About Vintage Golf Clubs

The game of golf has a long and fascinating history. One way golfers enjoy learning about this history is by collecting vintage golf clubs. It's fun to grip an old hickory-shafted club and imagine yourself playing a round with golf heroes from the past like Harry Vardon or Walter Hagen. Besides the joy of possessing a piece of the game's storied past, collecting vintage clubs can be a financially rewarding hobby. Vintage golf clubs, particularly those from the more recent past, are fairly easy to find and reasonably priced, fitting into the beginning collector's budget.

Popular Collectibles

When many people think of vintage golf clubs, what comes to mind are the wooden shafted, hand-crafted clubs from the late 1800's, those with colorful names such as mashie (translated today into the 5-iron), and niblick (or 9-iron). Displaying a group of these interesting clubs---the woods have strange-looking long noses and curved faces---can be a great conversation piece for a golfer's home.
In the 1930's steel shafted clubs became the norm. These can be collectible as well, particularly if they come with a unique history, such as being owned by a famous golf star or celebrity. Putters are popular collectibles, too. Certain clubs, from certain manufacturers, are considered "classics" by collectors.

Getting Started

Being a successful collector of vintage golf clubs requires research and careful selection of the clubs you want to acquire. You might want to decide on a theme for your collection, such as clubs manufactured in the 1920's. Or you might want to collect only drivers and show the evolution of this club through the years. Your theme will dictate the direction of your search for the right clubs. A narrow focus will cut down on the amount of study you will need to do to become an effective collector.

Research

A general rule is to collect clubs that are in as good condition as possible, depending on the era. Clubs that appear in good shape tend to appreciate faster than those that are heavily worn. Books are available that can guide a new collector as to what the value of vintage clubs might be. Antique Golf Collectibles: A Price and Reference Guide, by Chuck Furjanic, is one of the most respected and comprehensive of these guidebooks. It's best, though, to study several reference books in order to become as knowledgeable as possible about the collectible niche you want to concentrate on.

Where to Look for Vintage Clubs

Once you have a basic understanding of the value of the clubs you want to collect, the next step is to begin your search. The television program Antiques Roadshow has taught all would-be collectors that you need to dedicate a significant amount of time to find true "bargains" for your collection. Estate sales and even neighborhood tag sales are good avenues to pursue. Online, eBay has a large number of golf club collectibles. Sports memorabilia stores sometimes have vintage golf clubs, and there are even stores that exclusively sell golf memorabilia. Remember, though, you are paying a retail markup price at these stores.

Pitfalls

Authenticity is the biggest concern for collectors of vintage golf equipment. It's easy to be fooled by fakes or replicas. Newly manufactured clubs can be distressed to appear vintage. Learn how to spot these fakes before you begin purchasing items for your collection. If you are buying a club that is supposed to have been owned by a famous golfer or celebrity, make sure it comes with a certificate of authenticity from the dealer.

References

• Antique Golf Collectibles: A Price and Reference Guide; Chuck Furjanic; 2003

Resources

• Golf clubs on eBay