Hickory Clubs.eu
Golf as it was meant to be
Nov 2023
Iain was awarded the 2023 CPG 5 star award for his services to proofessioanl golf with special mention made of his work in promoting hickory golf and educating golfers and professionals about golf history.
October 2023
Iain was one of the many professional play in the prestigious Swiss open at Lagano
aug 2023
Iain finished 5th in German Open at Wiesbaden in August
Hickoryclubs were invited to the historic Royal Oostende GC (1903) to help the members celebrate thier 120 year aniversary.
march 2023
Iain spent two enjoyable days at the Turfvaert introducing members to hickory golf
oct 2022
After a 2 year covid break Iain won his 4th Dutch Hickory title after a playoof with Brian Gee.
Iain finish 2 shots behind winner Brian Gee in the 2022 German Open in Bavaria.
May 2022
Iain's Scottish trip to 4 historic courses Gullane, North Berwick, Musselburgh and Dunbar was blessed with fantastic weather. Iain won the Collvile trophy with a round of 71 at Gullane
Juli 2021
Iain finished 2nd in the French Open at Tom Simpsons course in Lys Chantilly with a round of 74.
Iain helped Lausanne GC (Switzerland) celebrate their centenary in true period style. The fantastic event had almost 100 players.
2020 was a very quiet year with many tournaments being cancelled because of covid restrictions, one of the few championshipps to be played was the German Open in Berlin, Iain was able to win this Championship for the 4th time with scores of 72 and 74.
Okt 2019
To celebrate the 60th junoir golf week of the Einhoven Golf Iain gave a demonstration of hickory golf and the kids played 9 holes.
Sept 2019
Iain won the Dutch International hickory championship for the 3 time, pictured with ladies winner Lily Waller
Sept 2019,
Iain won de European Hickory Open with 69 at GC Blijenbeek
Sept 2019,
Iain gave a lecture to the anual congress of the European Assosication of Golf Collectore and Historians at the Rosendaelse GC in Arnhem.
Aug 2019,
Iain and Perry visit South Germany for the Jonny Walker hickory classic at Schloss Langenstein.
July 2019,
GC De Pan celebrated thier 125 year aniversary by play hickory golf on thier Classic Harry Colt masterpeice on a wonderfully sunny day.
June 2019
Iain visited 3 clubs in Italy to introduce them to hickory golf. He also appeared on Italian television. The photo is of the wonderfully Cortina club in the Dolimite mountains.
May 2019
Country Eastate Puyenbroek celebrated it's anaversary with hickory golf on thier public golf course
Jan 2019
A great start to the year at de Eindhovense Golf.
Iain was delighted to help the Dutch Children charity at the Prestigious Dukes course in the central Netherlands.
October 2108
A great end to the hickory year in Germany at GC Am Kloster Kamp together with college professional Erik Okhuizen.
October 2018,
Together with my buddy Perry Somers on the first tee of the Domburgse Links.
September 2018
The German hickory society enjoyed a great day playing the National Champioship near Bremen.
September 2108
Iain won the Biaritz hickory open at one of Europe's oldest clubs (1888) with a round of 72.Glad I didn't win the wooden spoon (see photo)
September 2018
Iain was delighted to win his 2nd European hickory championship (EAGHC) at the historic Pau golf club in France. A rounnd of 74 was good enough to win at Europe's oldest club (1856)
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September 2018
The members of Northern Europes oldest golf club , Royal Antwerp, enjoyed a fantastic day on thier superb Simpson course playing hickory golf
July 2018
Hickory Golf made a surpise apperience at the annual Vlanderen Nederland tournament.
June 2018
Some portrait's from the DHS (Dutch hickory society)event at the Dunes in Zandvoort
March 2018
Iain was exhibiting at Rhien Golf together was fellow members of the Dutch Hickory society
Oct 2017
The Dutch hickory season finished at the historic links of Domburg, it was the last event of the Dutch hickory tour, a series of 5 events played thoughout the year. Iain won at Blijenbeek Gijsteren and the Ullerberg. Brian Gee winning at Nunspeet en Domburg.
