Golf is a game of stories. Some come from legendary shots. Others from unforgettable rivalries. But every so often, a story comes along that blends time itself. This is one of those stories—a moment where history and innovation collided on the course.
I challenged GM Golf. Yes, that GM Golf. The social media sensation with a swing smoother than silk. But here’s the twist—I used hickory clubs from the 1930s.
Why? Not just for fun. Not for attention. But for something deeper.
I wanted to rediscover golf’s roots. I wanted to test if something old could still stand tall against something new. And maybe, just maybe, find a way forward by looking back.
Hickory and History
Let’s rewind.
Before carbon fiber. Before titanium drivers. Before perimeter weighting and adjustable lofts—there was hickory.
Hickory clubs were the gold standard in the early 20th century. These beauties were crafted by hand, often customized to a golfer’s swing and stature. Each club had personality. Each one carried the scars of the fairways it had seen.
They weren’t just tools. They were instruments.
Playing with them wasn’t easy. Hickory clubs are less forgiving. Their shafts twist. Their sweet spots are tiny. If you swing too hard or miss by a millimeter, you’ll feel it news in travel—and see it.
But that’s also what made them so beautiful. They rewarded precision, patience, and a deep connection with the game.
A Modern Contrast
Now fast-forward to today.
Modern golf clubs are high-tech marvels. They’re made with aerospace-grade materials. Designed with computer simulations. Tested in wind tunnels.
And they work.
They help players hit longer. Straighter. More consistently. The game, once a battle of inches, has become more forgiving. That’s great for most golfers. But it also changes how we experience the sport.
With modern clubs, you can fix mistakes with equipment. With hickory, you fix them with technique.
So I wondered—what would happen if we brought that raw challenge back? What if we asked today’s game to face yesterday’s tools?
That’s where the idea started.
The Challenge: GM Golf vs. Hickory
The day of the match had perfect weather. Blue skies. Green fairways. The kind of day that makes you want to slow down and soak it all in.
I showed up with a set of hickory clubs. Not replicas. Real ones travel corner. Nearly a century old.
GM Golf, ever the pro, had his modern set—pristine, powerful, and ready to go.
Was I nervous? Absolutely.
But I was also excited. This wasn’t about winning or losing. It was about discovery.
Strategy: Throwing Out the Rulebook
Playing with hickory clubs is like driving a classic car. There’s no cruise control. No power steering. Every move requires attention.
I had to slow everything down. Shorter swings. Smoother transitions. Pure contact over power.
Shot by shot, the clubs started to teach me. Not just about the game, but about myself.
My grip. My tempo. My patience.
They all had to improve—or I’d be left in the rough, again and again.
The Outcome: More Than a Score
Here’s the surprise.
I didn’t get crushed.
In fact, I held my own.
Sure, GM Golf had the distance advantage. And yes, his clubs were far more forgiving. But on approach shots, on the greens, and in tight spots—those hickory clubs whispered secrets from the past.
They reminded me that golf isn’t always about power. It’s about precision. Imagination. Feel.
Every solid strike felt like a victory. Every par was a fist pump. I wasn’t just playing—I was creating shots.
What Hickory Taught Me
After the round, I sat with those clubs and just stared at them.
Worn grips. Wooden shafts. Metal heads polished by time.
These clubs had lived. They had seen other golfers, other courses, other eras.
And they still had something to give.
They taught me that innovation doesn’t always mean replacing the old. Sometimes, it means honoring it. Learning from it. And blending it into something new.
A New Path for Golf?
Imagine this.
Modern clubs that mimic the feel of hickory, but with updated materials.
Courses with “heritage” tees, encouraging players to experience the game like Bobby Jones did.
Tournaments where the challenge is in the craft, not the clubhead speed.
This isn’t about nostalgia. It’s about perspective. It’s about remembering that golf, at its core, is a game of creativity and character.
If we lose touch with that, we risk losing part of what makes it so magical.
Why It Matters
Golf is evolving. Always has. Always will.
New fans are discovering the sport every day. And that’s a good thing.
But as we welcome them, let’s also invite them to explore its roots. Let’s not hide the past in museums. Let’s put it in their hands.
Give someone a hickory club and a modern ball. Let them feel the game, not just play it.
Let them chase the same joy our grandparents did.
GM Golf and the Spirit of the Game
To his credit, GM Golf embraced the challenge. He respected the clubs. He understood the spirit behind it.
And that’s what made the match special.
It wasn’t old vs. new. It was past meeting present. It was a conversation across time, played out on fairways and greens.
There was laughter. There was competition. But most of all, there was connection.
Connection to the game. To its roots. To its future.
So, Where Do We Go From Here?
We don’t need to ditch modern clubs. Or play like it’s 1932 every weekend.
But we can be more intentional. More curious. More creative.
We can explore both ends of golf’s timeline and build bridges between them.
Want to add excitement back into your game? Try a hickory club. Even just one. See what it teaches you.
Want to challenge your skills? Play a round where you rely on feel over forgiveness.
Want to fall in love with golf all over again? Step into its past, even for a hole or two.
You might be surprised at what you find.
Honoring the Past, Inventing the Future
The game of golf is rich with lessons. Some come from top-tier tournaments. Others from unexpected matchups—like this one, between GM Golf and a player swinging wood from the 1930s.
This wasn’t just a quirky experiment.
It was a statement.
A reminder that innovation isn’t just about what’s next. Sometimes, it’s about what we bring with us.
Tradition and technology don’t have to compete. They can dance together.
And when they do?
The game gets better. For all of us.
Keep Swinging Between Eras
Let’s continue to explore. To respect where we’ve been. And imagine where we can go.
Golf is big enough for titanium and hickory. For 300-yard drives and 80-yard stingers. For the next big thing—and the treasures waiting in your grandfather’s garage.
So here’s to blending timelines. To swinging old sticks with new energy.
And to every player willing to ask:
What if we didn’t have to choose between past and future?
What if, just like in this challenge, we made room for both?