“We’ve organised the weather to be beautiful today,” announced Maldon Golf Club President Glyn Milner to the large group of locals and visitors who assembled on Sunday morning, 24 August. It was day two of the club’s annual tournament, augmented by the presence of hickory club enthusiasts from around the country who competed in the Schenectady Putter Championship.

The Championship was in honour of Walter Travis, who was catapulted from a gold-rushera childhood in Maldon, to affluent adulthood in New York, where he settled down and became an international golf champion, among other things. One of those other things was a continuing interest with innovative golf equipment design, most notably the Schenectady Putter with its centre shaft.

The players at the weekend tournament noted Walter Travis and his international golfing career a century ago, while Les Browne of the Australian Golf Heritage Society said it was important to remember the link to Maldon: “This is a fairly historic event,” he said.

The main appeal of the day for many attendees was the chance to swing traditional hickory clubs, which are more challenging to control, and enjoy like-minded company. Rod said: “They’re a good bunch, interested in good history, all good fun.” They also sport fantastic golfing fashion and it was a glorious day on the hilly Maldon Golf Club green.

Congratulations to Pete Shaw from Hobart (and his antique clubs) who took home the Walter J. Travis Trophy for 2025. For all the details and results, see the Golf Club report on page 23. 

Warming up in traditional gear, Hickory club golfers at Maldon Golf Club.
Photos: Tarrangower Times

This article appeared in the Tarrangower Times, 29 August 2025.