Hickory Rental Sets

We have 25 sets available (all right handed currently -- lefty sets coming soon).  Each rental set includes everything you need for a round of hickory golf.  Many sets include clubs that were manufactured in New England or stamped with the names of courses and pros from around the northeast.

Each set of rental clubs from Connecticut Hickory Golf consists of:

• Six hickory shafted clubs, all over 95 years old!

  • Driver or Brassie (wood)

  • Mid-iron (4 iron equivalent)

  • Mashie (6 iron equivalent)

  • Mashie niblick (8 iron equivalent)

  • Niblick (wedge)

  • Putter

• A lightweight canvas carry bag -- handmade in the style of the early 1900s

• Trestle sticks -- an alternative to modern stand bags for keeping your clubs off the ground

• A sleeve of Wright & Ditson Vintage square mesh golf balls

• Tees & golf towel

• Bag tag with a brief description of each club in the set

Rates

• $60 per set (minimum of ten sets).

• Discounts are available for rentals of 15 sets or more ($55/set) and 20 sets or more ($50/set). Note: We currently have 25 sets available, more coming soon!  We currently only have right-handed sets.

• Includes delivery within a two hour drive from Hartford, CT.  Delivery is available throughout the northeast for an additional charge.  A rental coordinator from Connecticut Hickory Golf will set up the clubs before your event and collect them at the end of the round, and will remain onsite during play.

• Add a hickory putter as a raffle or putting competition prize for $20.

• Special rates for charity golf holes -- play a par three hole with hickory clubs at your next scramble!

• Have a large event?  Inquire about a split-bag rental.  Two players teams share a set of clubs and two sleeves of Wright & Ditson balls for $75 -- just $37.50 per golfer.  Available for events of 20+ golfers.

Scheduling

• Contact Jacob at jacob@cthickorygolf.org to book.

• Encourage walking.  For those who are able, hickory golf is best experienced on foot.  A full set of hickory clubs and all equipment weighs about 7 pounds -- approximately the same weight as an empty stand bag.  A full bag of modern clubs and equipment weighs 25-35+ pounds.  Experience your course from a new perspective!

• The rental coordinator can give a brief introduction to the equipment and review policies.  A shotgun format works well for this so that all of the players are gathered together.

• Encourage players to dress up!  It makes for great event photos.  Traditional attire includes "knickers" (plus twos or plus fours) and a dress shirt and tie, but slacks and dress shirt are period appropriate as well.  A "best dressed" award can add to the fun.

• Hickory golf is about fun and the spirit of the game.  A scramble format can help players focus more on enjoying the course and equipment and less on score.

• Consider adding a putting contest with a chance to win a hickory putter.

• Players can bring their own hickory clubs or vintage equipment, and the rental coordinator is happy to help identify the clubs and provide some history on them, as well as to assess their condition for play.

• Check out the Society of Hickory Golfers Hickory Tournament Guidelines for more event ideas for consideration (allowing distance measuring devices, formats, rules, etc.).

• How hard are hickory golf clubs to use?

  • A common analogy is that hickory clubs are to modern clubs what wooden baseball bats are to aluminum ones.  You can expect some distance loss, less forgiveness, and less bounce (clubs are more likely to get hung up in bad lies).  But most players are surprised at how well hickories play. 

• What if a club breaks?

  • Clubs do occasionally break, though not as often as you might exect.  If a club breaks, please collect the pieces and put them in your bag.  Most breaks can be fixed, even bad ones.  Any breaks that occur through normal play are at my risk.  Clubs that are damaged or lost through abuse (slamming or throwing clubs, striking a club against an object, etc.) are subject to a replacement fee of $100 per club.

  • Please allow for free relief from roots, rocks, or immovable objects that might damage clubs within event rules.  Any injury to persons or property is at the player's risk.

• Are six clubs really enough?

  • Yes, a six club set was standard for many golfers in the hickory era.  Creative shotmaking becomes is often rewarded.

• What type of golf balls should I use?

  • A sleeve of square-mesh Wright & Ditson Vintage style golf balls are provided for each player.  If a player needs additional golf balls, they are welcome to use any ball they like.  Softer, low compression balls (Noodle, Wilson Duo Soft, Callaway Chrome Soft, Titleist TruFeel, etc.) are recommended.

• What tees/yardage should I play?

  • For a fun round on a par 70-72 course, a total yardage of 5,100-5,600 typically works well.  For a competitive round amongst low handicappers, yardages of 6,200 or so should be considered a "championship" layout.

  • Consider asking your superintendent for friendly pin positions -- hickory clubs tend to launch lower and spin less.

1. All events are subject to a rental agreement that must be signed at the time the reservation is made.

2. A deposit of $150 is required at the time the reservation is made.  This deposit is not refundable (with the exception of weather related cancellations made 24+ hours in advance of the event).

3. Cancellations must be made by both 1) email and 2) either phone or text.

4. Club breakages due to normal play are at the risk of Connecticut Hickory Golf.

5. Clubs that are lost or damaged due to abuse (observed by Connecticut Hickory Golf, course/event staff or volunteers, or other players) are subject to a replacement fee of $100 per club.  Event organizers are responsible for paying this fee.  Abuse includes theft, clubs lost due to being thrown into hazards or wooded/grassy areas, damage to clubs from striking the ground or another object as part of a non-golf swing, damage from being run over by carts or vehicles, etc.  Bags that are damaged or lost due to abuse or theft are subject to a $25 replacement fee, and trestle sticks are subject to a $10 replacement fee.

6. Connecticut Hickory Golf is not responsible for any damage or injury to persons or property caused by any part of the rented equipment.

7. In the case of transportation issues, Connecticut Hickory Golf will make every reasonable effort to deliver the clubs to the course.  In the event that the clubs can not be delivered, the deposit will be refunded.

8. The course/event organizer shall provide a table, chair, and pop-up tent (or a space for Connecticut Hickory Golf to set up their own) for distributing and collecting clubs.

9. A rental coordinator from Connecticut Hickory Golf will transport the equipment to the event and remain onsite for the duration of play.

10. Payments can be made by check, Venmo, or PayPal.