Sandy Lyle On Hickories: "The feedback you get is incredible.”

Golfweek's Jim Achenbach talks to World Hickory Open winner Sandy Lyle to talk about his love for the retro game and thanks to architect Scott Macpherson, how he first played with them at the great Musselburgh and got hooked.

Among the interesting tidbits, besides just how many great courses he's tested the hickories on and that he has sets on two continents? How much they help him with his game.

Lyle regularly plays with his hickories using modern balls, playing rounds at Prestwick, St. Andrews, Royal Dornoch and Skibo Castle, among others. Last Sunday, Lyle said he played 12 holes with hickories, and he uses them to practice.


The clubs help Lyle get a good feel for his swing.

“It’s really good to help you tune your senses,” he says, “because they can be unpredictable as far as shaping the ball goes. ... I would recommend them for any young golfer who wants to experience playing golf in the raw. The feedback you get is incredible.”