Not every golfer believes his game has advanced in lock step with the sport's equipment.
Some, like those in the Society of Hickory Golf, think golf was a purer game with a more level playing field before technological advances reduced traditional courses to pitch-and-putts.
So they will return to one of the game's great traditional courses, the Donald Ross Course at French Lick Resort, for the United States Hickory Open Championship Monday through Wednesday.
Monday is a practice round, with the competition set for Tuesday and Wednesday. There is an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start.
The record field of 81 will include two hickory golfers from Evansville, Fendrich head pro Dave English and Max Hollon, 68, who works part-time at the Fendrich pro shop.
"I've always been interested in the history of the game and golf memorabilia," said English. "But it was Max who really got interested first after he went to one of their tourneys."
That was the Foxburg (Pa.) Hickory Tournament last summer.
"I started playing golf with a hickory set I got from an uncle," said Hollon. "So I was always interested, but once I went out there and watched the tournament I was completely taken with it.
"It takes the game back to its roots. You can't just go out and hit it hard like golfers do today. There's got to be a rhythm to it. You've got to swing the club through the ball."
The limitations of the equipment, which can be actual antique period pieces or accurate reproductions, also make the game different, according to the Evansville pair. The equipment has to have a "pre-1930" head design, with hickory shafts and grips that are no more than a strip of leather.
"The short shots are the hardest part because of the gaps (in loft) between clubs," said Hollon. "You don't have a wedge for everything and putting is more difficult, too."
English laughed at that last contention.
"For some reason I can't explain it's improved my putting immensely," he said. "It might be because it's helped my basic golf swing, made it more rhythmic, smoother. You have to pass through the ball instead of impacting it as hard as you can."
Both said hickory golf is a completely different game than the one played with high-tech clubs with monstrous metal heads.
"Clubs today have a sweetspot that's basically the entire club face," said English. "On hickory clubs it's the size of a dime. Plus, you can't compress the ball the same way or hit it as far. You have to use a lower compression ball.
"It also makes a well-designed old-style course like the Donald Ross Course more attractive to play. At these courses there's an art to knowing where to miss the green since you can't always get there in what's now considered regulation. And you don't want to get in a bunker.
"This all makes par irrelevant. You get what you get on a hole. I've gotten to where I enjoy this more. I haven't played with a regular set since April."
English's wooden clubs will include a driver, a cleek (5-wood) and a baffy (7-wood). Hollon's wooden clubs include a driver, spoon (3-wood), cleek and baffy. Some golfers also carry a brassie or 2-wood.
English's irons number 4-9 along with two niblicks or wedges. Hollon's include a midiron (4-iron), massie (5-6-iron), benny (8-iron), massie niblick (9-iron), two niblicks and a jigger or rescue club.
English and Hollon played one other team event together, but the U.S. Hickory Open will mark the first time they play their own ball.
"We've been practicing up there when we can or over at Helfrich, which is similar in contour," said English. "We're not sure what to expect, but we know we'll enjoy it, whatever we shoot."
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