Monthly Event - 23 February 2024

Match Report - 2nd monthly event of the year

Hot and humid conditions are persisting well into 2024 and a hardy group of 13 teed off for the second event of the year.

Henry Akes made his first start in the hickory field (and only his 5th ever round of golf).  We hope to see more of Henry later in the year when he returns from extended international travels.  

Despite the oppressive conditions some good score were returned.  Your Secretary and scribe produced some rare form (with the aid of a generous handicap) to come in with 24 points.  (It has to be noted that the President and Handicapper declared before the event that 'if you cant win off that handicap your should give the game away').  Looks like I'll be back next month with appropriate handicap adjustment.

Second place was decided on a count back with Mark Heiser pipping Bruce Collins.  Both had good rounds scoring 22 points for the 9hole event.

Greg Cooper, Bradley Tatnell, Ross Bishop, David Jones and Roger Gibson all scored 18 points or better.

The 4 point club

We have a new season long competition!  Bradley Tatnell put forward the idea of a 4 point club.  Any player who scores 4 stableford points (or more) on a single hole will win a HGQ golf ball.  Ever 4 pointer will be recorded and at the end of year dinner the player with the most 4 pointers will receive a generous prize.

We thank Bradley for his suggestion and thank him even more for donating $200 to kick off the 4 point club.

Upcoming events

Our next monthly event is scheduled for 22 March at RQ.  Registration open for this event and invitations will be sent on 8 March.

The Queensland Hickory Championship will be held on 21 and 22 April.  The field will be limited to 24 players.  More information and registration details will be sent to all members in due course.

NZ, South Australia and Barnbougle events are all getting close.  Details are on the website under the Upcoming events tab.  

Brisbane Golf Club is going to host Sunday 18 hickory events through out the year.  The first is will be held on 12 May with tee times around midday.  The events are designed to encourage golfers who can't make to the course on Fridays to try hickory golf.  If you know anybody who wants a game of hickory this may the ideal starting point.  Special green fees of only $40 are offered as an incentive.   More detail will be available soon.

Report by PA

Reflections - by Arthur O'Shea 

Today we reflect on the origins of the golf ball.

The earliest examples of the golf ball were made from Beachwood.  From the early 15th Century these balls would have been seen on the links of the east coast of Scotland.  They were produced by local carpenters.  Being hand turned every ball would have been unique.  These balls would travel up to 100 yards.

From 1486 to 1600 golf ball makers were experimenting with round leather balls hand sown and stuffed with cow hair, straw or feathers.  These balls were known as The Hairy Golf Ball and The Featherie.

The featherie ball c.1500 was hand sown cowhide stuffed with goose feathers.  Feathers were boiled and packed tightly into the cowhide.  Enough feathers to fill a top hat went into every ball. As the balls dried the feathers expanded and the leather shrunk making a hard ball ideal for golf.  This ball could fly over 200 yards.

The featherie was played for nearly 3 centuries.  Unfortunately even the most experienced ball makers could only produce 1 or 2 featheries per day...this made them very expensive.  The hairy golf ball continued to be used up until the early 18th century because they were less expensive to make.  The hairy became known as the common ball.

In 1845 the invention of the smooth guttie ball opened golf to the masses...to be continued next month.

   A.T.