An Introduction to K. Leonard Hickory Golf.
My name is Kelly Leonard and since 2005 I have been building replica, playable 1800's golf clubs.
Back in 2005 my love for working with wood and love of golf collided. The next natural step was to go to the workshop and start building a club. As easy as it looked then, I can honestly say today I am still learning fine details that go into making a golf club.
One of my first and most important decisions was to contact someone who had some knowledge about the old golf clubs. It was at this point I was fortunate to cross paths with Chris Mc Intyre. Chris has been instrumental in getting me going on the right path and for that I will be forever thankful.
Every club I build has a resemblance of the way the old club makers would have built them. They are built individually from each golf head right up to the hickory shaft. I cut my own leather grips, install horn slips and add molten lead to each club to bring it up to weight. I shape each shaft using a spokeshave and shaving horse (and I have the shavings to prove it). Finally, every club gets a multiple coats of finish.
My clubs are meant to be played with a gutta percha golf ball. The putter is the only exception, it can be used with any type of golf ball.
Every club I build is for sale or rent. Last summer (2012) I had the privilege bringing the clubs out to two tournaments. The old hickories and gutties were used on one hole from tee to green. They were both amazing events. Most everyone who participated seemed to enjoy having the clock turned back some 130 years.
If anyone has any questions, please use the contact link and I will do my best to give you an answer.
I will be adding more to this site, so please be patient. I find it much easier to build a set of clubs than a website.
Sincerely,
Kelly Leonard
Back in 2005 my love for working with wood and love of golf collided. The next natural step was to go to the workshop and start building a club. As easy as it looked then, I can honestly say today I am still learning fine details that go into making a golf club.
One of my first and most important decisions was to contact someone who had some knowledge about the old golf clubs. It was at this point I was fortunate to cross paths with Chris Mc Intyre. Chris has been instrumental in getting me going on the right path and for that I will be forever thankful.
Every club I build has a resemblance of the way the old club makers would have built them. They are built individually from each golf head right up to the hickory shaft. I cut my own leather grips, install horn slips and add molten lead to each club to bring it up to weight. I shape each shaft using a spokeshave and shaving horse (and I have the shavings to prove it). Finally, every club gets a multiple coats of finish.
My clubs are meant to be played with a gutta percha golf ball. The putter is the only exception, it can be used with any type of golf ball.
Every club I build is for sale or rent. Last summer (2012) I had the privilege bringing the clubs out to two tournaments. The old hickories and gutties were used on one hole from tee to green. They were both amazing events. Most everyone who participated seemed to enjoy having the clock turned back some 130 years.
If anyone has any questions, please use the contact link and I will do my best to give you an answer.
I will be adding more to this site, so please be patient. I find it much easier to build a set of clubs than a website.
Sincerely,
Kelly Leonard
