The 3rd Annual Spud Cup

Co-written and reported by: Tom Tracy

The 2025 Spud Cup, held June 7-8 under sunny skies at River Birch Golf Course in Star, sent 31 entrants into a time machine for the third annual playing of the state's hickory shaft golf championship.  

While many donned flat caps and plus-four trousers, all players armed themselves with tools used by the likes of Bobby Jones and Joyce Wethered, playing vintage hickory shafted clubs build to pre-1935 specifications. Coming to Star from across the western United States, the field featured players with a wide range of experience in the hickory lifestyle. The (largely successful) class of newcomers were provided sets of clubs by Northwest Hickory Players.  

One of those newcomers, Kyle Weeks, took hold of the Open Division in Saturday’s opening round, firing a two-under round of 71. The Idaho Golf Association’s Manager of Rules and Competitions played a borrowed set of Victor irons, a Jack White driver and Spaulding mallet putter. Fellow IGA employee Shane René rode his borrowed, hand-forged Fogan irons and Tad Moore spoon to sporting round 77 to give himself a chance to track down weeks in the final round. But a dueling pair of 77’s allowed Weeks to finish off the six-shot victory.  

René’s younger brother, Dylan, found his groove in the second round, firing a net 68 to steal the net trophy from Bend, Oregon’s Carter McGowan.  

The Senior Division was captured by tournament organizer Tom Tracy, whose two-day total of 160 was threatened by a furious comeback by reigning U.S. Hickory Open Super Senior champion John Henry Williams of LaPine, Oregon. Williams’ final round 77 was the best of the day, followed closely by Patrick McGowan and Peter Yagi. McGowen captured the 1st net prize.  

Fellow organizer and hickory enthusiast Sue Tracy won her third-consecutive Spud Cup title, coasting home off an opening round 82. Terri Nero’s second round of 86 made things interesting down the stretch, but Tracy’s lead proved too much to overcome. Roberta Robbins, whose opening round translated into a net score of 58, was not to be caught in the net game. 

Spud Cup organizers and players had unanimous praise for Damien Short and the entire staff at River Birch Golf Course. Early plans for the 4th annual playing of the Spud Cup seek to continue the event's growth.