Golfers jumped back in time for the third annual Ottawa Hickory Golf Challenge this weekend. Fridays International Friendship Scramble offered a day of fun at Manderley on the Green, with more than 130 golfers sporting historic attire and swinging decades old clubs for the golf gathering. James Edgar has been playing golf for about three years but says he’s always wanted to play with Old Hickory clubs. “I managed to get one of my putts in for the putting challenge, which is great. A little bit different from my modern mallet putter. Less weight in the club. That was exciting,” Edgar said. “I’m just practicing my chipping onto the green here for those little fringe shots.” The event aims to adhere to the general golf rules and etiquette, including no shorts. Hickory Golf is played with pre-1935 era clubs or replicas, and golfers dress in vintage clothing, including plus-fours trousers, neckties, flat caps and argyle socks. The event is also a fundraiser for a local charity, the Osgoode Emergency Food Cupboard. “We are benefiting this organization, which is the basically helping people in our community, but the goal of this is the fun,” said Chris Hawes, founder of the Ottawa Hickory Golf Challenge. Some participants even travelled from outside the country for the tournament, including Ron and Nadine Perlman who made the trip from New Jersey. Ron has been playing Hickory golf about 8 years. Although Nadine has played golf before, this is her first time playing in this style of tournament. “A good golfer with regular clubs. Let’s see if we can put some hickories in her hand. Let’s see what happens. The last couple of days have been playing a little nine-hole courses and I’ve been doing a crash course with her playing Hickory. She’s starting to hit it pretty good,” said Ron. “Hickory is different. When you golf with metals, it’s easier than hickory. Hickory. They’re heavier,” said Nadine. “They’re a little harder, but I’m getting used to it. Hawes is also an Ottawa-based maker of handcrafted replica hickory golf clubs, which are mainly used by the golfers in the competition. “The Hickory community is just that, you want to play with people that you like from different cities all over. Hickory is the way to do it,” said Hawes. The Ottawa Hickory competitive open will take place on Saturday and Sunday at Stonebridge Golf & Country Club.
