I'm guessing you become your own clubmaker hitting these babies.

I tried Hickory golf once, and broke one of the clubs on an approach shot. Snapped the shaft right in two, because as my name here suggest, I tend to take a HUGE divot when I make contact with the ball. Needless to say I need something a bit more durable to play this game with.

My brother on the other hand, only plays Hickory clubs. I am caddying for him at the first annual "Hickory Masters" which takes place at Mid Pines the same weekend The Masters takes place at Augusta National.

It's definitely an acquired taste.

Don't you have to make your own golf balls ?

    Release play whatever you want in most of these tournaments. I've seen many a ProV1 being played.

        PIGDivot

        I thought the high spin golf balls suits the best for the hickory game. The modern golf balls ( including Pro V ) might not be the best for the game.
        Of course one could play any golf balls they want.

        I go back to the 1950's - 70's for old equipment, but hickory is another world.

            Release they do sell special balls that are manufactured for Hickory play at swap meets that occur at every tournament (you can buy almost anything related to Hickory golf at these swap meets) but there is no requirement to play them. I've seen Top Flites, Srixon, Pinnacle, Titleist, Taylormade, etc played with Hickory clubs.

            The clubs themselves are not USGA conforming either. A lot of these guys make their own clubs, but there are some players who mass produce (Tad Moore comes to mind http://www.tadmoore.com/ ) clubs for anyone interested. Louisville golf also continues to make Persimmon clubs if that is your thing as well.

            My brother, who is scratch with Hickory clubs, started making his own clubs a few years ago, because he didn't like some of the clubs he found that others were making. My father started him in this whole thing about 10 years ago when he got interested in it. My father has an entire wood shop in his garage devoted to making and selling hickory clubs. I think my Dad has lost interest though, as he's 81 now, and not in the best of physical shape, so with the decline of his health, so has his interest waned in anything golf. I think he only plays once a week now, as he just can't handle 18 holes of golf physically anymore.

                PIGDivot

                You are so lucky that your father at 81 is still playing golf a few times a week.
                I wish I could do the same in the future.

                Obviously your family not only involved in the hickory golf playing but also very much involved in the making of those sticks.

                I envy that they have a whole garage dedicated for wood working. That's how Louisville Golf got started.

                The extent of older golf equipment stopped at the 1940's for me since the change over to the steel and metal shaft material. I still love the Persimmon golf clubs but I'm running out of time to get involved in hickory shafts and casting your own golf balls.

                Great that your brother is fully involved in the club making, you could have saved a bundle should you decided to get into the hickory game.

                We have a local chapter here in the Puget Sound and I see their publications all the time......

                  Hmm, looks like it would be a fun challenge. I swing hard, but don't take much in the way of divots, probably could figure it out.

                  4 days later

                  Love the background music!

                  I've never played much with hickory shafts, but I made the occasional hickory-shafted putter where I used to work. It's really satisfying to finish a shaft - we'd just sand them well and finish with a couple coats of stained linseed oil. Since the shaft is solid, you have to create a flat spot on the tip in order to get the shaft to stay inserted while the epoxy sets - this let's the air inside the hosel escape, plus it creates a "key" to keep the shaft in place when cured. Thanks for the memories!

                  Dug up a set I used to love but haven't seen play for decade.

                  Taylormade RAC MB coin forged. 6.0 flighted Rifle and a 56° and a 58° with raw finish.
                  Looking at it , remembering the days it had served well. With the aging and health issue, not able to play much now. This, will probably not see another play with me.

                  Bought it brand new, not sure if I keep it or let it go. My kids probably would not be able to play this set.
                  Younger generations want the set of golf clubs which plays "automatically" or perform "magic" by pressing a button.