Who we are

The Michiana Hickory Open began in 2012 as a gathering place for golfers in Region Six of what was then known as The Golf Collector’s Society, now The Golf Heritage Society.

With the guidance of Tom Borger, Notre Dame Class of 1971, and Rex Martin, a local businessman, the event found its first home at the Warren Golf Course on the campus of the University of Notre Dame. John Foster, the Director of Golf at the time, welcomed the idea, and his staff helped create a memorable first event. John even purchased small American flags to use as tee markers, a tradition that continues today.

From the beginning, the event was more than a round of golf. It was preceded by a golf memorabilia trade show where members and guests could browse and purchase hickory clubs, books, ephemera, and other pieces of golf history.

As the Warren Course prepared to host the 2019 U.S. Senior Open, tee times became more difficult to secure. Thanks to Spike Abernethy, a fellow Golf Heritage Society member and South Bend Country Club member, the event moved to South Bend Country Club. The historic course provided a wonderful setting, including the opportunity for a shotgun start. In a fitting connection, the head golf professional at South Bend Country Club was Greg Helmkamp, formerly an Assistant Professional at the Warren Course.

The event later returned to the Warren Golf Course after Liz Borger, Tom’s spouse, connected with Kyle Demeter, the current Director of Golf. Today, the Michiana Hickory Open continues to celebrate the traditions, friendships, and history of hickory golf. In recent years, the event has welcomed strong participation, with 47 players in 2024 and 42 players in 2025.

A young boy wearing a white cap, blue polo shirt, beige shorts, and white shoes scored with red accents, is preparing to hit a golf ball on a green golf course. He is holding a golf club and standing next to two golf balls on the grass, with trees and a slightly hilly terrain in the background.

Our Home Course

An aerial view of a golf course surrounded by trees, with multiple sand bunkers, green fairways, and pathways, extending towards a city area in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

The Warren Course at the University of Notre Dame opened on May 1, 2000. Designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, it is consistently recognized among the top public golf courses in Indiana and is one of the few public courses designed by the Coore & Crenshaw team.

With its heather, sand, open layout, and limited trees, the Warren Course is especially well suited for hickory golf. The course is mostly flat, with subtle elevation changes, especially on the back nine. It also features a well-stocked pro shop and a robust snack bar.

In 2019, the Warren Course hosted the U.S. Senior Open, won by Steve Stricker, and has also hosted U.S.G.A. and NCAA qualifiers.