The Welsh Hickory Weekend
Deservedly growing in popularity, and starting to attract international patronage, the arrangements are in line with last year, with the chance of a hickory match on the Friday afternoon over the upland links of the Machynelleth Golf Club.  The course is a delight and the Club are generous hosts. The following day, another hickory match v Aberdovey Golf Club over their famous links, and an evening of good food, fine wine and song with our friends from the Club. And finally, over those same links on the Sunday morning, the fifth Welsh Hickory Championship will be as keenly contested as ever. Entry forms for all of these events were distributed with December TTG, but if you want to enquire about late entries, ring Eiron Morgan, the organiser, on 01639 896773.

Hickory Match v Machynelleth GC, Gwynedd. Arr: Eiron Morgan

President's Day/AGM. Royal Liverpool GC, Hoylake. Arr: Geoffrey Piper

Geoffrey Piper admirably organised the Presidents Day at Royal Liverpool on Friday 29th April. The clubhouse was being refurbished for the Open next year, and upstairs was out of bounds for all those without hard hats. Despite the make-do surroundings and informal lunch arrangements, the competitors were made to feel welcome and some excellent scores were returned on a very nice day for golf.
David Wright of the PGA and Joe Pinningtom of the home club won the event with 38 points, closely followed by Sue Timberlake and Bob Grant on 37.
1. 38pts David Wright and Joe Pinnington
2. 37pts Sue Timberlake and Bob Grant
3. 36pts Tim Sharpley and Robert Owens bih
4. Tony Thorpe and Richard Jeffs bih
5. Daphne Johnston and Tony Timberlake

The Society AGM and Dinner was held at the Kings Gap Hotel, Hoylake. 89 sat down to a sumptuous meal followed by a lively auction organised by David Kirkwood where £400 was raised for the Presidents Charity.

North Scottish Spring/Summer Meeting. Cruden Bay GC, Aberdeenshire. Arr: Hamish Ewan/Tom Tew

Report from Hamish Ewan
BRAM STOKER WRITES ANOTHER CHAPTER AT CRUDEN BAY
With the sun shining and the broom and gorse in full bloom where else would you want to go for a day’s golf than Cruden Bay.To walk the fairways between those magnificent dunes whispering their memories of Vardon, Braid et al.- bliss.
And so fifteen members and their guests arrived there in May and after lunch set off in breezy conditions to tackle the course. Some won, some came out equal and others contributed another horror story to the Scaurs of Cruden but all were of one accord that the venue was an excellent choice. It was good to see a sizeable contingent from south of the border and I am sure that like Bram they will return south with their own tales to tell. The most successful of them was Clive Mitchell who had nearest the pin at the 16th and took the runner-up prize with 35 points. Ian Cooper, (Peter Abbot’s guest from Nairn) won the nearest the pin prize at the 4th and took third prize with 33 points. The team prize was won by John Still, John Mullock and Chris Homer albeit an accountant was responsible for the scoring!
However the only man to firmly suck the blood from the course was Scott Patrick with an excellent score of 38 points - don’t know if it was the thought of Dracula rising before he left in the evening or the sun shining that inspired him but well done Scott. He was ably assisted around by Jake Davidson and John Pearson.
I went round with David Kirkwood and Bob Strachan and all I can say about them is I hope they practised hard for the Grail!!
After an excellent high tea (which completely confused our English members - they did not know if they were getting breakfast, lunch or dinner or all three rolled into one) Tom Tew and I left to return North and the rest to their respective homes. That is most did except for Peter Heath and John Pearson, who on finding their hotel was not the “Red Light” they thought it was decided to enjoy a few extra holes and were last seen striding the fairways in the setting sun.
Let’s hope they got in before dark.

Scottish Hickory Championship. Gullane GC, East Lothian. Arr: John Rigg/Archie Baird Draw

Americans clean up
Americans took just about all the prizes in the Scottish Hickory Championships held over Gullane No 3 on Friday 27th May.
Mark Wehring, a young 5 handicap player from Houston, Texas, had a net 69 and won the Championship by two strokes from Roger Hill of Grand Rapids Michigan. Bill Farmer of Dallas, Texas was in third place on net 72.
The scratch award was won by Randy Jensen, a pro from Omaha, Nebraska, with a 72. Owe Werner, whose card was late in arriving with the organiser did not appear on the prize-list but should have taken second place with a 78. Neil Hutchinson from Middlesbrough a past winner of the Scottish Hickories, was third with a scratch 79 on the better inward half from Chuck McMullin from Williamsburg, Virginia.
Gillian Kirkwood from Gullane won the Ladies prize with a net 77.
Picture right shows Mark Wehring being presented with his prize by Jean Jackson, wife of the British Golf Collectors' Society Captain, Alan Jackson.
Results
Scottish Hickory Championship
1. Mark Wehring 74-5 net 69
2. Roger Hill 81-10 net 71
3. Bill Farmer 77-5 net 72
Scratch
1. Randy Jensen 72
2. Owe Werner 78
3. Neil Hutchinson 79 bih
4. Chuck McMullin 79
Ladies
1. Gillian Kirkwood 89-12= net 77
Morning Foursomes at Musselburgh Old Course
1. Roger Hill and Chuck McMullin
2. Rod Lambert and John Pearson

