AS one of the country’s oldest golf clubs, it seemed appropriate that hickory golf clubs should be called into play when Concord Golf Club last month commemorated its 125th anniversary.

As part of the club’s celebrations, a hickory event was arranged with 50 members keen to experience playing with clubs that would have been used by the founding members. The event was played as a nine-hole four-ball ambrose with the hickories provided by the Australian Golf Heritage Society. 

Most of the players admitted they had never used hickories but most adapted well . . . thanks to the advice from a few experts to ‘swing slow’.

WINNERS: Les Browne, Gary Martinoli, Fiona O’Loughlin, Judith Snowdon.

Winners on the day were locals Judith Snowdon and Fiona O’Loughlin, who teamed up with AGHS stalwarts Les Browne and Gary Martinoli with a seriously low score of 29.5. 

It was Judith and Fiona’s first time with the clubs and they both produced some key shots to take the trophy by 0.25 strokes from Brian and Anne Dolan who paired with Peter and Louise Rigg.

Concord, like many clubs, has established a special area of the clubhouse to record their club’s history. 

It is a well-presented room adjacent to the main bar and a popular spot for members and visitors to get a taste of the success the club has enjoyed over the years.

One of Concord’s earliest professionals was Tom Howard, who won many events, including the 1923 Australian Open. 

After the day, which was followed by a barbecue, Tom Howard’s grandson Ross, who is the AGHS secretary, donated some of Tom’s memorabilia to the club for display in their Heritage Room.