Foxburg host Tom Johnson reports:

Greetings everyone, 

The Foxburg Hickory Championship is a three-day hickory-shaft golf tournament with feathery, gutty, and post-1900 divisions for early golf aficionados who love the challenges of the period equipment.  This year’s 18th annual tournament, Aug. 13-15, provided a great three days! Camaraderie and humility are always present during a pre-1900 event, but this week rivaled some of our all-time experiences. 

Foxburg Country Club is a most authentic golf course for gutty.  Superintendent David Miller had the grounds in top condition, adding to the daily challenge. The venerable old course, with its lush rough and period small greens, defended itself with vengeance. Even with the strong play and keen competition, scores were higher than previous years. 

The weather topped in the low 80s all three days, with morning starts in the high 60s. 

Feathery Challenge
Thursday’s play now includes a increasingly popular part of the tournament. The Foxburg Feathery Challenge is a 9-hole feather ball medal competition organized and produced by Ross Snellings and Bill Hamilton. They are on a mission to be a prime feathery event, we appreciate their enthusiasm and efforts.

We were up to 15 entrants this year, with 12 making the 9-hole trek. After the final putt, Mr. Jacob Smith won the contest with a score of 41 on the modified course. Mr. Bill Wardwell was second with 45, and Mr. Ryan Trembath edged Elmer Nahum in a scorecard playoff for third place with 46.

We expect the feathery competition to continue to grow. The period attire of 170 years ago adds an elegance that was part of the golf landscape of early golf.  

Friday and Saturday, the feature days of the FHC.
Friday’s play was spirited, with scores reflecting the challenge of the course. 

The Post-1900 Division was led by Mr. Jim Wilhelm (Paris, Ont., Canada), with a solid score of 93. The Braid Open Division was led by Mr. Chris Miller (Pennsylvania) at 92. The Braid Master Division was led by local member Mr. John Brosnahan (Emlenton, Pa.) with a score of 104.

 The main event of the Foxburg Hickory Championship is the Park Division. Always the largest portion of the field and most competitive division. Mr. James Kaiser (Louisville, Ky.) led all first day scores with an excellent 84. Following Mr. Kaiser were Mr. Rob Geiger (Sewickley, Pa.) and Mr. Bill Geisler (Winter Park, Fla.) each with 87. Two-time defending champion Mr. Bill Wardwell (Turners Falls, Mass.) was two back with 89. 

Results from Saturday’s play for the Post-1900 group included Mr. Wilhelm continuing his fine play, capturing the Post-1900 Open title. Mr. Bob Mirt (Pittsburgh, Pa.) took the Senior crown with Mr. Ron Miller (Pennsylvania) grabbing the Masters division title. In the Braid Division, Mr. Chris Miller clinched the Open title with steady play, and Mr. Brosnahan’s solid round secured the Masters Division. 

Now to the Park ball contestants where the final round drama increases and there is more movement among the leaders in all three divisions – Open, Senior, and Master.  The low score among those competitions is deemed the Foxburg Hickory Champion.  The champion’s name is placed on the plaque with the 17 previous champions and displayed on a trophy mounted in the Hickory Stick Pub. 

Early struggles on Saturday brought Mr. Kaiser back to the field. The final few holes came down to four players within three shots – Geiger, Kaiser, Geisler, and Wardwell – all capable and in position to win the Championship with back and forth among three primary characters. 

Bill Geisler’s steady play down the final few holes secured him the title of Foxburg Hickory Champion, claiming the Senior Division and placing his name on the plaque as Medalist with a score of 177. James Kaiser claimed the Open title with 179, and Bill Wardwell continued his Foxburg success securing the Master champion award with 179. Rob Geiger finished just one back with 180. 

Mr. Geisler later said that he had never seen the course in such wonderful condition, crediting the work of David Miller and his crew for the superb playing surfaces.

Generosity of Foxburg players and supporters
Among the many wonderful occurrences this week, there were a couple of golf club donations to the club’s museum that deserve notice. I am always impressed by the desire among us to ‘Pay it Forward’.

Tom Irving donated a pre-1900 play set comprised of two Louisville Transitional woods and four Cann & Taylor JH Taylor autograph irons, with a matching putter. The original irons are from a highly respected club maker. The mashie is a patent model, especially appropriate as it has a Pittsburgh stamp on the head. All are in great, playable condition and will work well in a pre-1900 promotional event on the horizon as well as others down the road as we increase our inventory. 

Frank Rosenzweig’s contribution of 15 clubs included a1920-era play set starting with two woods, one a fancy face. Also included in this set are three Wright & Ditson St. Andrews irons and a putter to fill the set. Additionally, Frank gave the club eight smooth-faced irons, all in refurbished playable condition, plus a Mills RNG putter with registration mark.

The generosity of these two gentlemen was done quietly with no fanfare, but I feel that sharing their generosity will remind others to ‘Pay it Forward’. Pay it Forward, by the way, is the name of a similar gutty event in Wisconsin. Hosted by Jim ‘Wally’ Koss it, too, pays forward the generosity of its participant/players. 

The support that Karen and I receive from the spouses and guests of the Foxburg players, plus the many people who attend as spectators, is joy to experience.  We are fortunate to have so many people with us every year.  We are much more than just the competitors.

We all share a heartfelt thanks to Foxburg Country Club and the massive efforts from Dawn Welsh, Dave Miller, and the balance of the staff. The opportunity to play this type of golf on this most appropriate historic course is something we never take for granted.  To be hosted and treated so well is no accident, just hard work and sincerity – Thank You. 

Karen and I thank all attendees and outside supporters. Your enthusiasm and generosity through the play club raffle and candy sales enabled us to provide an additional $3,500 donation to the club on top of green and cart fees, plus pro shop and bar revenue over the several days. That’s an impact!

I hope you will all be with us again next year. The dates for 2027 are Aug. 12-14. 

Tom and Karen Johnson 

Click here for the Feathery Challenge Results.
Click here for the overall scoring summary.