Sept 2017
The anuall International Dutch hickory open at the Ullerberg was again a fantastic event.. Iain won the open class with a score of 74. Brita Nord continued to dominate the ladies class.
August 2017,
Iain helped Burggolf with thier charity day at Purmerend in Amsterdam.
August 2017
The hickory event at Kralingen GC (one of Hollands oldest courses) was a great success.
August 2017
Iain Forrester , dressed as Old Tom Morris helped to open G&CC Hoenshuis's new (Swilken)bridge. Iain is availible (as Old Tom) to help with events.
May 2017,
Iain hands a selection of hickory golf clubs that used to be owned by PGA Holland founder members (1924) to PGA director Frank Kirsten on behalf of the NGA Early Golf Foundation.
April 2017
Iain enjoyed a fantastic week of hickory golf together with 7 members of his club in St Andrews. They played on Lundin Links, Crail , the New course (ST Andrews) and the Old course.
January 2017,
Hickoryclubs.eu would like to wish all of its clients and users a fantastic 2017.
November 2016,
A group of enthousiastic hickory golfers have formed the Dutch Hickory society. The society will post information on it's Facebook account and has the goal of promoting hickory golf in the Netherlands. https://www.facebook.com/DutchHickorySociety/
October 2016
The last hickory event of the season was at golf club Echt Susteren in Limburg. More than 40 players enjoyed a fantastic day.
Sepember 2016
On the 23rd of September iain was present at the Royal Hague GC for the launch of the new book that he helped to produce for the Heritage comitee of the KNGF. Iain's daughter Tessa was also present in her role as translator of the book into English.
September 2016,
The 7th Dutch championship on the Heather of Uleerberg was the biggest yet. More than 30 players enjoyed fabulous weather and conditions, Perry Somers and Brita Nord took top honours.
September 2016,
Iain was a the Dutch club G&CC Geijsteren to let 100 competitors experience hickory golf on one par 3 hole. The event was blessed with perfect weather and the competitors really enjoyed "the experience"
August 2016,
Hickoryclubs made there first trip to Spain for the Real Zarauz clubs centenary celebrations. The clubs course is a classic links set up and is Spains oldest original course. Amongst the many guests playing was Spanish legend and two time masters winner Jose Maria Olazabal. He really enjoyed his first hickory experience.
Watch the Basque language film of the hickory day with Jose.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Syto9mCQTEQ&feature=youtu.be&a
August 2016
The anual hickory event at the stunning Etretat course in France was again constested by many club member and visitors. French amateur champion Francois Illouz had the best score.
July 2016,
The members of the gentleman's club of Golf Club Speigelven (Belgium) enjoyed a hickory afternoon. Almost 30 players watched my demo and then played 9 holes with hickory.
June 2016
Hickory at Maastricht GC, The club were celebrating thier 25th aniversary and made me feel at home (see photo).
2012 Hickory in the lift
2012 saw a huge increase in the interest in Hickory Golf, hickoryclubs.eu has been busy with events all over Europe. In Germany we had events in Cologne, Keil, Berlin and Hamburg, in France (Paris and Normandy), Denmark, (Copenhagen) Austria and in the Netherlands (Hoenshuis, the Ullerberg and for the Golf Federation).
In September of 2012 Iain won the 3rd International Dutch Hickory Open, with a course record score of 72. Lilly Waller won the Ladies title in her first ever hickory round.
Hickoryclubs German representative Perry Somers had another successful season winning the French and German Hickory Open’s and only narrowly losing an playoff in the World Hickory Open.
Season Ends (24-12-2011)
As the 2011 hickory season draws to an end, Hickory clubs can look back at a very successful season; we supplied clubs to the National championships of Germany, Holland, France, Austria and Czechoslovakia. Hickoryclubs.eu also helped to organize hickory events at Berlin (Wansee), Truetelberg (Hamburg) Zuid Limburg GC, het Goyer and has a permanent presence at the The Dutch.
