NEW GOLF TOUR RELIVES HISTORY

The Professional Hickory Golf Association, based in Tampa, Florida, announces the formation of the Tartan Tour on the Florida Historic Golf Trail. The tour will consist of monthly events where players will compete with hickory-shafted golf clubs and reproduction golf balls similar to those used prior to 1930, when the hickory era all but ended. The venues are courses that have been designated as historic by the Florida Department of State. Mike Stevens, USGTF Southeast Region director and co-director of the new tour, said the concept is to keep a link to the history of the game and to play some competitive golf on courses that many think are too short or outdated because of the advances in modern equipment. Stevens said, “When played with the tools that these courses were designed for, one can really get a sense of history and how the early architects of golf courses used the natural terrain in their designs.” The Tartan Tour is open to all golf professionals, male or female. The entry fee is $50, which goes into the prize fund for each event. Clubs and balls will be available at a modest fee for pros that do not have sets. Amateurs will be allowed to enter and compete for gift certificates. The first event will be at the historic Temple Terrace Golf & Country Club on Sunday, September 13, 2015. Temple Terrace is the only 18-hole golf course in Florida listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was designed by Tom Bendelow and opened for play in 1922. Venues to follow through December will be Dubsdread GC in Orlando, Cleveland Heights GC in Lakeland, and Clearwater CC in Clearwater. The 2016 locations are still to be determined. Information on joining the tour can be obtained by contacting Mike Stevens at  ams1127@msn.com or going to www.prohickorygolfers.com.