Rare as hen’s teeth iron up for auction

Old Sports Auction are holding their latest online Golf Memorabilia auction, which kicks off today and will run for two weeks. And the star lot could fetch £50,000.

Among the 500 lots is one of the rarest and most valuable iron clubs ever offered for sale. It is valued between £30,000 and £50,000.

The star lot is an ancient blacksmith-made, square toe / spurred toe iron dating between 1780 to 1820. It was used by Scottish golfers to literally “dig” the old feathery ball out of troublesome lies like rutted cart tracks.

Fitted with an ash shaft and calf leather grip, only a handful are known to exist – the majority of which are in Golf Museums in Scotland and the United States,

“We are extremely proud and delighted to be able to offer this club for sale,” said owner Graham Rowley. “I have known about this historic iron for many years and have finally persuaded the owner this is the right time to sell. In auction terms fresh to the market goods like this always cause a stir among collectors and institutional buyers like Museums etc.”

It is also a club with a remarkable history according to Mr Rowley: “Somewhat uniquely we can trace the history of this early iron back to the mid-1850s and have the paperwork to back it up. Rarely if ever do early clubs like this offer any provenance.

“This club is different. It reputedly belonged to Master club maker Hugh Philp of St Andrews before being passed to his nephew Robert Forgan after his death in 1856. Passing through the legendary Forgan clubmaking family it was purchased by a Carnoustie-based professional David Low who exhibited his collection in New York in 1954. It was purchased by the present owner from the Low family almost 17 years ago.”

Related:

Click here or on the image below for more on the longest ever golf club member