Restoration (24-12-2011)
Iain Forrester has been busy with several restoration projects of important club collections. The Twentse golf club (1926) and de Pan (1894) have asked Iain to restore and catalog their collections.
2012 (24-12-2011)
The calendar for 2012 is looking very healthy; tournaments in Hamburg, Berlin, Paris and Copenhagen have been confirmed. The Dutch championship (co organized by hickoryclubs.eu) will take place on September the 15th, and there is a possibility of a Belgium championship. The EAGHC will also organize the first European championship in Gothenburg in September.
Rental sets (24-12-2011)
Iain Forrester has been busy upgrading hickoryclubs selection of rental sets, with more than 60 matched sets to choose from, including 5 complete 10 club sets, we offer the finest rental clubs available. Because you never get a second chance to make a good first impression, all of our clubs come from the top Scottish makers (T Stewart, R Forgan, W Gibson etc.) and the sets are of the quality that tournament professionals used in the early 20th century.
Articles (24-12-2011)
Iain has had several articles on golf history published in 2011, diverse subjects included, AJ Ife maker, J Spence of ST Andrews, the clubs of Bobby Jones, George Nicoll matched hickory sets. He is working on several new pieces in both Dutch and English for 2012.
Lectures (24-12-2011)
Iain was also asked to give a lecture to the CIOS (a Dutch sport coach’s college) about golf history. Educating young coaches about the traditions and values of golf is vital, as they are the people who will pass this on to their future clients. More than 20, 3rd year students were fascinated by the antiek clubs and balls that were on show.
Perry Somers (08-06-2011)
World Hickory Champion and winner of 8 international hickory titles, Perry Somers has joined Hickoryclubs.eu as an official representative for the German market. Perry , a fluent German speaker, with a considerable business network in Germany will be a great addition to the hickoryclubs team.
Hickoryclubs owner, Iain Forrester said ”having known and played against Perry for several years I am certain that he is perfectly placed to help me in the busy German hickory market, his commitment to the values and traditions of the golf sport are exactly the same as mine”. Perry, based in Keulen, is a former European tour player and has recently proved to still be competitive on the European seniors tour.
Iain and Perry competing at the 2010 Dutch international hickory championship
Short Film golf history with Iain Forrester (07-12-2010)
Iain has recently been seen on Dutch sport channel Sport 1. A short film he made together with college and golf comentator John Woof about golf history has proved very popular. It has been broadcast during many of the seasons major Champioships.
Article published (07-12-2010)
An article written by Iain about antique golf equipment was published in June’s Golfers Magazine
dutch hickory open website (07-12-2010)
The recent Dutch International Hickory Championship at which Hickoryclubs.eu was co organiser, has it own website www.ullerberg.nl Results video’s and photo’s can be found on this site.
English Hickory Championship (07-12-2010)
Iain Forrester won, on the famous links course Rye (West Sussex, England), the open class of the English hickory championship. His 2 over par round was good enough to beat a strong field of hickory players.
European Assocation of Golf Historians (07-12-2010)
Iain was one the guest speakers during the European association of golf historians and collectors congress at the Kennemer golf club, his presentation, How the development of golf equipment influenced the evolution of the golf swing was well received.
Kenemmer GC celebrations (26-08-2010)
Iain Forrester was proud to help the Kenemmer GC with their centenary celebrations. On the 26th of July 70 members played in the centenary hickory competition. The members were are dressed in period clothing, there were 300 sheep roaming over the course and we had perfect weather for the day. Iain had brought most of his hickory sets and also gave a demonstration of the evelolution of the game of golf (see photos and film)
Open France Hickory & German Hickory Championship (26-08-2010)
Hickoryclubs.eu owner Iain Forrester, won the second edition of the Open de France hickory on the historic course of Chantilly. He is pictured (see photo) with Dave van Mulken 2nd and Perry Sommers 3rd. Iain finished 2nd to Perry Sommers in the German hickory Champoinship. On the practice day of the tournament Iain gave a hickory clinic to all the competitors.
