Equipment tips for hickory golfers at Lake Constance - play in style like in the old days
Dear hickory golf enthusiasts,
if you want to take part in a golf tournament with hickory clubs that only allows original clubs from before 1935, there are some important equipment guidelines to follow. Here you will find an overview of clubs, trolleys, clothing and other accessories to ensure you are perfectly prepared on the course.
1. hickory bats
- Only original bats from before 1935 are permitted.
- Pay attention to good restoration, because hickory wood needs care. Some hickory golfers swear by varnishing the hickory shafts and the heads of the woods to protect them from external influences. However, the majority of hickory golfers on the continent prefer not to do this. It is therefore important to grease the wood regularly in winter with linseed oil, for example.
- The club heads of the irons should be made of forged steel, those of the woods of wood, without modern materials or customisation.
- The grips should be wrapped in leather. In warm countries without much rain, it is preferable to use the smooth side of the leather on the outside as the grip. In our Central European climate zones, where we sometimes play in the rain or in damp conditions, it has often proved advantageous to use the rough side of the leather as the outside grip, as the racket then has a better grip even in damp conditions.
- Used hickory mallets are available on specialised online marketplaces such as ebay.de, ebay.com, ebay.co.uk or kleinanzeigen.de, from antique dealers or, for example, from Iain Forrester (hickoryclubs.eu). But be careful, the mallets purchased on online platforms are often unrestored, i.e. the handles may be missing or the mallet heads may be loose. You should also bear in mind that when buying hickory mallets in the UK or the USA, for example, import sales tax and possibly customs duties may be incurred if these are not settled directly during the purchase process, e.g. on eBay.
- For the repair of hickory mallets, we recommend Iain Forrester, who is based in the Netherlands near Aachen. He is an experienced Scottish PGA Pro who has been collecting and restoring hickory clubs for 20 years and also offers them for hire for golf club anniversaries.
2. trolleys and golf bags
- Only historical trolleys or those with two wheels are permitted.
- Trolleys of modern design or with more than two wheels are not permitted.
- Alternatively, a traditional leather or canvas golf bag can be carried comfortably with the 5-8 hickory clubs usually required.
- Historic golf bags can be restored by a saddler if necessary. The carrying strap is usually the weak point that needs to be replaced, as old straps tend to tear after a few holes if a golf bag has been lying in a corner for 60 years or more. In the case of historic full leather bags, this investment can definitely be worthwhile if the leather is otherwise in good condition.
- Otherwise, modern bags in a classic style are a good choice, for example the bags from Steurer & Jacoby from Kentucky.
3. historical clothing (approx. 1930)
Appropriate clothing is mandatory for authentic tournament participation. Modern materials such as Gore-Tex or similar and bright colours should be avoided.
Men
- Plus fours, plus twos or knickerbockers, e.g. from Spencers Trousers in West Yorkshire, England (www.spencers-trousers.com) or from Retronia in Berlin (www.retronia.de)
- Jacket or waistcoat
- Shirt with tie or bow tie
- Flat cap or hat, e.g. from Retronia in Berlin.
- Classic golf shoes, preferably two-coloured or in Budapest style. Modern golf shoes in sneaker style or those with the three stripes of a well-known sporting goods manufacturer from Herzogenaurach can spoil an otherwise perfectly put-together hickory outfit. This is often overlooked.
Ladies
- Dresses or skirts (above the knee)
- Blouses, possibly with a jacket
- Hat (no modern cap or visor)
- Classic leather shoes
- Historic golf clothing can be purchased in specialised vintage shops or online shops for historic clothing.
4. accessories & rain protection
- leather gloves, white always works, black too.
- Rain protection, e.g. in subtle colours or black. If possible, no modern functional materials.
- Umbrellas with a wooden handle and classic fabric design, not in bright colours.
- For an authentic playing experience, soft balls should be used that correspond to the historical models. British-sized balls (1.62 inches) may also be used, as were permitted in modern golf until around 1990. In modern golf in Germany, we have been playing exclusively with the American-sized ball (1.68 inches) since the 1990s. The British ball flies further and is less sensitive to wind as there is less air resistance. The American ball, especially a soft ladies' or senior ball, is easier to putt for many golfers.
- If you are using old golf balls, e.g. those of British size, it is advisable to check in advance on a test round whether these balls still have enough compression and still fly well, otherwise, as with a worn tennis ball, the ball may no longer fly properly. Such balls can also be found on eBay.
Observing these equipment guidelines not only preserves the historical flair of the event, but also emphasises the challenge of the game in the tradition of the early 20th century. At the same time, we hope to have given you some helpful tips here. We look forward to stylish, authentic and fair rounds!
Your Hickory Golf Team from Lake Constance