Friends of the Hickory Stick Invitational,

As we look ahead to this year’s event, we want to begin by saying thank you. Last year was the first year that Chris and I (Jon) had the privilege of leading the Hickory Stick Invitational, and thanks to the support of so many of you, it was a tremendous success.

We’re especially grateful to Marty Gillespie and Chuck Plein for starting this tradition and building the foundation that has made the Hickory Stick Invitational such a special event year after year. Their leadership and dedication created something truly meaningful, and we are proud to help carry it forward.

To everyone who joined us last year, thank you for coming out and making it such a memorable day. And if you missed it, we truly hope to have you with us this year.

We’re excited to share that the 29th Annual Hickory Stick Invitational is set for Monday, September 14, 2026 at Edgewood Country Club in Commerce Township, Michigan. This year’s outing will once again benefit the Evans Scholars Foundation, whose mission continues to make a lasting difference in the lives of deserving caddies through college scholarships.

Whether you are a returning participant or considering joining us for the first time, we would love to have you with us. And as always, all can play—no hickory sticks required. We’ll have plenty of hickory stick sets and plus-fours available for those who want the full experience.

Registration is now open online, and sponsorship opportunities are also available for those interested in supporting the event in an even bigger way.

Finally, we have one direct ask for this year:

We are looking for an equipment champion to help keep the Hickory Stick tradition going.

We’ve got a social champion in Chris and an operations and communications champion in Jon. Now we need a third volunteer who is willing to give the Hickory Sticks a home and serve as their caretaker to help store, maintain, repair, and oversee the equipment for future events.

If that sounds like something you’d be interested in, or if someone comes to mind, please reach out. Finding the right home and caretaker for the clubs is an important part of preserving this tradition for years to come.

Thank you again for your continued support of the Hickory Stick Invitational and the Evans Scholars Foundation. We hope to see you on September 14.