GHSC News Item: May 19, 2023 – World Hickory Golf Day (2023)

Reported by: Allan Lew, GHSC Hickory Ambassador and Board Member

World Hickory Golf Day was successfully held on Sunday, May 7, 2023 at Cambridge Golf Club, just a short hour’s drive west of Toronto. The Cambridge location is the home of Golf Historical Society of Canada as well as the home course for the Cambridge/Kitchener-Waterloo Hickory Regional Playgroup (RPG). Cambridge GC also served as the backdrop for the Society’s branding video, “Hickory Freedom.” 

Thirty-nine players and four enthusiastic observers came out to celebrate this designated World Hickory Golf day, being celebrated by Hickory golfers around the world. It was wonderful to see many players decked out in their vintage golf attire, plus-fours/golf knickers, argyle high top socks and vintage golf caps for the season-opening hickory outing. There were a few first-time hickory players in the following group of invited guests in attendance—namely Ghaman Kaulessar, John Wilhelm, John Matthew IV, Jeff Washburn, Frank Whelan, Steve Brintnell and Carl Marasmo. Most players came from the GTA and K-W areas; while others from afar and wide within Ontario – respectively, London, Woodstock, Bracebridge, Mattawa, Stouffville and St. Catherines. Special commendation to Society member Jim Burton, aka “The Grateful Golfer” blogger from Mattawa/North Bay area, who travelled the greatest distance to participate in GHSC’s World Hickory Golf Day event.

The weather presented only a minor challenge this year for the hardy field of hickory players, as it was cloudy but temperate with intermittent light drizzle throughout the first dozen holes. The cloud cover did finally manage to break late in the afternoon, providing some warm sunshine to wrap up each group’s round of hickory play. All things considered, the course played well for the first week of May, given its softness/dampness and the greens were in excellent condition.

Congratulations to all the winners of the hickory par-3 shoot-outs (closest-to-the-pin): Doug Bowslaugh (#5 hole), Wayne Hein (#7), Gunnar Eriksson (#9), Ian Clarke (#13) and Jim Wilhelm (#15).

The group reconvened in the clubhouse restaurant for post-game libations, food and summarizing the day’s golf heroics and boasts of all the great shots (that were or could have/should have been) of the hickory rounds. A toast to World Hickory Golf Day and all things originating from the great game of golf! Indeed, a grand time was certainly had by all on this day in 2023.

Kudos to Lorne Emery once again for organizing this WHD golf event. Special thanks to Frank and Donna Collis, our resident society photographer team for consistently making the trek to wherever and capturing those still life memories of our participants and group activities. Thanks to Franca Wilhelm, guest spouse/photog for contributing many additional photos of the day for our pictures folder. Final thanks to Carla Munch-Miranda, Cambridge’s golf pro/pro shop manager, and staff for looking after our members and guests so attentively and making the golf course and facilities available for us/GHSC on World Hickory Golf Day.

(Click on any image below to see a larger version.)