Golf – world hickory festival arrives

This is American Rickie Fowler at the Aberdeen Asset event at Gullane but hickory golf comes to East Lothian next week

The 2017 LinkedGolfers World Hickory Festival comes to East Lothian next week with competitors from around the world.

The international amateur and professional golfers tee-off on Tuesday 3 October at Kilspindie, Aberlady.

Hickory Golf is played with original or pre-1936 replica hickory shafted clubs and yet players like last year’s winner Sandy Lyle are still able to hit their drives close to 300-yards yards.

America has the biggest team but Sweden will be represented by 19 players.

Scotland will be represented by a team of international junior golfers from Loretto’s Golf Academy led by former Hickory Champion Rick Valentine.