How to Restore Hickory Golf Clubs

SoHG Equipment Chairperson
Robert Ahlschwede – equipment@hickorygolfers.org

Tips, tools, supplies and techniques for the repair of hickory golf clubs.

One of the SOHG’s original missions was to serve as a central source of information with regard to resources and maintenance tips for wood-shafted clubs. With that in mind, we present this archive of tips, links and videos from restoration experts to assist hickory players with the care, maintenance and restoration of their clubs. Yes, the job can feel like an endless task, but when you go out to play a club that you, yourself have restored – from shaft to club head, grip to whipping – you will have a greater connection to that club and thus the shot at hand and by extension the very soul of the game itself.

How to Regrip a Club

Mike Just tells us the steps to replace a leather grip on a hickory golf club.

How to Whip a Clubhead

Here, Mike Just shows us how to replace the whipping on a hickory golf club.

How to Remove a Pin

Christian Williams shows us how to find and remove the pin that holds a club head to a hickory golf shaft.

How to Straighten a Warped Shaft

Gary Eley shows us how to straighten a bent hickory shaft using a device made by the late Patrick Kennedy.

How to Remove Stubborn Screws

Chris McIntyre shows us how to remove stubborn slotted screws from a sole plate.

How to Reset and Repin a Clubhead

Christian Williams shares his method for replacing the leather grip on a hickory-shafted golf club.

Hickory Golf Repair Resources

- Golf Club Repair – Americas
  - - John Henry Williams – Clubmaker in the Pacific Northwest. “I have been working on clubs since 1979. Since retiring I have restored and helped hundreds of people with their hickory clubs. Names and references if needed. I currently have clients in 22 states and three countries. Contact me anytime. 206-334-7051
    - Hickory Golf Workshop – Complete repair and restoration services or they can sell you the necessary tools and supplies. Work guaranteed. Offers grips, whipping thread, racks and unusual goodies like shaft straighteners, shaft sanders and whipping stands.
    - Louisville Golf – Offers all services to refinish and repair hickory clubs, from grips to new inserts on woods. Also sells hickory shafts.
    - Tad Moore Golf – Tad does expert work refinishing and repairing hickory clubs.
    - Tim Alpaugh – Accurate restoration and repair of woods and irons. One of the best.
    - Jacob Bengston – Based in northeast Wisconsin, Jacob says he “Can do anything in the workshop for woods or irons short of forging a new iron head.”
    - Oldworldhickorygolf.com – based in the Pacific Northwest, owner Brad Harvey sells restored clubs, repair products and services.
- Golf Club Repair – Europe
  - St Andrews Golf Co. – Vintage club restoration. Check out its Workshop page.
  - Jack White Gullane – Clubs, restoration and more at this great shop in Gullane, Scotland. Run by Boris Lietzow.
  - Past Masters Old Links Golf – One of the few go-to resources for hickory club repair and rebuild in Europe. Rebuilds and repairs derelict clubs.
- Golf Club Repair Tools & Supplies
  - Golf Works – Modern, but often useful for miscellaneous tools, supplies.
- Golf Club Shafts
  - Tad Moore Golf – Tad does expert work refinishing and repairing hickory clubs.
  - Louisville Golf – Offers all services to refinish and repair hickory clubs, from grips to new inserts on woods. Also sells hickory shafts.
- Golf Club Leather for Grips
  - Hickory Golf Grips – Big variety of authentic leather grips, backweights and more for sale, as well as original balls and clubs.
  - Tandy Leather – Leather hides for grips and related tools. Look for deer-tanned cowhide.
  - Distant Drums On Line – Leather hides for grips.

Directory of Hickory Goods
& Services

Looking to get into the hickory game? We maintain regional lists of members who restore, sell or rent hickory clubs. View by clicking on the button below.