Jan 15, 2025

The Perfect Gift: Hickory Golf Clubs

The more we think about it, the more we realize the art of gift-giving is a lot like golf. Both require focus, timing, strategy, and admittedly…a little luck.

Now, picture this: a unique, personalized golf gift you’re excited to give an enthusiast or sports history lover. These aren’t tees (so many tees), new balls (useful but overdone), or the newest golf gadget. In fact, it’s the complete opposite.

You’re gifting a window into the past, an iconic symbol of a bygone era: A hickory golf club.

Some gifts go beyond function; they capture a spirit, a moment in time.

At Louisville Golf, we craft each hickory club by hand, staying true to the same methods used to create golf clubs in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. For some, playing with a hickory club is a chance to step into the shoes of golfing legends, feeling the history in every swing.

For others, a hickory club is a reverent nod to golf’s rich heritage, displayed with pride.

For everyone, it’s a handcrafted heirloom and a chance to own a genuine replica of historic designs. Our hickory golf clubs love to be display pieces, but they’re also perfectly suited to heavy use…all of our clubs are tournament-quality reproductions, vetted and approved for “Modern Hickory” tournament play by the Society of Hickory Golfers.

Many of our customers say that every round played with hickory clubs feels like a connection to those who came before them—the legends and mentors who taught them, or those who taught their mentors, the game.

Why a Hickory Golf Club?

Whether you’re hunting for unique golf gifts for an avid player or simply a lover of the game, hickory clubs are a solid (pun intended) option. Here’s just a few reasons hickory clubs appeal to such a broad spectrum of sports fans.

Why Hickory Wood?

Strong, flexible, with a buoyant springiness — hickory wood has the unique ability to bounce back to its original shape, giving players both power and precision. Its durable flex also makes it the perfect wood to absorb the shock of a golf swing. Ash and oak couldn’t hold a candle, and hickory quickly became the king of clubs.

Crafted with Tradition

At Louisville Golf, we stay faithful to the artistry of yesterday. Our hickory shafts start life as hickory squares from a family-run saw mill. We hand-select each one to ensure the quality, grain, and potential all line up with our standards and vision.

The clubs we make aren’t something you can find in the mass market…every single club takes 2-3 weeks to make, and is touched more than 200 times by the hands of craftsmen and women. The final product has a soul, and a story. It also has ancestors — since all of our clubs are historically accurate replicas of original designs, we dig into the details.

From the length of the hosel, to the shape of the head, and any unique characteristics…we embrace the old to breathe life into our fresh versions.

Famous Courses Built for Hickory Clubs

Many of the rolling, beautifully designed courses we admire today were created with hickory golf clubs in mind. These clubs, known for their craftsmanship, demanded control, patience, and skill. Their smaller heads and lower loft produced softer ball flights, rewarding precision over power.

Course designers understood the unique characteristics of hickory clubs—and the human element they emphasized—crafting hazards that encouraged strategic and thoughtful play. These principles shaped the intentional design of some of the most iconic and beloved courses still enjoyed by golfers today:

St. Andrews Links (Scotland) - It’s been played on for 600 years. They sure weren’t using steel.
Royal Liverpool/Hoylake (England) - The designers of this famous course, established in 1869, assumed you would use every (hickory) club in your bag, and the natural and man-made features encouraged that approach.
Royal Melbourne Golf Club (Australia) - Established in 1891, and arguably the most renowned course in the Southern Hemisphere. Its hazards and challenges endure even now, but it sure would be fun to play with original-style hickory clubs.

So, which club is your best pick for a present this year?

Hickory Golf Clubs Under $300

T. Stewart Series Hickory Iron - gift (or own!) a beautifully playable iron inspired by the legendary Scottish cleek maker, Tom Stewart.

Calamity Jane - an exact, handcrafted replica (yup, it has the three whipping points) of the putter Bobby Jones used to win the 1923 U.S. Open.

Amby-Dex Putter - Exceptional balance, and dual brass faces…just like the original description in the 1925 Wilson catalogue. This is an ideal heirloom piece since it can be used right-handed or by lefties.

Hickory Golf Clubs Under $500

Jeanie Deans 1930 Special Driver - This was Bobby Jones’ beloved driver during the year that echoes in the halls of golf history…1930, when he won the Grand Slam. Names matter, and Bobby made hers “Jeanie Deans”. Made by Jack White, the original Jeanie Dean is now enshrined at St. Andrews in the Royal and Ancient Clubhouse.

Jack White 1930 Special Spoon - Forget Jack and Jill. This was Jack and Jeanie. The spoon match to Bobby’s driver, our exacting model — down to the satin brass finish and authentic period fine grooves — is an homage to the player, the club, and the game itself.

MacGregor Perfection Cleek - 21 degree - Plays like a modern-day hybrid, looks like you stepped back in time 100 years. This is the perfect choice if you’re going to invest in one fairway wood.

Who Loves a Hickory Golf Club?

Who doesn’t? Okay, we admit we’re a bit biased, but one of the best things about a hickory golf club is its versatility as an heirloom-quality gift. Over the years, we’ve helped countless customers find the perfect hickory club as a thoughtful golf gift.

Here are just a few common scenarios we’ve seen... (And don’t forget, any Louisville Golf hickory club can be engraved with names, initials, or a special message for a truly one-of-a-kind gift!):

You know a golf enthusiast, and you want to surprise them with a unique, customized gift. Something they’ll treasure, and forever associate with your thoughtfulness. Whether they add it to their bag or hang it on the wall, it’s an enduring emblem of what they mean to you.

You’ve never held a club beyond putt-putt, but the people in your life matter to you, and golf is their joy. You want to show you listen and care about their passion, their stories, and most importantly them.

You need a present for someone who loves history. Antiques, old photographs, vintage clothing…they get a thrill from brushing up against the past. They may not even play golf, but they’ll appreciate the traditional craftsmanship and rich connection to the 19th and early 20th centuries. If they have an old steamer trunk as a coffee table, we’re just saying you might want to think about it.

Corporate gifts can be personal and meaningful. Handcrafted hickory golf clubs symbolize tradition, skill, and the timeless appeal of golf—much more memorable than a fruit basket.

If you’ve decided a hickory golf club is the gift you’ll be giving this year, we think you’ve made a solid choice. Whether you set out for vintage golf gifts or simply realized this is an ideal present for your person, your hickory club will be timeless, appealing, and made to last…that’s a rare find for any occasion.

We’re always here to help. Not sure what you need? Have a question? At Louisville Golf, we honor the game, and have a lot of fun in the process. Shoot us a message.