Tony Norcott and Robert Owens are presented with the Behrend Shields
by BGCS President John Behrend with organiser Geoffrey Piper (right) looking on.
Activities
National Competitions are held in March (Welsh Hickory Championships at Aberdovey)
May (Scottish Hickory Championship at Gullane) July, at a course close to The
Open Championship; and September, at Rye for the English Hickory Championship.
There are also a number of regional meetings. An England vs Scotland match with
hickory clubs takes place in September and matches are also held against golf
clubs, often in association with centenary celebrations.
[ Jan ] [ Feb ] [ Mar ] [ Apr ] [ May ] [ Jun ] [ Jul ] [ Aug ] [ Sep ] [ Oct ] [ Nov ] [ Dec ]
24 (Friday) Golfing Memorabelia Trade Fair, Chester arranged by Graham and Ann Walters
25 (Saturday) Golfing Memorabelia Auction - Bonhams, Chester
29 (Saturday) Annual Hickory Match v Aberdovey Golf Club arranged by Eiron Morgan
30 (Sunday) Welsh Hickory Championship, Aberdovey Golf Club arranged by Eiron Morgan
commences- Scottish Region Matchplay Championship, arranged by John Rigg
25 (Friday) Presidents Day, Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake Cheshire arranged by Geoffrey Piper
Tony Norcott and Robert Owens are presented with the Behrend Shields
by BGCS President John Behrend with organiser Geoffrey Piper (right) looking
on.
36 couples contested a very competitive President's Day tournament at Royal Liverpool on Friday 25th April, excellently organised by Geoffrey Piper. Tony Norcott and Robert Owens won the Behrend Shields with 40 Stableford points, on the better inward half from John Armitt and John Heggarty. Both couples were awarded Gold Medals. John Crow Miller, playing with hickories, and his partner David Kirkwood took the silver medals with 37 points, closely followed by Nigel Notley and Bruce Sandford with 36 points to be in Bronze position. Peggy Burles and Bob Grant took the "mixed" prize with 31 points.
John Weston, John Behrend, Ros Weston and Alan Jackson after the dinner
At the dinner that evening, Ros Weston was presented with the Ray Gossage Memorial Medal for an article written by her father, who described his journey to Scotland to play in the British at St Andrews just after the war. This article was judged to be the best article in Through the Green over the year.
30 (Friday) Scottish Hickory Championship, Gullane No 3, East Lothian, Scotland arranged by John Rigg
Neil Hutchison is Scottish Hickory Champion
Neil Hutchison, with a net 69 off his 5 handicap, won the Scottish Hickory Championship
over Gullane No 3 on Friday 30th May. He had the better inward half from local
man Scott Patrick. Third was Ron Simpson with a net 71.
The Scratch prize was won by Claes Kvist from Sweden with a 78. Runner-up was
Tony Thorpe with 80
The Ladies prize was won by BGCS member Cecilia Onell from Sweden, and a third
Swede, Stefan Bjallroth took the Guest prize with a 76.
In the morning 9 couples played 9 holes of Stableford over Musselburgh Old for the George Colville Memorial Trophy, the winners being Scott Patrick and John Pearson with 18 points.
Neil Hutchison, 2003 Scottish Hickory Champion
Swedish winners, Cecila Onell, Claes Kvist and Stefan Bjallroth
John Pearson and Scott Patrick, winners of the George Colville Memorial trophy
6 ( Friday) Midland Region. South west Spring/Summer Meeting, Redditch Golf Club, Redditch, Worcs arranged by Tony Thorpe
17 (Tuesday) Scottish North Region Summer Meeting, Deeside Golf club, Aberdeen, Scotland arranged by Hamish Ewan
Group of competitors at Deeside
The Outing was won by Barry Kerr who had 38 points and the runner up was Bob Strachan with 31. Nearest the hole prizes were won by Jim Colville and Bob Strachan
29th (Saturday) Musselburgh Challenge.
Double foursome over Mussleburgh Old Links. This event was won by Prestwick.
BGCS were runners up.
