Golfers Gather for Hickory Heritage Game

On a pleasantly mild, overcast Saturday, participants in the Hickory Hacker Golf Tournament open to all amateurs enjoyed an afternoon of 1920s-style golf on the Temple Terrace Golf & Country Club course.

Golfers wore knickers and used hickory golf clubs. The idea was to experience the game as it was played in the day of golf greats Walter Hagen and Bobby Jones.

The amateur tournament was the first in a series of events scheduled during the Temple Terrace Hickory Heritage Weekend, sponsored by the Temple Terrace Preservation Society and the Florida Hickory Golfers.

The 2012 Hickory Hacker Champions were Brad Birdsong, Chris Cimino, Adam Varney and Eric Wiese. They were presented with a trophy at a Knickers Ball, which took place Saturday evening as part of the weekend festivities. Look for more details on that event in a future story.

"I enjoyed it," said golfer David Seward of the amateur tournament. "It was a lot of fun."

The United States Professional Hickory Golf Championship takes place today (Feb. 20). Professional golfers David Frost and two-time National Hickory Champion Mike Stevens will be competing at the golf course with hickory equipment. Leroux Ferreira from the Hooters Tour will return to defend his reigning champion title.

The Hickory Heritage Weekend is the primary annual fundraising event for the nonprofit Temple Terrace Preservation Society and proceeds from both tournaments will support ongoing projects and initiatives, as well as support the Florida Hickory Golfers.

A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Friends of American Lake Veterans Golf Course whose mission is to assist with the improvement, care and maintenance of the American Lake Veterans Golf Course.

For more information, call Leitha Bowles at 813-732-6941.