Why Hickory Golf?
by Josh Fischer
josh@louisvillegolf.com
One of the best company slogans of all time comes from Harley Davidson: “If I had to explain, you wouldn’t understand.” I think it applies to Hickory Golf. This aphorism provides one charged to promote Hickory Golf with a decidedly difficult challenge. Inherent in promotion is an explanation of the benefits of the thing promoted, and so the golfer asks: why should I let loose of my time and money to play golf with clubs that were used nearly a century ago? At the risk of explanation, I can think of many reasons to play Hickory Golf, but here are the three that seem the most potent.
First, golf is unique because it pits one against oneself and the golf course. Sure, a tournament allows the golfer to see where he or she stacks up against others, but essentially golf is you, your equipment, and the course. The challenge the game gives me is reward in and of itself, self-contained, so the appreciation I have for those shots I hit well stimulate the part of my brain that appreciates beauty and harmony. This is amplified with Hickory Golf, and simplified. When I put my Hickory-shafted set in play golf becomes more about just getting the ball in the hole, hitting whatever knock-down or run-up shot I have to hit, rather than an unfulfilling performance trap obsessed with distance.
Secondly, Hickory Golf grants me access to the original spirit of the game. With Hickory-shafted golf clubs I commune with the roots of the sport as it was gaining momentum in the early 20th century. This “spiritual” trip into the history of golf is the most difficult to explain. Sometimes language fails us, and the Harley Davidson quote applies, but if I had to choose one word to encapsulate the feeling I get when I am in this state, the best word would be joy. I enjoy Hickory Golf because I like thinking about the golfers of the 20s and 30s, and since I have always been an equipment junkie, I like testing myself with the sticks they used. This is why I like playing with our clubs. Golfers from the Hickory era used new clubs, built relatively close to the tee times they used them for. When one of our clubs, built by hand by our craftsmen, comes from the shop and onto the course, it is as close as I can get to what those golfers of yore used. This is arguable I know, but in the context of time, I like what we do. This communion with the past honors golf’s heritage. I am surprised how many “modern” golfers shun and insult golf’s honored past.
Finally, I like to be a little bit different. Let’s face it, Hickory Golf will grow, but it will never be main stream again. As a manufacturer of Persimmon woods, we at Louisville Golf know what it is like to be different. We are asked the same questions every golf season: “You guys still make wood golf clubs?” Yes we do, and as a niche product, we do alright. We feel, as the last company still manufacturing wood golf clubs, that we are keepers of the game’s tradition. This includes Hickory Golf, which gives me the quickest access to the game’s competitive roots, rich heritage and uniqueness. But then, if you have read this far, you probably understand.
AVAILABLE THIS MARCH! (keep checking