GHSC News Item: July 26, 2024 – 2024 Ontario Open Hickory Golf Championship 

Reported by: the Championship Organizing Committee (Head Organizer: Bob West, Lorne Emery, Allan Lew, George Supol and Barbara Allan).

On Monday, September 23 and Tuesday, September 24, 2024, GHSC will host the second annual Ontario Open Hickory Golf Championship. This new two-day Championship seeks to identify the overall “Ontario Hickory Golf Champion for 2024.” In addition, this GHSC bedrock event provides a basis of friendly competition for all GHSC members and guests who wish to participate in 2024 and in future years.

In 2024, the stunning Whirlpool Golf Course in Niagara Falls will be used for both tournament days. This is different from 2023, where Whirlpool GC was used for Day #1 and Sawmill GC was used for Day #2.

Below are other important details about the Championship.

A) Championship Trophy

In 2023, a new trophy was purchased for the Championship. Below is the 2023 winner, Rick Woekener, holding the trophy.

Hoisting the Trophy!

For 2024, we will start a new tradition of engraving, on the trophy, both the Overall Championship Winner’s name (loss gross from the Open Division) plus the Overall Senior Winner’s name (low gross from the combined Senior and Legends Divisions).

B) Prizes

The overall 2024 Ontario Hickory Golf Champion will have the lowest gross score over the two days. In the event of a tie, a playoff will be held. 

There will also be both gross and net prizes for each player division—Open, Senior (55-69), Legends (70+), and Ladies. Net prizes will be based on official handicaps (Golf Canada Hickory or Modern). Official handicaps of other recognized golfing jurisdictions will also be allowed for net prizes. Accordingly, Stableford scoring will not be used. 

Once again, the Tournament Organizing Committee plans on handing out beautiful silver and bronze medals from Scotland to gross and net winners of each division.

The fab metals from Scotland

One-day players will compete against each other for prizes too, regardless of their playing day. 

All players will compete against each other for one set of closest-to-the-pin and other skills challenges each day.

A special draw prize of a Kelly Leonard playable long-nose club will once again be presented at the concluding ceremony. This year, a new golf bag has also been donated as a prize by Lorne Emery, GHSC President.

C) Play Divisions and Rules

Open Division players will play from approximately 5,700 yards. Senior and Legends divisions will play from approximately 5,200 yards. Ladies will play from a shorter set of tees. Players may choose to play in any division subject to meeting that division’s minimum age and, if applicable, gender requirements.

Play is using hickory/other wooden-shafted clubs (pre-1935 original or approved replica clubs). Modern golf balls may be used as well as approved replica balls. Players are encouraged to dress in 1920s-appropriate attire. Modern golf rules of play will be used. Exceptions will be specifically outlined on the Official Rules Sheet.

D) Getting a Hickory Handicap from Golf Canada

To establish a Golf Canada hickory handicap, if you are a Golf Historical Society of Canada member, it is free. Golfers new to handicapping will only need a minimum of three 18-hole scores (or an equivalent combination of 9-hole scores). The score must be entered using the hole-by-hole score entry. Members who have not yet established a Hickory Handicap may contact Barbara Allan, GHSC Handicap Chair (ballan1052@gmail.com), to get registered in the Golf Canada Scoring Centre.

E) Registration Fees

Players may register to play one (Monday or Tuesday) or both days.

• Registration fees for men are $200 CDN for two days’ play, or $130 CDN for one day’s play, if the registering player has a fully paid membership in at least one of the following organizations – Golf Historical Society (GHSC), Society of Hickory Golfers (SOHG) or Golf Heritage Society (GHS). An early-bird discount of $15 also applies prior to August 15, 2024.
• A $20 registration premium applies to a one-day or two-day registration if the player does not possess one of the three memberships at the time of registration. That increases the price to $220 CDN for two days or $150 CDN for one day.
• Registration fees for Ladies are $165 CDN for both days and $120 CDN for one day’s play. One of the three memberships is not required for Ladies’ registrations.
• The pricing above covers both green fees and prizes. Power carts are extra (pay at the pro shop) and may be reserved during online registration.

F) Sunday Optional Fun Event

On Sunday, September 22, 2024, an optional, nine-hole, two-player, hickory scramble event will be held at the historical Niagara-on-the-Lake (NOTL) golf course. Scramble teams will be drawn a couple of days before the event starts. NOTL was formerly the site of GHSC’s well-regarded CB Macdonald golf tournaments in years past.

The cost to attend is $42 (walking) or $54 (shared power cart). Only players registered for the Ontario Open Tournament (1 or 2 days) may register for the NOTL event. During registration, we will only collect the $42 base green fee. Cart fees will be paid at the NOTL Pro Shop. Refreshments and a casual pay-as-you-go meal will be available at the NOTL clubhouse after the round has concluded.

A well-protected NOTL green, near the water’s edge

G) Refund Policy

Refunds may be issued subject to the following processing fees (CDN): $10 after August 1; $30 after September 1; no refunds after September 20.

H) Related Links

A link to the OFFICIAL FLYER for the Championship is now available. Details of available GHSC hotel accommodation discounts and the Monday night tournament dinner at Johnny Rocco’s are listed there.

A link to the Society of Hickory Golfers (SOHG) website advertising the 2024 Ontario Open Hickory Golf Championship is also now posted.