They play golf with wooden-shafted clubs. They wear knee-length knickers and period caps. They embrace the historic beginnings of the game. They are hickory golf players … and they’re coming back to Salado!

Salado Museum and College Park will host the 3^rd Annual Pioneer Classic Hickory Golf Tournament at Salado’s Mill Creek Golf Course on November 5-6. The two-man team golf event is sponsored by area businesses with all proceeds benefiting the museum.

“Our inaugural tournament was a great success with Gary Krupkin and Blair Philip winning with a team score of 136,” says Dave Swarthout, Salado Museum executive director. “We invite local golfers to join us and test your skill with the hickory shaft clubs which will be available to rent onsite. Consider this a friendly challenge.” Salado joins Dallas, Houston and San Antonio on the annual Hickory Golf Association of Texas tournament circuit. Sponsors for this year’s tournament include Modisett & Sons Distillery, Title Sponsor; Mill Creek Golf Course; Sloan, Cartagena and Associates, P.C.; and Smith Supply Company.

The golf weekend at Mill Creek will feature special guest William Reed, past president of The Golf Heritage Society, who will display a collection of historic golf equipment, and a bagpipe performance prior to the Saturday tee-off by Pipe Major Doug Slauson of the Silver Thistle Pipes and Drums of Austin.

“The public is welcome to come out for the opening ceremonies at noon on Saturday to hear the bagpipes play and to view the historic golf items in the clubhouse,” says Swarthout. “There is no charge but donations to the museum are always welcome!” What makes Hickory Golf unique is that the players use clubs that have a solid hickory wood shaft as did clubs used in the late 19th and early 20th Century. Most hickory clubs in play today are original hickory clubs dating from the late 1890s to 1935. Several companies make replica hickory golf clubs that are also approved for play.