Jim Colville and David Kirkwood (right) with their playing partners
8 (Tuesday) Golf Memorabilia Sale - Christies, South Kensington, London
8 Summer Sports Sale - Sothebys London
tbc Golf Auction Bob Gowland International Golf Auctions, Chester
9 (Wednesday) Golf Memorabilia Auction Bonhams, Chester
13 Golf Memorabilia Auction, Lyon & Turnbull, Edinburgh
16 (Wednesday) Open Championship Meeting, Littlestone Golf Club, Littlestone, New Romney, Kent arranged by Michael Lee
8 (Friday) Centenary Hickory Match v Ashford Golf Club, Ashford, Kent
27 (Wednesday) Midland Region / North Region Summer/Autumn Meeting, Charnwood Forest Golf Club, Woodhouse Eaves, Loughborough, Leics arranged by Tony Thorpe
29 (Friday) Centenary Hickory Match v Rotherham Golf Club. Rotherham, Yorkshire arranged by John Pearson
5 (Friday) England v Scotland Musselburgh Old Links Musselburgh, East Lothian arranged by John Pearson/Archie Baird
Scotland beat England for the third year in succession on a dry and running
Musselburgh Old Links course. The evening dinner was excellent and Musselburgh
Old Course Golf club were welcoming and hospitable hosts.
Results (Scottish Names first) Scotland 5.5 England 0.5
John Still and Scott Patrick beat Neil Hutchison and Tom Tew 5 &4
Airon Morgan and John Dixon beat Tony Thorpe and Ron Lambert 5 & 4
Gillian Kirkwood and David Kirkwood halved with John Pearson and Lionel Freedman
John Rigg and Jim Colville beat Keith Bilbie and Richard Carr 2 up
Archie Baird and George Payne beat Derek Moore and Alan sowerby 1 up
William Tanner and Ron Beatt beat Graham Walters and Robert Mann 3 & 1
15 (Monday) Hickory Grail, St Andrews Golf Club, New York State, USA arranged by David Kirkwood
Europe beat the USA by 9.5 to 8.5 matches to win the Hickory Grail for the
first time... and on foreign soil too!
Things were not looking good for the visitors after losing four of the six morning
foursomes, but some adept team placements in the afternoon, which secured five
out of the first five singles, gave us a chance. Excitement mounted for the
spectators with some very tight games in the later stages. Man of the match
was auctioneer John Mullock, who kept his nerve playing the last hole against
Randy Jensen to win, and the Hickory Grail trophy was ours!
Many thanks to our American hosts, especially Brian Siplo, Rick Wolffe, John
Crow Miller and Larry Stewart (Sleepy Hollow) for all their hard work in planning
and organising the match and ancillary events. The twenty six BGCS members who
made the trip thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
Victorious European Team
L to R John Hanna (Malone), Scott Patrick (Glen, North Berwick), John Sherwood
(Canterbury), David Kirkwood (Gullane, Team Captain), John Mullock (Church Stretton),
Stuart Gibbs (Oxhill/Brailes), Nigel Notley (Porters Park) Barry Kerr (Anstruther
and St Andrews), Philip Truett (Walton Heath), David Hamilton (Kilmacolm), Peter
Heath (Edgbaston, BGCS Captain) Chris Homer (Kendal), Gillian Kirkwood (Gullane),
John Pearson (York), Alan Jackson (Gloucester), Tony Norcott (Meriden), Hamish
Ewan (Nairn), Bob Strachan (Duff House Royal), John Still (Edinburgh/Taymouth
Castle)
Valiant United States Team
Rick Wolffe, Mike Beckerich, Tad Moore, Randy Jensen, Chuck McMullin, Ralph
Livingston, Mike Gentile, Brian Siplo (US Captain), Win Padgett, Fred Mueller,
Roger Hill. William Farmer, John Crow Miller
USA v Europe
Foursomes (USA names first)
John Crow Miller and Mike Beckerich lost to Bob Strachan and Peter Heath
William Farmer and Win Padgett lost to Nigel Notley and Tony Norcott
Roger Hill and Tad Moore beat Scott Patrick and Alan Jackson
Brian Siplo and Rick Wolffe beat John Mullock and John Sherwood
Fred Mueller and Chuck McMullin beat Barry Kerr and Gillian Kirkwood
Randy Jensen and Ralph Livingston beat Hamish Ewan and Chris Homer
USA 4 Europe 2
Singles
Rick Wolffe lost to Nigel Notley
Roger Hill lost to Chris Homer
John Crow Miller lost to John Sherwood
Mike Gentile lost to John Hanna
Brian Siplo lost to Scott Patrick
Tad Moore beat Stuart Gibbs
William Farmer beat John Still
