Men Dressed to the Nines to Play Two Rounds of Nine

Wearing the clothes to match their equipment, six golfers competed in the inaugural on Saturday.

The men used their pre-1930's, hickory-shafted clubs in the tournament.

Looping the nine-hole course twice, the 18-hole tournament was played at 5,700 yards, which is a typical distance for a hickory contest.

Ed Ronco of Wyandotte, who organized the event, walked away the winner after shooting 41-35 for a 76. Tony Santavicca of Livonia was second with an 82 and Bill Ellington of Riverview took third with an 88.

Playing with antique equipment takes some getting used to, Ronco said.

“A hickory driver hits the ball about 15-20 percent shorter than the modern equipment,” he said. “The irons all have their own personality.

"One niblick (9 iron/wedge) may hit the ball 10 yards differently than another as different clubmakers had their own styles. It’s important to experiment until you zero in on the distances you like. I love my Nicoll irons (putter, mashie, niblick, mid-iron) which were hand forged by George Nicoll, a turn-of-the-century, prominent Scottish clubmaker.”

The experienced golfer said the cost of a set of hickory clubs is not as expensive as one may think.

“I picked up all my clubs from garage sales and eBay," Ronco said. "I have about $300 in my set which is cheap considering that is about the same price as a new driver today."

Ronco and others who enjoy the historical form of golf have started a group called WHO–Wyandotte Hickory Organization. At 4 p.m. Tuesdays, club members meet at to play a round with their hickory set.

"We want to promote golf’s rich history as we play our antique clubs," Ronco said. "The clubs' history adds the charm. The unique club characteristic and feel add to the challenge."

For more information, call Ronco at 734-624-2498. A limited number of hickory sets are available for use by players who don't have their own set.