Dutch International Open (26-08-2010)
Hickoryclubs is organising, together with the owners of Landgoed Ullerberg, the first Dutch International hickory Open. The championship will be played on the 2nd of October on the unique historic private course with pure heather fairways. Rental sets will be availible on the day. Prospective competitors can contact me for more information.
Czech Hickory Open
As offical rental set partner hickoryclubs is supplying rental sets at the Czech hickory Open 2010.
Official club supplier (19-05-2010)
Hickoryclubs.eu is proud to have been chosen as the official club supplier for both the 2010 German Hickory Open and the Open de France Hickory 2010. We will be supplying a range of top quality sets for players without their own equipment.Players intrested in competing can contact me for more information.
The evolution of the golf swing (19-05-2010)
Iain Forrester gave 3 performances of his “the evolution of the golf swing” golf show (see photo’s),
which was well received. Iain was also displaying a range of antique clubs and balls on the stand of golfscotland.de
Film golf history (19-05-2010)
Iain has been asked by presenter/professional John Woof to help in the making of a 12 minute intructional film about golf history. The film will be broadcast on Sport1 during 2010.
Facebook (19-05-2010)
Iain has a facebook page dedicated to golf en hickory. Have a look at www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100000634002620
Eemnes visit (19-05-2010)
Hickoryclubs.eu has recently played hickory with a small groep of business people at the great golf course of the Goyer.
Intercoperate golf day,(back in time) at La Tournette (Belguim) (08-09-2009). The business club of golf club La Tournette had a lot of fun going back in time in May 2009. Iain was on hand to provide advice on the art of playing hickory golf (see photo’s).
German champion 2009 (08-09-2009)
Iain Forrester owner of hickoryclub.eu won the inaugural German hickory Championship (see photo) which was played at the beautiful course of Bad Wildungen. Iain won with a score of 73, from a field that included the legendary American hickory player Randy Jensen Later in the week Iain was less successful in the French Championship, finishing 6th.
Rheingolf Show in Cologne (15-05-2009)
Hickoryclubs.eu proved to be very popular with German golfer fans when we displayed our antique clubs, balls and playable sets during the Rheingolf show in Cologne this spring. 27000 golfers visited the show and a large percentage came to visit us on the Gold Scotland stand.
German Hickory Open (15-05-2009)
Hickoryclubs.eu is honored to have been chosen as official hickory set supplier for the German Hickory Open which will be played in August of 2009. Iain Forrester will also take part in this prestigious championship. More information and entry forms can be found at www.germanhickory.com
Speach training summit PGA Holland (10-01-2009)
Iain Forrester has been asked by the Dutch PGA to present a speach concerning the evolution of the golf swing during the national training summit in march 2009.
World Hickory Open (10-11-2008)
Iain Forrester finished 23rd in the world Hickory Open that was played in Scotland in September 2008.
Van Lanschot Masters (10-11-2008)
Iain Forrester arranged all the hickory activities for the event organizer, Made in Scotland (see photo). Almost 200 visitors experienced hickory golf during this prestigious event. Top tour players Martin Laefeber, Joost Luiten, Ross Fisher and Nick Dougherty also used hickory’s during their demonstration match.
Increased stock (18-06-2008)
Hickoryclubs has increased its stock of playable sets to 42, allowing for larger events with more participants to be catered for.
Hickoryclubs has a new specially made hickory period ball available for hickory events; the ball has been made using an original mould from 1920, and greatly increases the hickory experience. The ball is designed to reduce the wear and tear on the hickory clubs.
Iain Forrester will represent Hickoryclubs.eu during the World Hickory Open in Scotland in September 2008. The Championship is the most important international tournament on the hickory calendar. Top hickory players from over the whole world are competing.
