Antique Collectable Golf Clubs-
by Roger Morton

A late 18th Century Long Nose Putter stamped Hugh Philp in superb original condition.

It has been my privilege to recently view one of the oldest long nose antique collectable golf clubs ever recorded, currently held in a private collection and photographed here.

Only two other recorded long nose putters may be older, a red keel putter full of wood worm holes, sold at Phillips Auction House in July 1993 for £11,750.00 and a putter made by Neilson of Leith, Scotland, now at Royal Sydney Golf Club.

This putter, by the dimensions of the club head together with the width of the neck just below the neck whipping and by the size of the horn sole insert and its retaining pegs would seem to date from 1780 or perhaps even earlier.

A late 18th Century Long Nose Putter stamped Hugh Philp in superb original condition. Antique Collectable Golf Clubs
The head appears to be made from Laburnum wood distinguished by the superb grain pattern at the heel of the club, a most unusual and rare wood to be used. Most heads around 1800 were more usually made from Thornwood or Fruitwood; later, Beechwood was extensively used.

The most interesting feature of this beautiful chestnut brown stained putter is that it is stamped on top with the name of H.Philp regarded as a genius, just the finest maker of long nose clubs. However he lived from 1782 – 1856 so if the putter is as old as claimed, Hugh Philp was not even born then!

Philp began by repairing clubs in the early 1800’s at St. Andrews. He may well have A late 18th Century Long Nose Putter stamped Hugh Philp in superb original condition. Antique Collectable Golf Clubs kept this club as a favorite, to copy the shape of his earliest clubs by, before developing his art with the elegant slim head style of which he later became renowned over his 40 year career.

A late 18th Century Long Nose Putter stamped Hugh Philp in superb original condition. Antique Collectable Golf Clubs The club shows his name to be stamped with individual letters which he may well have borrowed from a printing works in his very earliest days to stamp his work with before buying an expensive personalised stamp later on. Or may be he stamped the club with his name after it came into his workshop for him to repair. No one will ever know for sure, except one man.

A late 18th Century Long Nose Putter stamped Hugh Philp in superb original condition. Antique Collectable Golf Clubs Whatever conclusion is reached regarding the origins of the antique collectable golf club, this fine long nose antique collectable putter is indeed an extremely rare early club of great historical importance and has a considerable value attached to it.

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Antique Collectable Golf Clubs-
by Roger Morton

Golfer-Today.co.uk

6 Broadway, Shifnal, Shropshire, TF11 8AZ

Antique Collectable Golf Clubs-by Roger Morton

Golfer-Today.co.uk

6 Broadway, Shifnal, Shropshire, TF11 8AZ

Antique Collectable Golf Clubs-
by Roger Morton