1. Returning to the Wooden Era
Before titanium and carbon composites defined the modern game, golf was an art form shaped in wood and leather.
In the early 20th century, the sound of a well-struck shot came from persimmon and hickory — living materials that connected players to the land. Among the great craftsmen of that time stood Jack White, a British Open Champion and master clubmaker whose name became synonymous with both Sunningdale Golf Club and the artistry of hand-crafted wooden clubs.
2. Jack White and the Sunningdale Tradition
Jack White’s career was rooted in two worlds: the competitive fairways and the quiet workshop.
As the professional at Sunningdale Golf Club in England, he was not only a skilled player but also a meticulous craftsman who designed, shaped, and tuned clubs for himself and others. Each club carried the mark of precision learned from years of competition — the perfect loft, the balanced lie, the grain of the wood aligned to the direction of the strike.
His designs reflected a philosophy still admired today: a golf club should not only perform but also inspire confidence through beauty and feel.
3. The Choice of Wood: Density, Grain, and Resilience
At the heart of every classic wooden club lies the selection of timber.
In Jack White’s era, persimmon and hickory were not aesthetic choices — they were performance materials.
- Persimmon wood, dense and fine-grained, provided a strong and lively club head capable of transferring maximum energy.
- Hickory wood, flexible yet resilient, made for shafts that could store and release power with a natural rhythm.
Each piece of wood was inspected for straightness, grain consistency, and moisture content. The grain direction had to match the intended swing path; otherwise, the face might twist or crack under stress. The process required an artisan’s eye, not a machine’s precision.
4. From Raw Block to Fairway: The Making of a Classic Club
Transforming raw wood into a playable work of art involved dozens of steps, many performed entirely by hand.
The club head was shaped with draw knives and sanded smooth until the natural grain emerged. The face was then fitted with a fiber or horn insert, which improved durability and provided consistent rebound. A brass soleplate protected the head from wear, while the screws added both weight and stability.
The loft and lie angles were carefully measured with analog gauges, and small hand adjustments ensured that every club struck the ball square. The leather grip, wrapped tightly around the hickory shaft, was the final touch — giving the player not just control but a tactile connection to the craftsmanship beneath.
5. Playable Art: The Philosophy of Jack White
For Jack White, a golf club was never just equipment; it was an extension of the player.
He viewed clubmaking as both engineering and artistry — a dialogue between human skill and natural material. The slight imperfections of handcrafting, far from being flaws, gave each club its unique balance and personality.
This philosophy still resonates with those who play hickory golf today:
“A handmade club carries the touch of its maker, and every swing carries the touch of history.”
6. Revival and Modern Interpretation
Recreating a Jack White design today is a technical and emotional challenge.
Modern artisans, such as those behind the Jack White Sunningdale Driver 10°, must balance authenticity with functionality — ensuring the club performs with contemporary golf balls while preserving its historical geometry.
Each driver begins with hand-selected wood, shaped, stained, and assembled using methods nearly identical to those of a century ago. The result is not a reproduction but a continuation — a living tribute to the craftsmanship that defined golf’s golden age.
7. Conclusion: When Heritage Meets the Modern Swing
The story of Jack White’s wooden clubs reminds us that golf, at its best, is not only about distance or data — it’s about feel, timing, and craftsmanship.
Holding a handmade hickory club is like shaking hands with history. Every mark, curve, and grain tells a story of dedication and design.
And in each drive, the rhythm of the past finds its echo in the present.