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US Hickory Open

Northwest Hickory Players will host the 19th annual U.S. Hickory Open, presented by the Society of Hickory Golfers, at Gearhart Golf Links (1893) on the coast of Oregon. The event will be held Sept. 11-13 (practice round on the 11th) in 2026.

A waitlist has begun, so if you did not quite make the deadline to register, the waitlist is the next best thing.

The Field Has Sold Out for the 2026 USHO

A waitlist has begun, so if you did not quite make the deadline to register, the waitlist is the next best thing.

Things to Note:

All players must be a member of the Society of Hickory Golfers with an established hickory handicap.

This marks only the third time the USHO will be contested in the western United States, the first being at Pebble Beach Resorts’ 1897 Del Monte Golf Course in 2017, also hosted by Northwest Hickory Players, and subsequently in 2021 at Gearhart Golf Links.

“Gearhart Golf Links is an exceptional venue for this tournament,” says Northwest Hickory Players tournament organizer and Olympia (WA) resident, Rob Ahlschwede. “David McLay-Kidd, acclaimed architect of Bandon Dunes and Mammoth Dunes, ranked Gearhart in his “Top 10 Favorite Places” in the March 2020 edition of Golf Magazine. Golf Professional, Jason Bangild, is also one of the best in the business, and has welcomed NWHP’s three-day Columbia Cup to the course every July since 2015. The seaside course offers a true links-style experience, perfectly suited to the original equipment used by global hickory golf collectors and enthusiasts.”

Tournament Information

Registration for the 19th USHO at the Gearhart Golf Links in Gearhart, Ore., was activated at NOON Pacific Standard Time on Sunday, Feb. 15.

All players must be a member of the Society of Hickory Golfers with an established hickory handicap.
$450 Tournament Entry Fee
The entry fee covers a Welcome Gift, One Practice Round, Two tournament rounds*, First tee snacks Saturday and Sunday, Welcome Reception Friday at 6:30 p.m., and Dinner Saturday at 7:00 p.m.
Please note: For the U.S. Hickory Open, no measuring devices are permitted.

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*Rolling Tee Times start at 8 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
The entry fee does not include a power golf cart (this can be an additional fee upon registration).
Gearhart Golf Links is an easy walk.
Caddies are available for $80 per round plus gratuity.
If you have questions about the tournament, please email our Tournament Coordinator, Casey Poore at: caseyp@gearhartgolflinks.com

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The field will be limited to 72 players. Entries will be collated on the basis of the date and time of day the entry is received. If a wait list is necessary that list will be developed in the same fashion and vacated spots will be filled in that order. The SoHG website’s U.S. Hickory Open page will be used for the entry, completed over the Internet.

Please Note:

Caddies

There will be caddies available for the event and if you desire to have a caddie for the tournament make sure you indicate that in the provided space on your entry form. There should be enough caddies available for anyone who desires one.
To request a caddie, please email our Caddie Master, Jamie Dunnam. jamied@gearhartgolflinks.com

Power and Walking Carts

Your entry fee does not include the use of a power cart. There are power carts and walking carts available for a fee paid in the Golf Shop. Gearhart Golf Links is a relatively easy walking course.

Handicaps

Only handicap indexes from the SoHG’s website handicap system will be accepted for this tournament. Those members that do not have such a handicap will play oﬀ scratch. The only GHIN handicap that might be used is if the member has only entered hickory rounds to establish that index. The tournament handicap committee reserves the right to confirm all handicaps as well as make adjustments to handicaps during the tournament as may be necessary. All decisions of the tournament handicap committee shall be final.

Equipment Compliance

It is the responsibility of each applicant to ensure that his/her equipment complies with the SoHG equipment guidelines. Penalty is disqualification. A copy of these guidelines can be found on the Society’s website, under “Tournaments/Guidelines/Hickory Golf Equipment Guidelines. Any questions, please contact Rob Ahlschwede (Equipment Chair) at swedeberger@gmail.com

The Course

The four divisions will play oﬀ diﬀerent tees.

The Open will play oﬀ the Black tees (6,176 yds; 70.8/137)
The Senior division will play oﬀ the White tees (5,741 yds: 69.3/131)
The Super Seniors will play oﬀ the Green tees (5,157 yds: 66.1/121)
Women will play oﬀ Special designated tees (4,283 yds: 66.3/120)

Accommodations and Travel

See more information in our Travel & Lodging page.

Past Results

2025 USHO at Hot Springs Country Club, Hot Springs, Ark.

2024 USHO at Kenosha Country Club, Kenosha, Wisc.

2023 USHO at the Inwood Country Club, Inwood, N.Y.

2022 USHO at the Mission Inn Resort at Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla.

2021 USHO at the Gearhart Golf Links in Gearhart, Ore.

2020 USHO at the Happy Hollow Club in Omaha, Neb.

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USHO Policies and Procedures

This booklet was prepared by the USHO Committee to assist local USHO host committees with the difficult task of managing the annual tournament. The booklet covers such items as course management, awards, communications, sponsorships and much more. The guidelines were assembled based on several years’ experience from previous committees.

Each region that would submit a Host Proposal should download the USHO Policies and Procedures PDF and share the document with its members who should become familiar with its contents.

The booklet contains information on how to submit a site/host proposal.
For questions and advice on any point, please contact Dave Brown, USHO Site Selection Chairman; or James Davis, Exec. Director of the SoHG.

USHO Host Proposal Guidelines
The SoHG’s U.S. Hickory Open is designed to rotate on a four-year basis around four defined geographical regions of the U.S. This rotation began in 2018 with the East region.
East (East Coast to the Appalachian Mountains)
Midwest (East of the Mississippi River to the Appalachian Mountains)
Heartland (West of the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains)
West (West of the Rockies)

Each Jan. 1, the SoHG will issue a call for proposals for the target region. For 2027, that is the East Region. Proposals must be received by May 1, 2026. Send your proposal to USHO Site Selection Chairman Dave Brown.

Open the Policies and Procedures book, above, to view guidelines for submitting a site/host proposal.

Past USHO Program Books
2011 – Donald Ross Course, French Lick Resort, French Lick, Ind.
2012 – Donald Ross Course, French Lick Resort, French Lick, Ind.
2013 – Bay Course at Seaview Resort, Galloway, N.J.
2014 – Country Club of Ashville, Ashville, N.C.
2015 – Miami Valley Country Club, Dayton, Ohio
2016 – Links Course at Lawsonia, Green Lake, Wisc.
2017 – Del Monte Golf Club, Monterey, Calif.
2018 – Sedgefield Country Club, Greensboro, N.C.
2019 – Belvedere Golf Club, Charlevoix, Mich.
2020 – Happy Hollow Club, Omaha, Neb.
2021 – Gearhart Golf Links, Gearhart, Ore.
2022 – Mission Inn Resort, Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla.
2023 – Inwood Country Club, Inwood, N.Y.
2024 – Kenosha Country Club, Kenosha, Wisc.
2025 – Hot Springs Country Club, Hot Springs, Ark.
2026 – Gearhart Golf Links, Gearhart, Ore.