hickory stick golf

Still Time To Register For The 2026 Ontario Open Hickory Golf Championship

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REGISTRATION IS STILL OPEN for this key event, though Saturday is now sold out. We can still accomodate Friday and Sunday play. Lots of prizes are available—gross, net, skills and draw. For the warm-up scramble event on Friday, October 2 at Legends-on-the-Niagara, we can still accomodate another four players. The Championship rounds are on Saturday, October 3 and Sunday, October 4.

Image from: https://www.niagaraparks.com/visit/golf-course/whirlpool-golf-course/

Whirpool GC, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, is the site of this years Ontario Hickory Golf Championship. It is a fun course that presents some great challenges for any golfer. Whirlpool Golf Course stands as one of Canada’s most esteemed public golf destinations, boasting a rich history dating back to its opening in 1951. Crafted by the legendary architect Stanley Thompson, Whirlpool represents the culmination of his illustrious career, embodying the essence of his masterful course designs. Nestled alongside the breathtaking Niagara River Gorge, the course showcases Thompson’s signature style with its classic parkland layout and strategic hole placement, offering golfers a delightful mix of challenges and scoring opportunities.

I played this event in the past. It is awesome to play with like minded golfers of varying experience. If you are looking for a golfing adventure, I recommend you traveling to the Niagara region to partake in this fantastic hickory event.

This year, I am participating in the Friday fun scramble. Should be a great time and I look forward to teaming up someone with big shoulders who can carry me to victory. 😉

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

Playing Twilight Golf

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Last night my friend Charlie and I hit the links to play some twilight golf at the Mattawa Golf and Ski Resort. There were very few people on the course and we were able to get in 11 holes. We were using our hickory sticks to add to the fun. As darkness slowly descended upon us we notice a couple of things that made our experience more enjoyable. These are things that might make your round better as the end of our golf season is just around the corner.

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Golf Season Is Almost Here!

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Many of the local golf courses open tomorrow, Friday May 1st. It is an exciting day for my game as I can finally shake off the cobwebs and hit the links with a huge smile on my face. Every year about this time many golfers in northern climes prepare for a short golf season that lasts between six and seven months. During this preparation, many players go through a well practiced routine that enables them to hit the links ready, able and willing to loop the links. Right now we are still in the single digits for temperatures, but a few layers and I will be ready to play. There is so much to look forward too that helps build my anticipation for playing my most favourite sport.

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WORLD HICKORY GOLF DAY Is Coming

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WORLD HICKORY GOLF DAY is just around the corner. On May 3, 2026, the Golf Historical Society of Canada will be hosting the World Hickory Golf Day at Cambridge Golf Course. This is an annual event and it is designed to celebrate playing golf with hickory sticks and to introduce players to using wooden shafted golf clubs. I have played this event for many years and I am planning to celebrate this event by playing with my hickory sticks. I year’s past, this is the first round of golf of the year and what a great way to celebrate.

The following is more information about this must attend event if you are in the Cambridge, Ontario, area:

2026-World-Hickory-Day-May3-flyerDownload

I hope you can make it!

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

Focused Practice With My Hickory Sticks

/ The Grateful Golfer / 3 Comments

With the Ontario Open Hickory Golf Championship at Whirlpool Golf Course on Saturday, September 20 and Sunday, September 21, 2025 it is time to hone my skills with my hickory sticks. In order to achieve this lofty goal, I am taking more time to practice. Specifically, I am writing my yardages down on my mismatched clubs in order to understand when to hit what club. Due to the manufacturers and age of the clubs, what might seem like a no-brainer 7 iron shot, is actually a challenge because of the different reactions to hitting a ball. Regardless, I have started my journey and I am excited to see what happens this year at the hickory event. Back to how I am approaching my practice times with my wooden shafted golf clubs.

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