Hickoryclubs has been asked to organized hickory events at de Golf societiet de Lage Vuursche and golf course Biddinghuizen for business golf specialist Made in Scotland.
The business club of Hoenshuis golf bv had a seasons ending, hickory experience in October 2008.
Hickoryclubs.eu supplied all the clubs to the Royal Haagsche Golf club when they celebrated their 115th anniversary in January of 2008. Almost 100 players, many in period clothing, competed on an unseasonably sunny day.
May 2016
Iain played on the specatular courses, Royal Dornoch (see photo) and Tain whilst in Scotland for the Scottish Hickory Championship.
April 2016,
The season in Holland started at Blijenbeek for the tournament celebrating the opening of their golf museum, I had the pleasure of play with Dutch Legend Myrte Eikenaar.
October 2015,
Abn Amro hickory golf day at the Ullerberg, The fabulous Heather course was the setting for a very special day hosted by Inner Genius Golf. (foto's courtesy of Inner Genius Golf)
October 2015,
Iain''s anuall visit to Rye to play in the English hickory championship resulted in a 3rd place finish two shots behind the Swedish winner.
September 2015,
The Dutch international hiickory championship at the Ullerberg had many loyal supporters this year as well as several new converts to hickory golf. Brain Gee and Lilly Waller were the champions of 2015.
September 2015
Iain was present at the official opening of the new 9 holes at Golf de Engien in Brussels. He gave a presentation of hickory golf and organised a historical putting clinic on the historical setting.
September 2015,
Another of Hollands more prestigious clubs"Socieitet het Lage Vuursche" included hickory golf to its aniversary celebrations. Iain is pictured with home professional Ralph Millar.
September 2015,
Hickoryclubs supplied the rental clubs to the Swiss Hickory Association for thier event at Lusanne Golf Club.
September 2015,
The prestigious club in the Netherlands, The Dutch, held it's anuall "double Dutch " tournament, which this year had a Hickory element. Iain gave a historical show on the driving range before the event. (photo's courtesy of Teun Wijgman)
September 2015,
Germany hickory Open at the historic Baden Baden couse. With a score of 72, Iain claimed his second German hickory title. The championship had it biggest ever field of over 50 players.
Augustus 2015,
Hickory day at Welschap in Eindhoven
An excellent turnout voor de clubs aniversary hickory day was happy to have great weather. The competitors also enjoyed an historical putting competition.
August 15, 2015
Burg Zievel, in the German Eiffel was a fabulous setting for a hickory event that attracted more than 100 competitors.
August 1st 2015
The anuall hickory event at Etretat (Normandy) enjoyed fantastic weather for this years event. The players had a fantastic day on one of Europe most specatular courses. Concact me for information about playing in the 1916 event.
July 30, 2015
Golf de Bossey, as club specacturarly situated in de French Alps, asked Iain to help with a hickory tournament. A lot of very enthousiastic first time players enjoyed the unique hickory experience.
June 19 , 2015
Hickory day at the historic Rosendaelsche GC (1895), Iain helped the club celebrate it's 120 years in existance with a hickory competion for the members and a demonstation of the evolution of the golfswing. 3 of the clubs professionals joined Iain to play the superb tree and heather lined course.
June 2015
Iain has recently been awarded the prestigous distinction of joining that some group of PGA professional with the status of PGA advanced fellow. His work researching golf history was mentioned in letter anoucing the award.
April 2015
Hickoryclubs first 2015 event was at West Rijn in Germany, a group of Dutch players enjoyed there round on this traditional inland course that is perfectly suited for hickory play.
Season 2015 , April 2015
After spending a lot of the early spring filling a large order of top end ,fully restored, hickory sets for a Chinese customer, I am now getting ready for a busy season. With 10 events in the Netherlands and several in both Germany and France it going to be a great year. My first tournament outing will be at the Scottish hickory championship at Scotscraig on the 29th May.
New functions, Jan 2015
Iain has recently become a member of the Dutch Golf Federation's Heritage commitee and also the charity, Early Golf.
