old clubs is their character and they invite you to be creative. They are the best swing trainers and the more I play them, the better my overall golf game has become. I now play hickory clubs four or five times per week.

When I am not playing hickory golf, I turn mostly to classic steel, a term I use to describe clubs from my early days of play. In 2020, I sold my modern “distance irons.” I had acquired a couple of forged iron sets from the 80-90’s that have more classical lofts and when paired with my stable of persimmon woods or early Taylormade Pittsburgh Persimmon metal woods. Gerald and I like to play them when the weather gets cold or rainy, or just for a change. They bring back fond memories of my early golf experiences and have much more character than modern equipment.