James Rea

James Rea was the professional at Shane's Park Golf Club from at least 1909 and likely one of the sons referred to in the W. Rea & Sons. Shane's Park is mentioned in the Irish Golfer's Guide as far as 1916 but Bill Gibson also mentions in his seminal work ("Early Irish Golf") that it may have been taken over by the military in 1914. James Rea joined Portstewart as professional and clubmaker in 1922 and remained there until 1947 when he retired.

W Rea & Sons hickory shaft transitional brassie with bone sole insert and full leather face was sold for EUR150 estimated by the seller as an 1885 club.

The following advertisement appeared in the Irish Golfer 18 April 1900.

W Rea & Sons
Butt Wood Drivers
Butt wood is the first three feet above the root which is the toughest (part) of the tree, and much closer to the grain than any other part. Other club makers have to make wooden heads from whatever part of the trunk or branches the wholesale business choose to supply. Our wooden heads are made from the butts only of personally selected beeches grown in Shane’s Castle Park.
Bap Drivers
5s 6d
Miss (May)Hezlet, dual champion (British and Irish) in 1899, writes : - “I have used your wooden clubs for the last three years, they last longer than any others, and the finish and balance is excellent. I used them all through the recent championship at Newcastle”
Irons, Mashies, Cleeks & C. to our own special patterns, designed and tested by Mr. Hubert Webb Irish Champion 1895-1898
Brassies
6s6d
Miss Pascoe, (British) Lady Champion 1896 writes :- “She has never had a club exposed to such bad weather and constant usage as the one sent her last year, and which she used all through the championship. Miss Pascoe must compliment Messr’s Rea & Sons on their excellent shafts”

W. Rea from the Shanes Park GC (Antrim) would also be considered one of the earlier makers of golf clubs from the 1890s. W. Rea & Sons of the Shane's Park GC offered Butt wood drivers which included the "Bap". A butt wood driver was made from the wood three feet above the root which was the toughest part of the tree and closer to the grain, both May Hezlet and Miss Pascoe the British Ladies Amateur Champions were known to have used their clubs. W. Rea made their clubs from beech trees which were considered a high quality material and reckoned to improve distances.

 
James Rea - Portstewart
W. Rea & Sons