SoHG Tournament Guidelines
Tournament Guidelines
Revised October 2019
The SoHG Tournament Guidelines are provided here to assist tournament directors, event organizers, golf professionals, golf clubs, their members and their committees in the planning, organizing and conducting of “hickory golf” events.
These guidelines are organized into sections consisting of:
1 – The Competition
2 – Course Set-Up
3 – Equipment
4 – Facilities
5 – Other Items
Questions, comments and requests for assistance can be directed to Bill Geisler, events chair (competitions@hickorygolfers.org) or Rob Ahlschwede, equipment chair (equipment@hickorygolfers.org).
The Competition
Format
The competition should be contested in a format determined by the tournament director or the tournament committee. This format needs to be clearly explained to the competitors well in advance to eliminate any misunderstandings during the competition.
This format choice could be anything from straight medal play to a scramble (many versions of that format exist), different versions of match play (foursomes, four-ball, singles, etc). There are many interesting formats besides these few.
The field could be separated into age divisions – Open(any age or gender), Senior (60+), Super Senior or “Statesman” (70+), and don’t forget the ladies. There should be a Women’s division depending on the number of competitors and the type of competition.
Handicaps can come into some formats. The SoHG maintains a handicap service for its members who wish to establish a “hickory handicap,” and members can avail themselves of this service on the website.
Rules for Competition
Rules/guidelines governing the competition should be in writing and the “rules sheet” should be made available to every competitor before the round begins. Also the rules for the competition should be clearly announced prior to the beginning of play. These rules should include any local rules that would affect the competition, the procedure for breaking ties and plans necessary if the competition is shortened or ended because of weather.
It is suggested that ties be broken by an actual playoff if possible. If it is not possible to have an actual playoff, the procedure for a scorecard playoff should be communicated clearly prior to the beginning of the competition.
Pace of Play
We all love this great game and yet slow pace of play threatens to ruin the experience for all. Ask your players to remember these simple guidelines:
- Keep up with the group in front of you.
- If your group falls behind, it is everyone’s responsibility to speed up the pace to catch back up.
- Be ready to play your shot when it is your turn to play.
- Leave the greens promptly. Record scores on the next tee while you are preparing to tee off.
- Remember, we are guests at the courses we play, and playing the round in the appropriate time maintains good relations with the course and enhances the reputation of “hickory golf.”
Our love of the “hickory game” is rooted in our respect in how the game was originally played more than a century ago. Playing a slow round is not respectful to the game or the other competitors playing the event.
Entry Form
A generic sample entry form will be provided by the SoHG upon request. The entry should clearly state the type of competition, request personal information of the entrant including their division of play and hickory handicap, outline the rules for equipment – clubs as well as balls – and clearly state the entry fee. The entry should also clearly state the rules concerning riding/walking and the use of electronic distance devices. If a tournament dinner is planned, that cost should be included in the fee or indicated on the entry.
Handicaps
The competitor’s handicap should be a “hickory handicap” that can be developed on the SoHG website and made available for all competitions. If the competitor does not maintain a hickory handicap, they should be playing off scratch or 0 (zero). There are several methods for determining a hickory handicap from a USGA handicap (steel), but none are recognized as being very useful. Those formulas may be used if they are explained prior to the entry process.
Course Set-Up
The SoHG approves the following equipment for play in its tournaments and sanctioned events. For setting of course links, please see our table here
| Division | Haskell / Modern Ball Era | Gutta-Percha Era | Featherie Era |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 5,800 – 6,200 yds / 5,300 – 5,670 m | 5,200 – 5,800 yds / 4,755 – 5,305 m | 4,500 – 5,200 yds / 4,115 – 4,755 m |
| Senior 60–69 | 5,200 – 5,600 yds / 4,755 – 5,120 m | 4,700 – 5,200 yds / 4,300 – 4,755 m | 4,100 – 4,700 yds / 3,750 – 4,300 m |
| Super Senior 70+ | 5,000 – 5,400 yds / 4,570 – 4,940 m | 4,500 – 5,000 yds / 4,115 – 4,570 m | 3,900–4,500 yds / 3,565–4,115 m |
| Women | 4,200 – 4,800 yds / 3,840 – 4,390 m | 3,800 – 4,300 yds / 3,475 – 3,930 m | 3,300 – 3,900 yds / 3,020 – 3,565 m |
Note that we have expanded our guidelines to include additional eras of play. In doing this, we have re-labeled our former distance course set up guidelines as “Haskell / Modern Ball Era.” For Gutta-percha Era play, we’ve reduced those yardages by roughly 8–10% after researching late-19th-century course-length records and the period’s well documented Haskell ball distance jump. For featherie play, we have less evidence to work with, but what we can review supports a significant further reduction in yardage, which informs our above suggested ranges.
The main source for the data in our table is this document, which was produced as part of a joint United States Golf Association / The R&A “Distance Insights Project.” Their extensive research culminated in the publication of the Distance Insights Report in February 2020.
Equipment Guidelines
View our equipment guidelines by clicking the button below
Have Questions?
Questions regarding any changes can be answered by the SoHG Equipment Committee chair, Rob Ahlschwede, competitions@hickorygolfers.org.
Facilities
Practice Facilities
If the site has a practice facility it should be made available for all competitors and included in the event fee if possible.
On course refreshments should be available if possible. Hot weather increases the need for water availability during play. If possible, before and after play, refreshments should be available to the players. The availability of food and drink for the event needs to be clearly communicated prior to the event so players can plan appropriately.
If there is to be a “tournament dinner,” the location and time of that event should be communicated early, as well as the cost if this is not included in the entry fee. Restricted areas of the grounds and club need to be clearly stated to all competitors prior to the play.
Awards Ceremony
This is the perfect way to bring competitors together immediately following play to distribute prizes, thank the club and course staff, volunteers and sponsors as well. This is also the best time to announce the next event offered on the calendar as well as the schedule for this event next year.
Other Items
There is a need to make other information available to ensure a good event and add to the enjoyment of the people who have traveled to participate. That would include local dining, accommodations available nearby, and transportation available for those flying or traveling from a distance.
It is important to include the address of the course and related locations. Having a map available is still a good thing.
Non-Golf Activities
Providing a listing of things of interest in the surrounding area can be most helpful for those traveling with competitors.
Media Coverage
If media coverage is important and is available, it is always good to have some information out in the community about the tournament, especially if the event is important to the golfing community.
Dress Code
Typically, the SoHG encourages players to participate in clothing of the hickory golf era. That can mean shirt and tie, slacks or knickers (plus 2s, 4s, etc.), sometimes a jacket, and headwear true to that era – that leaves out visors and baseball caps. Remember, these are guidelines, and your event may find other more casual wear better for your event.