Get Stymied at the Hickory Heritage MEDIA Golf Classic
October 4, 2010.

A stymie refers to an archaic rule in the game of golf.

In singles match play when one player's ball blocked the path of another player's ball on the green, but were not within six inches of each other, the obstructing player's ball was not lifted.

Instead the player who was furthest away from the hole had to attempt to slice or draw their putt around the obstacle ball. Sometimes a player would even attempt to chip their ball over the opponent's ball into the cup.

If the player failed, even hitting their opponent's ball, their next shot would have to be played from where their ball now lay. If contact happened, the player's opponent, when it was their turn to play, had the choice to take their putt from their ball's original position or its new lie.

Likewise if the player's ball knocked the obstructing ball into the cup, their opponent was considered to have holed out.

The stymie was removed from the rule book in 1952, but in the Hickory Heritage Media Golf Classic it has been revived.

Check out the Stories

Hickory Heritage: Knickers, stymies, history — MARTHA’S VINEYARD, Mass. — It is billed as New England’s most unique golf event, and rightfully so. Where else, after all, could one see every contestant resplendent in knickers, knee high argyle socks and Ben Hogan-style caps, competing in an event where stymies are a strategic part of the format? > Go to Article

The Hickory Heritage Golf Classic and A Taste of the Cape 6th Annual Media Golf Classic - Bagpipes, Knickers, Stymies and Great Golf -----November 01, 2007 6:00 AM ----Cape Cod is blessed with some of the finest golf courses anywhere in the country. The Cape and the islands of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard comprise just over 1400 square miles of land area yet they have 45 golf courses built on over 5,000 acres with a population that, 10 months out of the year, is only 222,000. In fact, only Florida, Myrtle Beach and California boast more golf courses per capita in the country. >Go to Article

As summer winds down, hop a ferry for the ultimate New England golf adventure -----August 30, 2006 By Joe Passov Course/Architecture Editor------ As Labor Day weekend approaches, the hard-working minions of the PGA Tour have gathered in Boston to try and stop Tiger’s drive for five. Even if Woods’ gas tank is nearly empty, he’ll likely still figure out a way to win his fifth straight event. The Arnold Palmer-designed TPC Boston is the venue for the Deutsche Bank Championship, but even if you could get onto this private course, it’s not the place to tee it up if you want an unforgettable Yankee golf experience. Instead, sign up for the Hickory Heritage Golf Classic. This novel event is as “New England” as lobster rolls and the Kennedy clan. >Go to Article

Old Cape Cod - by Parker Smith former Senior Editor GOLF Magazine & Charter Member Golf Travel Writers Association ---- If you've traveled the golf world a bit, or maybe any world, you've probably had experiences that were less than hoped for, or pretty good, or even wonderful, but rarely do we get the ultimate - the experience that matches exceeds the anticipation. Cape Cod delivered. >Go to Article