Irish Golf Memorabilia Auction Review - 2003

Auction results continue to improve throughout the first six months of this year despite the lull towards the end of the previous year. Two of the Auctions houses (Mealy's and Old Golf Auctions) provided the bulk of the quarry for the Irish Golf Collector one some extremely rare items of ephemera.

Books

Golf: - International Golf Matches at Portmarnock - Programme for Tuesday 17th May 1949, 8vo D. 1949, 30pp. includ. map of course, some m/ss. results added;­Royal County Dublin - Diamond Jubilee Year 1885 - 1945, an illus. souvenir booklet, 43pp. with pull out map of course; & Campbell (Patrick) Round Ireland with a Golf Bag, roy 8vo D. (Irish Times 0 c. 1950, 32pps., all orig. ptd. wrappers. (3) [Mealys] Euro 280 (Guide €70/110)

Golf: Golfing Union of Ireland - Year Book 1946, 8vo D. (Cahill & Co.) 1946. 125pp., orig. ptd. boards. V. Scarce. (1) [Mealys] Euro 70 (Guide €60/100)

KFC Purcell A short History of The Dublin University Golfing Society 1909-1975. An unlisted history. White soft covers, some discolouration to the outer edges. This was a presentation copy to its owner, as is written on the front cover. Privately printed, it is an interesting 20-page history that is extremely scarce! With it comes the official handbook of Portstewart Golf Club written by Tom Scott circa 1970 (again a scarce title) and a 1965 'International' programme played at the Royal County Down Golf Club, the teams who played being Ireland, England, Wales & Scotland. 23 March 2003 [Old Golf Auctions] Stg£105

William H Gibson, Early Irish Golf. 1988, 1st edition, signed by the author - scarce! 23 March 2003 [Old Golf Auctions] Stg£55

The Golfers Guide to Northern Ireland published by the Tourist Information Center : Belfast c. 1960 [Ebay] $15.50.

Programmes

 Golf: Open Championship of Ireland - Royal Dublin Golf Links Dollymount, Official Programmes for Tues. 14th July & Thursday 16th July, 1936, 2 seperate issues, illus. with map of course etc., orig. ptd. boards. V. good. (2) [Mealys] Euro 180 (Guide €70/120)

Golf: Open Golf Championship of Ireland, - Royal Co. Down Golf Club, Offical Programme for Thurs. 25th July 1935, with map of course, & with scores added in pencil; also Irish Amateur Open Golf Championship - Royal Portrush Golf Club, Official Programme for Sept. 1935, with map of course, illus. & scores added in pencil, both orig. printed boards. Scarce. (2) [Mealys] Euro 110 (Guide €70/120)

1934 Irish Open Golf Championship Golf:- Open Golf Championship of Ireland - Portmarnock Golf Club, Co. Dublin, Official Programmes for Tues. 17th Wed. 18th, & Thursday 19th July, 1934, 3 seperate issues, roy 8vo D. (Talbot Press) 1934, each with map of the course, illus. adverts. & illus. printed boards. V. Scarce, & v. good. (3) [Mealys] Euro 280 (Guide €120/180)

Golf Curios

Irish Golfing Interest Golf: Important Golf Scrapbook recording principally the career of the distinguished Irish International golfer A.W. Briscoe, mostly 1920's & 30's, newscuttings, original photographs etc., with a manuscript testimonial from his Commanding Officer in New Delhi where he served with the British Army; also some cuttings relating to family history, the Curraghmore Hunt, etc., several items loosely inserted. In a 4to scrapbook, worn. * A.W. Briscoe, of Loughrea, Co. Galway Golf Club, played for Ireland between 1928 & 1933, was leading amateur in the 1928 Irish Open, won the West of Ireland Championship on two occasions and played for Britain and Ireland on the successful Ryder Cup Team of 1938. (1) [Mealys] Euro 575 (Guide €300/400)

A truly magnificent piece of golfing ephemera! The members book dates to 1904 and belonged to junior club member T H Mayes who three years later must have witnessed champion golfers Harry Vardon and James Braid play an exhibition match at Malone Golf Club (Ireland) to commemorate the laying out of its new course, as mentioned in the club's history book. 23 March 2003 [Old Golf Auctions] Stg1,350

Photographs

Golf: Co. Waterford Waterford Golf Club, a group photograph by Phillips, Waterford, taken in front of Club House, c. 1940. (1) [Mealys] Euro 30 (Guide €35/50)

Magazines

Golf - Periodical, Irish Golf, The Only Golfing Paper in Ireland, 4 issues for Sept. 1929, Jan. & April 1930, & Dec. 1932. 4to profusely illustrated, each issue c. 34 - 40pp., orig. illus. wrappers. V. good. * Extremely rare, hard to find even single issue of this periodical now. (4) [Mealys] Euro 120 (Guide €100/150)

Art/Posters

After H.M. Bateman, Guinness Advert Coloured Advertisment, "What should I take here, Caddy," "I should take a Guinness, Sir!" 11 %" x 8", in maple frame. (1) [Mealys] Euro 120 (Guide €100/150)

Golf Ball

Lot 550 The Foxrock 27 ½ moulded mesh gutty in very good condition – note: Ref. K McGimpsey Golf Ball book author “maker unknown and no record of one being offered at auction”. Guide Stg£200-300 [Mullock-Madeley]

Postcards

The Matterhorn Golf Links Newcastle Co. Down [Ebay] 22/4/03 Stg£21.20