Andy Hayes is a golf coach and scratch golfer. He played hickory clubs for 99% of his rounds in the 2023 season. Why? How did it work out? He uses the classic Hero’s Journey template developed by Joseph Campbell to tell the story.
Hear more about Andy’s hickory golf adventure on the podcast HERE
Part 1: Call To Adventure
“If Bobby Jones can play well with these clubs, why can’t I?”
It all started on an ordinary December day when I got a call from a man named Tim. He had an Australian accent and described himself as “A strange golfer.” He shared that he was interested in hickory golf and was wondering if I was willing to take him on as a student. It sounded like a fun project, so I was in. He said “If Bobby Jones can play well with these clubs, why can’t I?
He made a good point. Usually when students talk about equipment, they discuss how something new might help their distance, accuracy, scoring, and overall happiness. Tim’s outlook on golf and equipment was different. He was taking complete ownership of his game. It wasn’t about having the right technology. It was about improving his game in spite of the technology, not because of it. This is a refreshing and inspiring perspective.
Part 2: Initiation
“The clubs feel alive”
Tim had a set of restored hickories. These are clubs 100 years old. The shafts have been refurbished, the heads have been reset, lofts bent weaker to add more bounce, and new grips have been applied.
To my surprise, Tim’s “Mashie” was going about the same distance as his modern 8 iron which had the same loft. He was swinging them with speed, and the ball was flying off the face. After testing them for myself, I knew I needed a set. I ordered 9 clubs from Tad Moore, a golf industry legend, who now makes new hickory clubs modeled after classic sets.
The first few rounds I played with the hickories were some of the most life-giving rounds of golf I’ve played. The shafts are heavier and flex in a way where timing is key. To hit the hickories well I had to focus on lightness and rhythm. The clubs require you to have relaxed arms, shoulders, and grip. I found it helpful to have a general feeling of lightness in your body.
Good rhythm, particularly in transition is the other swing key. Last year, with my modern clubs, I had been plagued by swing thoughts, thinking too much about the wrong things. With the hickories, if you rush too much in transition, or try to overpower the club, it is going to be a poor shot. It’s like the clubs teach you how to hit them, and in this way, the clubs feel alive. It was extremely freeing to step up to each shot placing my entire concentration on feeling and being as light as possible.
Part 3: Transformation
“2 under par with hickories.”
With the hickories, everything is exaggerated. Out of the rough, flyer lies actually fly – sometimes 20 yards farther. In general, the ball doesn’t spin as much, so you have to plan for carry and roll into the greens. Off the tee, a toe ball will really hook, and a shot off the heel is going way right. Overall there is more variance to the game. You’re faced with new situations, and are hitting recovery shots more often, which I enjoy. The biggest difference between the hickories and modern clubs is definitely the driver. Overall, the hickory driver goes much shorter, and mishits are punished more severely.
Throughout the summer I enjoyed many rounds with friends and new acquaintances who also were interested in hickory golf. My best rounds for scoring and enjoyment were with a full group of hickory players. A handful of times I tried my luck and brought along my hickories when the other members of my group were playing modern clubs. My worst round of the year was like this, playing at Midlothian Country Club. My host and playing partners were all using modern equipment, but Francis Ouimet won the 1917 Western Amateur there, so I had to play hickories. We played from 6,500 yards, which is long for hickories. I went out in 38 thanks to some nice putting, but on the back 9 shot a 45. I had trouble staying within myself and playing my own game. It was tempting to swing hard and try to keep up with the others in my group, and this did not lead to success.
In September I had the opportunity to play Bryn Mawr Country Club in Chicago. I was happy to be there, and had no expectations going into the round. I started off with a bogey, then made a few pars. I then had a stretch of birdie-birdie-eagle, and I knew this would be the day. I wasn’t scared, and had a deep feeling of peace and trust. I knew if I kept swinging with lightness I would reach my goal. I bogeyed the final two holes and shot 2 under par. With hickories.
Part 4: Return
“Hickory and modern working together”
In Campbell’s “Hero’s Journey,” the journey doesn’t end with the hero reaching their goal, it ends with the hero returning home after their transformation to share with others.
One October day, I had the urge to pull the modern clubs back out and hit some long drives. In the past I would have gone through a checklist of swing keys, pulled up a few key numbers on TrackMan and got to work. But this time I picked up the club and focused on feeling its weight and how it flexed throughout the swing. I noticed I was more aware of my body and my tendency to pull the club back too quickly in my takeaway. After a bad shot I focused more on feeling lightness on my next shot rather than diagnosing a swing flaw to explain the result. As I worked through the bag, I felt in control of my swing, and an ownership over my entire game.
I’m not ditching the hickories and going back to modern. After this year, I believe the hickory and modern clubs work together to help me learn about golf and myself. The hickories have helped me better learn my tendencies. They’ve made me more aware of my tension and rhythm when I hit a good or bad shot. Overall, playing golf feels less daunting. After all, I’ve shot great rounds with hickory clubs, so what could I possibly be afraid of with my modern set?
Hear more about Andy’s hickory golf adventure on the podcast HERE
Andy avoids preaching swing mechanics, and focuses on helping people develop greater awareness and understanding of their golf swing and what they need to do to improve. Andy is also the host of The Golf Practice Podcast, which features conversations on the parts of the game that go beyond the score.