Nairn Dunbar Golf Club hosts opening day of the World Hickory Championship
NAIRN Dunbar Golf Club appeared to have gone back in time as it hosted a good old fashioned world championship.
Players from across the globe took part in the World Hickory Golf Team Championship which took place on Monday.
The club is one of four golf courses across the Highlands and Moray that were chosen to host the world championships this week.
Players from around the world are competing at the event using golf equipment that was used pre-1935.
Hickory golf is a version of the sport played with antique wooden-shafted clubs or reproduction wooden shaft clubs.
Hickory golf is mostly played using four golf clubs. They include a Brassie -- similar to a modern fairway wood, Mashie -- roughly comparable to a six iron, Niblick -- a lofted club similar to a wedge and a putter.
In addition, players were also wearing clothing which was used by players pre-1935 as they got into the spirit of the sport’s traditions.
Event organiser Stuart French says the World Hickory Golf Championships is a celebration of the sport’s roots and the way that the game used to be played.
He said all the players taking part are looking forward to an excellent week of competition.
He said: “Hickory clubs were the first golf clubs that were ever played with and opposed to modern day stainless steel and graphite.
“The competition will see golfers play with clubs that were used pre-1935.
“During the competition, golfers will be playing in the period costumes which were regularly used during that time.
“They included tweed jackets, plus ladieswear dresses.
“The World Hickory Golf Championships is serious stuff, but everyone always has good fun playing at the tournament as well.”
This week marks the 18th World Hickory Golf Championship, with the first being held in 2005.
Nairn Dunbar Golf Club hosted the opening day of the World Hickory Golf Championships which started on Monday. The opening ceremony of the world championship took place at the Kingsmills Hotel in Inverness on Sunday.
The World Hickory Open Championship starts on Tuesday and is a three-day competition which starts at Fortrose and Rosemarkie, on Tuesday before continuing on to Brora on Wednesday and is then played at Moray Old Golf Course at Lossiemouth on Thursday.
The Gala Prize Winners dinner is set to take place following the final day of the Open Championship on Thursday.
A total of 16 teams competed at the opening team championship on Monday with Japan the defending team champions from 2023.
Players from all over the world are taking part in this year’s tournament including Australia, Japan the United States as well as from various countries across Europe. They include Austria, Denmark, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and Finland.
Olle Widegren from Sweden is the defending World Hickory Golf Professional champion with Tatjana Thos from Germany the defending women’s world champion.
