Vintage Golf Clubs – The Hickory Golf Club Fascination
When someone's interest in antique golf clubs extends beyond eager collecting and over into essentially playing with these cherished clubs, oftentimes it is thru Hickory Golf. Many states have associations devoted to the coordination of contests dedicated to this unique class of antique golf clubs.
The utilisation of Hickory to be used in the construction of shafts can be dated to the early-mid 1800’s, with the source of the Hickory being imported material from North America. Before the shift, Ash was the wood of choice for most club makers. Most fans of hickory golf clubswould say that it not only offers more “feel” to their swing, but that it helps them in maintaining an effective swing tempo.
When a collector investigates hickory antique golf clubs, the 1st distinction to be drawn is whether the club, for play, would fall into the pre-1905 category or into the pre-1935 class. Though our interest here is purely related to antique golf clubs, contest play would allow for the usage of sanctioned reproductions. As it is related to competition golfing, the difference between the divisions is the golf ball which is used.
For the real enthusiast, the opportunity to play with one of the most well liked classes of antique golf clubs around (Hickory), not only introduces a club “feel” which mirrors that of past players, but also offers the opportunity to challenge one’s course management capabilities to play these courses as their counterparts from way back could have. Really a rare experience for the fan and enthusiastic collector.
It is also vital to remember that these clubs need ongoing maintenance, care, and possibly restoration to stay in “playing shape” Anyone considering going beyond collecting to literally playing these antique golf clubs should plan ahead to allocate the time and/or money to keep them in peek condition. Remember, in some cases, these are bits of kit which may be entering their second century of service.
The Golfing Collectors Society, which tends to the collecting enthusiast, has one nationwide, and many regional show annually. You may ordinarily find not just collectors at these shows, but also a fair number of antique club dealers, all selling, swapping and trading clubs and memorabilia. A nationwide show could attract a very sizable turnout of these antique clubs. As unique as the truly great ones are, it offers a particularly unique opportunity to catch them all on one place at one time.
With the popularity of Hickory within the Antique Golf Clubs market, we are going to be revisiting the topic of Hickory, including restoration options and techniques, critical subjects when it comes to maintaining the values of these rare collectibles.
Andrew Shea has been involved in Antique Golf, both on a personal level, and in a professional capacity for several years. If you have got a question or are interested in vintage golf clubs often, you are always welcome at his site.
« Previous Page — Next Page »