~ HICKORY GOLF ~
I love golf.  I learned to play during the summer of 1961 when my mom and I moved to Idaho Falls, Idaho, to be with her new husband Leo Clawson.  I spent many summer days on the Pinecrest Golf Course and still remember the holes, one by one.
Over the years, I got away from golf, then my wife got me a season's pass at the UVA course, Birdwood, saying, "you need a hobby."  Some of my golfing buddies there (from basketball) got me into assemblying/making clubs.  Then my friend in Ohio, Tanner Stewart, got me to Scotland and into hickory golf.  I went to my first hickory event at Pinehurst in November, 2005.  I bought a set of Tad Moore irons (replicas of MacGregor OAs from the 1920's), some clubs from Mike Just at Louisville Golf and began to play a little more, bit by bit.  I've purchased some antique playables, and have assembled maybe three sets now.  It is still harder for me to connect with the sweetspot with these clubs.
Then, Tanner got me to the National Hickory Championship for several years, first in the regular hickories down in the valley at Oakhurst, WV, where I was able to win the reserve division.  Then in 2009, I was fortunately teamed with Tom Johnson, and we won the foursomes competition in our flight at Oakhurst.      The Oakhurst course is the oldest in the US and a very challenging course in layout and because it uses replica gutta percha balls.  The first tee shot goes off the front lawn, down a hill, over a road, between large trees, over a small pond, up a hill and out to a blind landing area.  Wow.  The clubs are pre-1900 vintage, smooth face irons, long nose woods, and we use sand tees.
Then, in July 09 I went to the second US Hickory Open in Morganton, NC on the Mimosa Hills Golf Course.  What a great golf course!  It's a Donald Ross design.  The green on every hole is like a little fortress, a castle in its own right, protected by a dizzying variation of bunkers, mounds, slopes, ravines, etc.  What a challenge and a delight.  I'd signed up for the "Reserve" or net handicap division.  I told Tanner, my roommate, that my goals for the tournament were to shoot two rounds in the 80's.  I shot an 88 (net 72 with my 16 hickory handicap) on the first day and was in fourth place; the leader had a net 67, so I thought my efforts were over.  The second day I got to play with Mike Just, who had made several of my clubs, and Warren Lutz from Pickens, SC.  We had a very nice time.  At the end, I added up to another 88, so net even par for the tournament.  I thought I'm not even in the hunt.  As it turned out, it was the winning score.  I guess to have a net even par in a handicap division and win is a positive testimony to the handicapping system and the way a national championship should be set up.  Let it be known:  I'm no sandbagger!
In November, 2010, I participated in the Mid-Pines/Pine Needles Hickory Invitational in Pinehurst, NC.  The first day of  the tournament is a foursome (alternate shot) event at Pine Needles.  I was paired with David from New Jersey.  The partner of the other player didn't show, so I paired also with Dave Brown from Nebraska.  It was fun and challenging to play with two teams on each stroke.  As it turned out, David and I placed second in the net division and Dave and I placed first in the open division. One highlight for Dave and me was birdieing the difficult par five 10th hole.  My performance was mediocre in the main events, but good enough in the foursomes to take home gold and silver medals.
Cruden Bay path to #9 overlooking #8.  Wow.