Full Text:

GOLFING MEMORABILIA

NEW YORK CITY -- On December 15 at the inaugural sale of golfing memorabilia

at William Doyle Galleries, in association with Bonhams/London and Thistle

Golf Club/North Carolina, competitive bidding from local and international

collectors and dealers ensued for many items.

Highlighting the sale was the unusually large bronze of all-time great amateur

golfer and prolific golf author Horace Hutchinson poised in mid-swing by

William Tyler, dated 1890, which commanded $29,900. Gleneagles, the vibrant

watercolor of a foursome of golfers set against a breathtaking landscape by

Harry Rountree, circa 1920, sold to a private collector for $27,600; and a

panoramic oil painting, "On the Links Newcastle" by A. Ussher, showing a view

of Newcastle Co Down dated 1895, brought $24,150.

Among the clubs and golfing equipment was the fine feather ball manufactured

by Allan Robertson. Formerly in the collection of Bernard Darwin, the ball

went to a private collector for $18,400. An early Nineteenth Century General

or heavy iron with a curved face came in over its pre-sale estimate at $7,475.

Another important club was a rare T. Morris oval section bar head putter,

stamped "T Morris, St Andrews" in an oval. A similar putter in the Royal

Burgess Collection in Edinburgh sold for $6,900. One of the more unusual items

was a Browns rake iron known as "The General," stamped on the rear sole

"Thistle Montrose" and "Browns Patent" in an oval, was purchased by a New York

dealer for $4,887.

Several handwritten and published books regarding the history and rules of the

game achieved strong prices. The Thistle Golf Club, a small hand written book

with marbled card covers entitled "Rules," circa 1815, went to a private

collector in New York for $23,000. A golf book dealer in New Jersey purchased

Dr Stone's The Duffer's Golf Club Papers For $19,550. Another interesting

publication was Golf: A Royal and Ancient Game by Robert Clark. A limited

presentation copy dated 1875, the book brought $16,675.

For further information, or to consign items to future golf memorabilia

auctions, Tara Finley at 212/427-2730.