Christmas greetings from Hickoryclubs.eu to all my friends and customers. Enjoy the holidays and play hickory in 2015.
French hickory Open (2014)
The fabulous Montefontaine GC was the host of the French hickory open, a strong field played over the Tom Simpson classic course. Iain Forrester returned the days best score (77)
English hickory Open, Rye (2014)
I once again visited Rye links, one of my favourite courses anywhere, for the English hickory Championship in early October. My collegue and good friend Perry Somers beat me into second (again) but a great time was had by all.
Etretaat (2014)
The classic French seaside course, that was the last club that Aroud Massy was attachted to, hosted its first hickory tournament since the 1920's. French top professional Francois Illouz was amount the competitors.
International hickory Opens (2014
hickory clubs again supplied clubs at the following opens, the French, Dutch, German and European hickory Opens. Hickoryclubs professional Perry Somers won the Dutch, European, and English titles, whilst Iain won the French open.
Back in time at the Eindhovense Golf (2014)
A small group of elite players from the Eindhovense club had an enjoyable hickory experience in the early afternoon. The Harry Colt designed course was perfectly suited to hickory play.
Openening of the exhibition 'Nederland Golft' at the Haags Historic Meuseum.(2014)
The exhibition that iain has worked on for almost 2 years opening on the 30th of May, HRH Pieter van Vollenhoven (see photo) was the guest of honour.
Hickory at Edda Hiuzid ( 2014)
More than 50 members took part in the hickory event in a beautiful sunny day, after a demonstration freom Iain all of the players played 9 holes with modern clubs and 9 holles with hickories.
Success for players using clubs restored/asembled by Hickoryclubs.eu (2013)
The following players won major tournament using hickoryclubs equipment. Paulo Quincy (US Open and World hickory) Perry Somers (Dutch and German Open) Iain Forrester (European) Alan Grieve (Australian Open)
Internation Hickory Opens (2013)
Hickory clubs supllied clubs for first time players in 2013 during the following international hickory opens. The Dutch, German European and Danish championship.
Berlin hickory Open, (2013)
Whilst Perry was in Brussels, Iain was in Berlin supplying clubs for the Berlin Open. Despite a heavy rain shower, everybody enjoyed the CS Butchart course. Iain won the open catagory with 72 strokes.
Brussels GC celebration. (2013)
Hickoryclubs associate Perry Somers, organised the 2 day hickory event at the Brussel golf club. A large field enjoyed the great weather and hickory experience. Perry's hickory clinic's proved extremly popular.
Franfurt GC celebrates 111 years as a club. (2013)
Hickoryclubs gave the 120 particepents as chance to play on of the fantastic par3's on the Harry Colt designed classic with hickory golf clubs. Before starting all the particepents watched Iain's presentation and demonstration of the history of golf the development of equipment.
Noord Nederlandse GC hickory day. (2013)
A field of over 70 members competed in the clubs Hickory event. Fantastic weather and enthousiastic particepents ensured a great time was had by all. Iain gave a demonstration of hickory golf technique before the event started.
Normandie hickory Open (2012)
The classic French links of Granville was the perfect setting for the hickory open. A small field enjoyed the weather and challenge. Iain Forrester came in with the days best score.
Hickory golf at the 2012 KLM Open (20/9/2012)
The KLM Open was celebrating their centenary this year, and the organisers asked Hickoryclubs.eu to run a hickory challenge for both the professionals and the guests players in the pro- am. With the help of Perry Somers we let the competitors use top of the range Tom Stewart irons on 2 of the par 3’s. The fabulous Harry Colt designed course was a perfect backdrop for hickory golf. Top European tour professionals all enjoyed the hickory experience, for many players it was the first time they had tried. Paul Casey, Simon Dyson, Jose Maria Olazabaal, Pablo Larazzabal, Migeul Jiminez, Scot Jiminson and eventual winner Peter Hanson were amongst the players the hit it close with the 100 year old irons.