Fred Mueller beat Tony Norcott
Chuck McMullin lost to Philip Truett
Win Padgett lost to John Pearson
Randy Jensen lost to John Mullock 1 hole
Ralph Livingston beat Bob Strachan
USA 4 Europe 8
Final result USA 8 Europe 10
Scott Patrick's photos
John Pearson's photos
Ralph Livingstone's photos
John Hanna's photos
26 (Friday) English Hickory Championship, Rye Golf Club, Rye, Sussex,arranged by Tim Smartt
Philip Truett won. [I need more information - Ed]
7 (Tuesday) Scottish North Region Autumn Meeting, St Michaels Golf Club, Leuchars, Fife arranged by Hamish Ewan
Bob Strachan, Jim Colville, David Templeton and John Pearson on the last green
at St Michaels
Report from organiser Hamish Ewan [I wish there were more reports
like this - Ed]
On a cold and bright October morn
Eight members to St Michael went
Full of hope and full of cheer
But would the wind their spirits dent
Into the wind it wisna fair
But what the hell it wisna sair
Down wind the ball went soaring on
Surely birdies could be won
We battled on up hill down dale
Surely the weather would not fail
Until at last we all got in
Dry and warm with a large pink gin
(not really more a cup of coffee)
The weather at St Michaels on the 7th October resembled the last
remains of hurricane Isabel when eight members set off under a bright sunny
sky albeit with a slightly chilly wind. My apologies must be given here to our
intrepid editor, John Pearson, who had travelled all the way up from Yorkshire
to tackle what us 'teuchtars' would call a moderate breeze. He seemed none the
worse of his two days in New York and it was a pleasure to see you again so
soon John. We trust you had a safe journey back. Scotland's answer to a tour
bus guide, Scott Patrick also came along for the first time, but as he is a
teuchtar anyway he was more than welcome and along with him came the gentleman
of Musselburgh, Jim Colville who was making his third visit to a north section
outing. Jim also very kindly donated a copy of 'Picturesque Musselburgh' for
one of the prizes. This was won by one of the far North contingent, Tom Tew,
who will no doubt donate it to his wife's collection as Sylvia turned in a very
respectable Stableford score on the day, which was only her second time playing
with hickories. as Sylvia is now a member of the Society in her own right we
look forward to seeing her compete in many more outings, preferably without
mufflers and winter woollies.
The North contingent was completed with David Templeton, who is looking for
donations of playable hickory clubs as he is an Aberdonian,myself and Bob Strachan.
Bob very kindly allowed Carol to go and spend all his money in St Andrews. I
always knew North East folk had a heart of gold but not endless trouser pockets.
I hope she bought you something as well Bob. Perhaps next time we will persuade
her to play as I know she has a very mean (unlike Bob) game.
Nearest the hole prizes were won by David Templeton at the 8th and there was
actually a tie for nearest the pin on the 15th between Tom Tew and Bob Strachan
as they were unable to separate the length from the pin - maybe they should
have measured to the edge of the green from the ball as it would have been shorter.
Runner up with 32 points was Tom Tew and the winner with 39 points, who I must
say played 'pure dead brilliant' given the conditions was myself.
Thanks again to all who turned up and we look forward to seeing you all again
next year and I'm sure if you look further into this TTG you will find our first
venue for 2004.
Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year to you all.
16 (Thursday) Annual Hickory Match v Clapham Common Golf Club, Mitcham, Surrey arranged by Philip Truett
24 (Friday) Hickory Match v Tadmarton Heath Golf club, Banbury, Oxon arranged by Tony Thorpe
30 (Thursday) Hickory Match v Professional Golfers Association, Walton Heath Golf Club, Tadworth, Surrey arranged by Bob Grant
19-22 Golf Collectors' Society Annual Meeting, St Augustines, Florida, USA
© British Golf Collectors Society 29 January 2003
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