After the Prizegiving, the BGCS Captain, Alan Jackson presented John Rigg with a Frank Wood Print of Gullane in recognition of his retirement after 21 years of organising the Scottish Region.
L to R:David Kirkwood, Archie Baird, John Rigg, Alan Jackson

Photos of the Grail and Scottish Hickory events

Centenary Hickory Match v Worthing GC. Arr: Philip Truett
This event is being organized by Philip Truett, who is looking for authentic costume of 100 years ago. The Club has two courses, the older being designed by Harry Colt. Should be a good day. Ring Philip on 020 8686 1080 if you would like a game.

Open Championship Meeting. Panmure GC, Angus. Arr: Ron Beatt
We were extremely fortunate to be able to play over Panmure, a qualifying course when the Open Championship is played at Carnoustie. It is a classic seaside links, maintained to a high standard.
Many thanks go to Ron Beatt and Panmure Secretary Charles Philip for the excellent arrangements, and to David Kirkwood who acted as starter.
56 members took part in the competition, which took the form of a Stableford with hickory players receiving four extra strokes.
The event was won by Gillian Bowness, pictured right, who managed to avoid Panmure's tiger rough in carding an excellent Stableford score of 39 points from a handicap of 14.
The BGCS Hon Sec., Tony Thorpe and Neil Scaife were joint runners up on 36 points.
American John Bonjenoor took 34 points, closely followed by Graham Rowley on 33 and William Tanner on 32.
The first guest prize went to Lesley Philip, wife of the Panmure Secretary with 39 points and the irrepressible Peggy Crabtree took first Lady prize with 31 points.
Members and their guests enjoyed an excellent dinner and were entertained afterwards by the Secretary and Captain of Panmure who spoke about the club's history (founded 1845) and Douglas Adam who toasted the game of golf.
BGCS Captain, Alan Jackson, presented David Hamilton with the Murdoch Medal for advancing the literature of golf significantly with his latest book "Precious Gum".

David Hamilton admires the Murdoch Medal
presented to him at the Panmure Open Meeting

Scotland v England Hickories Match. Musselburgh Old Course GC. Arr: Archie Baird/John Pearson

The first foursome in the Scotland v England match
L to R: Roy Hobbis, Ron Beatt, Neil Hutchinson, William Tanner

Scotland beat England at Musselburgh
Scotland won by 5.5 matches to 1.5 and the coveted trophy was presented to the non-playing Scottish Captain, Archie Baird, at a dinner in the evening.
Results (Scottish names first)
William Tanner and Ronald Beatt halved with Neil Hutchinson and Roy Hobbis,
David Kirkwood and John Still beat Anthony Thorpe and Keith Bilbie 2 & 1,
Gillian Kirkwood and Scott Patrick beat Christopher Homer and Lionel Freedman 1 hole,
Hamish Ewan and David Hamilton beat Rod Lambert and Richard Carr 1 hole,
John Dixon (Ireland) and Eiron Morgan (Wales) (aka the Celtic fringe) beat Graham Walters and Derek Moore 3 & 2,
John Rigg and Alan Jackson beat Robert Mann and Alan Sowerby 1 hole,
Jim Colville lost to John Pearson (English Captain) 2 holes.

North Scottish Autumn Meeting. Kingussie GC. Arr: Hamish Ewan/Tom Tew

Report from Hamish Ewan
‘HICKORY’ HOMER IS “MONARCH OF THE GLEN”
On a day filled with soft white clouds scudding over the Grampians ten members of the Society took to the fairways of Kingussie to enjoy not only the golf but the magnificent scenery which surrounds this picturesque Highland course - and what a day they got.
From South of the border came our esteemed Captain, Alan Jackson accompanied by his chaufeusse, Jean, who managed to negotiate some of the steeper slopes just like Stirling Moss. Warren Latham appeared accompanied by his caddy, Christine along with Roy Hobbis and Chris Homer who was making his second appearance of the year at a North Scottish Meeting.
They were all most welcome.
Although some of our regulars were unable to attend it was good to see some “old” familiar faces in Ron Beatt, Barry Kerr and Scott Patrick with Ian Nalder making his first attempt at serious hickory play this year.Ron also brought along a friend of his, yes, he does have some,
Bob Redpath who has also submitted his application for membership and will make an excellent addition to the Society.
I think most of the players must have been overcome by the scenery judging by the scores but with Chris Homer being used to these views he took advantage of us all to return a score of 33 points to just pip Scott for first prize.Scott had been on the go since 6.30 a.m. so he had an excuse but none of the rest of us had. Nearest the pin prizes were won by Ian Nalder, Barry Kerr and myself but judging by the conversation round the table all were winners having played Kingussie on such a beautiful day. Definitely a case of a tollerable green, a tollerable day and especially tollerable company.
Lively discussion followed the meal and I am sure that some of the subjects will appear in Through The Green before very long.