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Any comments? Email me Copyright: This document is copyright © 1997, 1998
David Nicholls. It may be freely linked to, and reproduced electronically
or in print provided it is credited to the original author and includes
the above email address and this copyright notice. This page looks awful in Mosaic 2 or other early browsers, OK in Netscape 1.2 and MSIE 2 (transparent GIF and column colour problems), but best in Netscape 3+ or IE3+. |
Golf History and AntiquesNew: The History of Golf Clubs Restoring antique golf clubsOne of my passions in recent years has been collecting antique golf clubs. One of the problems I've faced has been restoring clubs that have been neglected for decades. The question you have to answer is, how far do you go in restoring an antique golf club? To clarify my own thinking, I wrote this piece. Valuing hickory shaft golf clubsSince I posted the previous article, I've been asked by several readers about how to value old golf clubs. It's not an easy job and there are few real experts, but I've put together some information that might be useful. Golf history in AustraliaGolf has been played in Australia since the 1830s, but the first golf professional and club maker recorded here was Richard Taylor in 1891. So clubs with Australian markings date from that year. Living in Australia, I've come across many hickory shaft golf clubs associated with the early Australian golf professionals. Many clubs have the professional's name impressed on their head or shaft. This gives us a way of dating the club, provided we know something about the man. It turns out to be quite a difficult job. Working with collector and dealer Leon Rowbell in Melbourne, I've put together a list of golf professionals in Australia between 1891 and 1941. So far as I know, this is the only list of its kind. The History of the Golf ClubAs a result of people finding my other pages on antique golf clubs, I've had a few requests for information on the history of the golf club. So far as I'm aware, there's nothing on the Web about this. So I felt there would be some interest in a short piece on golf clubs and their history. I don't intend this to be a definitive history, and certainly not an academic treatise. This is only an outline of the subject, some thoughts of my own, and a list of books that you can try to track down. And a final piece about an unusual golf teacher... The obsession and how to learn itI have over 60 books on my shelves on how to play golf, dating from about 1910 to 1992. They are but a tiny fraction of the books published. My collection reflects the obsession I share with many, the urge to play better golf. The last book I bought was by Gerry Hogan. No, not Ben Hogan, Gerry. He has changed my golf. Gerry has the most original mind engaged in teaching golf. If you are worried about your golf swing, here may be the most important hyperlink you'll ever click.
David Nicholls
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