World Hickory Open 2014

Next month, hickory golfers from across the globe will head to Carnoustie Country to compete in the World Hickory Open 2014, to be held on the historic Panmure Medal course, which runs alongside a stunning stretch of Angus coastline.

This is the tenth World Hickory Open and the third time the tournament has been held on a Carnoustie Country Course. “The links courses in this corner of Scotland are ideal for the World Hickory Open, where golfers play with golf clubs made from hickory which are almost identical to those used by golfers over 100 years ago,” said Lionel Freedman, co-founder and director of the World Hickory Open, which takes place on 7/8 October, 2014.

“Monifieth, a classic links course with a distinguished golfing heritage, hosted the World Hickory Open in 2012, while last year, the tournament was held on Montrose Links, where golf has been played for over 450 years. This year, we’re playing on Panmure Medal, established in 1845 and the course where Ben Hogan famously practiced before the 1953 Open. These are courses where golfers played with hickory clubs, dressed in attire similar to that worn by many of the World Hickory Open’s competitors and who shared the same sense of sportsmanship and camaraderie as today’s hickory golfers.”

The World Hickory Open 2014 is one of the main events in this year’s Carnoustie Country Festival of Golf, which runs from 4-12 October and aims to increase the number of local and visiting golfers playing on Carnoustie Country’s 30 golf courses – which the tournament is certainly contributing towards. In fact, Lionel revealed that, to date, over 100 entries have been received for the World Hickory Open, with high numbers of hickory golfers from Germany, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK and the USA signing up to compete in this highly-popular tournament.

“Over the years, the World Hickory Open has built up a loyal following and, thanks to global media attention over the last couple of years, is now considered one of the main events in the hickory golf calendar,” continued Lionel.

“Many of the world’s top hickory golfers will once again be competing in this year’s World Hickory Open, which has been made even more attractive to professional golfers thanks to our new £3,000 prize fund, sponsored by the World Golf Teachers Federation. £1,000 will be awarded to the top golf professional, with the remainder split between the golf professionals in second to fifth place.”

However, Lionel stressed that the World Hickory Open is for all golfers, professional and amateur, hickory experts and hickory novices. “Hickory Golf is for everyone and although experience of hickory golf is helpful, it’s not compulsory. Playing two rounds of hickory golf on one of Scotland’s top links courses is a true test of golfing skill.”

Entry to the World Hickory Open 2014 costs £240 per golfer, which includes a warm-up competition at Forfar Golf Club on October 6, two rounds on Panmure Medal on October 7/8, the hire of hickory clubs and a gala dinner at Carnoustie Golf Hotel, which overlooks Carnoustie Championship, home of the British Open in 2018.

“If you have a set of hickory golf clubs you’d love to test, would like to try hickory golf or are an accomplished hickory golfer looking for a new challenge, there are still a few entries available,” said Lionel.

To find out more about the World Hickory Open 2014, or to download an entry form, visit www.worldhickoryopen.com

To find out more about Carnoustie Country’s 30 golf courses within a 40-minute drive of Carnoustie Championship, including ‘stay and play’ packages, and Carnoustie Country Festival of Golf 2014, visit www.carnoustiecountry.com

Or 'like’ the Carnoustie Country Facebook page or follow Carnoustie Country on Twitter.

Caption: Playing hickory golf in Carnoustie Country
Credit: Courtesy of www.carnoustiecountry.com