TURNING BACK THE CLOCK TO THE DAYS OF HICKORY GOLF
Photo: Ally McNaughton, coaching pro, Lorne Smith, editor of FineGolf and Royal Dornoch juniors Kieran Allan and Mary McFall prepare for the hickory club challenge
TWO promising young Royal Dornoch Golf Club youngsters stepped back in time to experience how golf was played in days of yore.
Dornoch Academy pupils Mary McFall (15) and junior captain Kieran Allan (17) joined teaching pro Ally McNaughton for adjusted handicap two-ball foursomes matchplay with old hickory shafted clubs provided by Lorne Smith during a trip north from his home in East Sussex.
Lorne is the editor of “FineGolf,” a website dedicated to “the running game,” and he has been making the pilgrimage to Royal Dornoch since 1985.
The teenagers swapped their contemporary clubs, which had been put to good effect in the recent Morcott Challenge match with a young US team from the Chicago area, to swing into action with hickories in common use more than 100 years ago.
Ally was paired with 16.7 handicapper Mary, with 12-handicap Littlestone Golf Club member Lorne accompanying Kieran, who usually plays off 11, as they took to the celebrated Championship Course, which still bears the imprint of Old Tom Morris.
After a brief familiarisation with the clubs on the Struie Course, the novices experimented with the traditional “bump and run” game, before taking to the putting green.
“With the wind blowing – 40mph gusts – we were treated to proper conditions for proper golf,” laughed Lorne, who was turned out in plus twos, a linen jacket and bowtie.
Lorne reminded his companions that Neil Hampton, general manager at Royal Dornoch, had contributed to the 100th edition of FineGolf’s newsletter, observing: “Running links golf in Scotland is seen as the original and most enjoyable way to play the game.
“The running game has taught us to use our imagination and picture every shot. Little to do with how far it was, just how you saw the ball wind its way across the ground.”
The youngsters quickly discovered that technological advances have ensured modern clubs have larger sweet spots, designed to be much more forgiving than those from a bygone era.
Lorne said: “The modern metal game is all about power, whereas playing with hickories is about timing and rhythm.
“We were using clubs made between 1890 and 1935, with names like nIblick, mashie and driving irons, which would have been familiar to legendary US course designer Donald Ross when he was golfing here in the town as a young man and as the club’s first ever professional.
“Ally, Mary and Kieran all know the course well but they had to use their imagination to assess how the wind and the ground would influence every shot. A lot of fun was had.
“There is growing interest in hickory golf, organised by the British Golf Collectors Society, and it is always a pleasure to introduce it to a younger generation, especially on such an historic Scottish links course.”
Pro Ally admitted the experience would live long in the memories of Mary and Kieran.
“They both hit some tremendous shots and enjoyed the finesse and creativity required to play with hickories,” he said.
“Kieran particularly enjoyed the old style putters and is in the market for one on Ebay!.
“We can’t thank Lorne enough for sharing his wealth of knowledge of playing with hickories.”
As for the match, it went down the 18th before Ally and Mary clinched victory, although Kieran and Lorne, playing into the wind, could reflect on a memorable one putt par at the infamous 14th, “Foxy.”