The History of Hickory Golf
The Birth of Golf in Scotland
Golf began on the windswept links of Scotland more than five centuries ago. The earliest clubs were built entirely from local woods such as ash, hazel, pear, and beech, chosen for their availability rather than perfection. These shafts were flexible but inconsistent, often warping or breaking under pressure. Each clubmaker relied on instinct and experience, shaping by hand and testing by feel until a club felt right in the swing. It was an age of experimentation, before anyone had heard of hickory. Yet it was this search for balance and resilience that paved the way for the wood that would later define the game.
The Arrival of Hickory
In the early 1800s, ships from North America brought a new kind of timber to Britain: hickory. Straight-grained, strong, and naturally elastic, it proved to be the perfect material for golf shafts. Craftsmen quickly recognized how it responded to motion, storing energy through the swing and releasing it with a smooth, natural rhythm. The switch from ash to hickory transformed the game. Clubs became lighter, more consistent, and more durable, allowing players to hit farther with greater control. Hickory was not just an improvement in material; it became the soul of the club.
Across the Atlantic
By the late 19th century, golf and its prized hickory shafts had crossed the Atlantic. American makers, inspired by Scottish traditions, refined the craft with forged steel heads and more precise weighting. The game entered its golden age. Bobby Jones, Walter Hagen, and other champions won their titles swinging hickory, their smooth, rhythmic styles shaped by the living feel of the wood. Each club had its own voice, no two quite the same, and the connection between player and tool was intimate and personal. Hickory had become more than a material; it was a way of playing.