hickory shaft golf clubs

Feeling Good About Losing A Match

/ The Grateful Golfer / 3 Comments

I was knocked out of the Open Match Play event held at the Mattawa Golf and Ski Resort. It was the second round and he is a very good player. I played very well, but I was out gunned yesterday. Golf is an amazing sport where on any given day anything can happen. The interesting thing about our match, each of us only gave one hole to our opponent. The rest of the time, the holes were won outright by a birdie. Misha closed me out 3 and 2, yet the match was much closer than the score.

My opponent, Misha, is a long hitting player whose greatest advantage is length. I hit some very good drives, yet Misha was easily 40 yards longer. Not only did he hit the ball a great distance, he was straight and in play on all shots except for one (he still shot par on the hole after taking one penalty stroke).

During the front nine, neither of us putted all that well. We had several opportunities but I was the only one to make birdie. After the front nine, I was 1 up and I shot a one over par 38. Misha also shot a 38 with only one bogey for the round.

On the 10th hole I missed a short putt to go two up. I opened the door a crack and Misha took total advantage. Rattled off four consecutive wins with three birdies and a par. Suddenly, I was down three with four holes to go. After pressing the next two I was closed out 3 and two.

I played Misha last year and won the match. The difference this year was Misha’s control with every club. If he missed, he did so by the narrowest of margins. His putting heated up on the back and I could not keep pace. When we finished I was one over and he was two under. It was a great match and I am hoping to play against him again next year.

On a side note, I mentioned that I play hickory sticks and had an extra set given to me by Lorne Emery, president of the Golf Historical Society of Canada. He said that he would be interested in playing a round with them in September. I will connect with in a few weeks and he can give them a try.

Well, I am out of the match play competitions for this year. Not winning is new, but my ego can take it. 😉 I a happy to lose to Misha because he won the match!

I want to thank Mike and Brenda the owners and operators of the Mattawa Golf and Ski Resort for their continued support of the match play tournaments.

I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!

500th Hickory Stick Golf Game

/ The Grateful Golfer / 5 Comments

In just a few short years, my friend Lorne Emery has played his 500th game using his hickory shafted golf clubs. An ardent player of old clubs, Lorne invited me to join him on his historic journey. As I arrived early at the Cambridge Golf Club to discuss Lorne’s hickory stick passion, I quickly realized that this phase of his golf journey has only just begun. Listening to him talk about the history of golf and how it applies to present day equipment demonstrates that today’s innovations in clubs are rooted in hickory sticks. Lorne and I had a fantastic day that encompassed more than just talking about hickory sticks.

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Celebrating 95 Years at the Renfrew Golf Club

/ The Grateful Golfer / 1 Comment

The Renfrew Golf Club is 95 years young. It has a long history of excellence that show in every aspect of the golf course. Driving up to the club house I was awed by picturesque scenery. The moment I stepped onto the grounds I was impressed by the golf course. As I played each hole, I became more impressed by the condition of the course, the design and the architecture of each hole. I have to say that I am thrilled to be invited to the 95 year hickory stick celebration. Charlie and I thoroughly enjoyed the low key even with our friend Lorne Emery, President of the Golf Historical Society of Canada. We want to thank Bob West for inviting us an sharing is this momentous occasion.

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Hickory Golf Challenge Review

/ The Grateful Golfer / 1 Comment

On Friday past I attended the Hickory Golf Challenge at Manderley on the Green in North Gower. This was the first year for the Hickory Challenge and the organizer/host Chris Hawes pulled out all the stops. “The impetus for this tournament is really all the great events I have been able to attend through my short time as a hickory golfer, says Christopher Hawes. “Everyone is welcoming and full of character, and the emphasis, while being competitive, is on the pure enjoyment of the game.” It was a well organized event that offered a little something everyone. If you want to participate in an outstanding Hickory Golf event, then next year this is a must attend.

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Busy Week Of Golf

/ The Grateful Golfer / Leave a comment

I am entering a very busy week of golf. I am playing six of seven days with a hickory stick tournament in Ottawa and a friendly in Renfrew with my wooden shafted clubs. This increased activity happens every year and I am enjoying the increased time on the links. Today, I am playing a match for the Open Match Play event I organized at my home course and it should be fun playing against a new opponent. With all this increased activity, I learned a long time ago to pay attention to the little things in my game to ensure I am playing my best for the week.

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