Irish golf collectibles/memorabilia - Overview

* Denotes "exceptional" prices that have been achieved at auction

About now you are expecting to be bombarded with high price auction items and consumed by the folly of collecting anything golf related or the desire to check your attic. However this article leaves aside the rarified atmosphere of the; the featherie, Henry's Rifled or Park Royal golf balls, Thomas Mathison's poem "The Goff" or an 18th century rut iron which have realized prices that could justify your pocket thinking your hand was mad. This is a more parochial view of what is available to the Irish golf collector. Since Charles I receiving news of the Irish rebellion while playing golf on the Leith links was illustrated in John Gilbert's painting and later in a bronze plaque the prospect of collecting golf memorabilia loomed.

Golf programmes

The essential Irish programmes for any collection would be: 1951 Open Championship - Royal Portrush (EUR1,000-EUR1,500) EUR1,600*, however Gilchrist's guide ( the golf collectors bible) suggests EUR500 to be a better estimate but current auction results are suggesting otherwise. A Max Faulkner signed version of the final day programme would expect to sell for EUR1,250-EUR1,750 EUR2,630* and an auction early in 2006 sold the Friday programme signed by Harry Bradshaw for EUR2,450. In January 2006 a Wednesday/Thursday programme for the 1951 Open championship with multiple signatures sold for EUR1,900 but the condition wasn't perfect so as you can see the price can vary from EUR500-EUR2,500 and it will all come down to what happens on the day. Even a drawsheet (usually a single page double sided document) for the qualifying rounds of the 1951 Championship sold for cEUR55. A 1947 Open Championship - Hoylake representing Fred Daly's win (EUR700-EUR900). The British Amateur championship 1946 (Jimmy Bruen's win Royal Birkdale EUR210-EUR230) EUR350*, 1949 (Venue- Portmarnock, the only time it was held outside the Great Britain - EUR120-EUR150) and 1953,1958 and 1960 (EUR40-EUR70) all won by Joe Carr with the 1960 Championship being held at Royal Portrush.

Other programmes for any collection would include the 1958 (EUR30-EUR50) and 1960 Canada Cup (EUR50-EUR100), the 1975 and 1997 European Amateur Championship, the 1991 Walker Cup held at Portmarnock [EUR25-EUR30] and the 1968 and 1996 Curtis Cup at Royal County Down and Killarney respectively.

The post-1975 Irish Open programmes are getting scarcer at least to the mid-80s and the period 1927-1953 (excl. 1940-45 and 1951/52) rarely appear at auction. The earliest to go to market seems to have been 1933 programme, so the existence of Irish Open programmes prior to this is in question. Pre-war Irish Open programmes sell for EUR130-EUR150 based on recent auction results. Others would include the Dunlop Masters from 1959 and 1965 and the Alcan Golfer of the Year Championship 1970 which again don't appear too often, all were hosted by Portmarnock G.C. Any of the early Ryder Cup and Walker Cup programmes would have some significance for an Irish collector and the former are rapidly increasing in value given the significance the event now plays in the golf calendar so come to the auction house with deep pockets and a short course in gladiator school.

One of the oldest programmes to come to the market is for the Irish Amateur Open from 1900 played over the Newcastle (Royal County Down G.C.) links and won by Harold Hilton was sold recently for EUR650. The Ladies championship programmes are not well documented although there were likely drawsheets for all the British Ladies Amateur championships the earliest recorded programme is 1963 at Newcastle, County Down but the earliest programme that has been presented for sale is the Tramore Ladies Championship Programme (1906).

Some examples of the programmes mentioned are shown below:

1947 British Open Championship - Hoylake - Winner Fred Daly	1951 British Open Chmapionship - Royal Portrush	Curtis Cup 1968 - Royal County Down
1996 Curtis Cup Programme - Killarney Golf and Fishing Club	1949 British Amateur Championship - Portmarnock	1933 Irish Open Golf Championship
1946 British Amateur Championship - Winner James Bruen	Amateur Championship 1900 Newcastle - Winner Harold Hilton	1960 Canada Cup programme - Portmarnock

Golf Books

The really rare books relating to Irish golf are pre-World War II especially the Irish Golfing Guides 1909-1916 (EUR 1,500-EUR2,000). The 1915 guide sold at a Philips auction in 1994 for EUR2,000 and the 1910 guide fetching EUR1,350 in 2003 in only fair condition. Grants: Sportsman's holiday guide 1897 has rarely appeared but expect to pay EUR650-EUR850. Lionel Hewson's Irish Golf Directory 1926-27 was sold privately for EUR50 but is extremely rare as is the 1928-29 edition of the same book and a further edition which was due for publication in March 1935 but was cancelled citing increased printing costs. The Irish Golfers' Annual 1897 would be extremely rare with only one in existence that we are aware of and is held in a private collection.

Classics like May Hezlet's: (the Portrush golfer) Ladies Golf 1904 and the 1907 revised edition, and Bernard Darwin's: Golf Courses of the British Isles 1910 would normally fetch EUR600 and EUR1,000 respectively. Other rarities would include J.P. Rooney's The Irish Golfers' Blue Book [1939/1940] and Play Good Golf [1939] the latter fetching a gob smacking EUR240 at the auction recently, it would normally expect EUR60-EUR100. The tourist guides, Golfing Northern Ireland and Golfing in Ulster normally fetch between EUR75-EUR125 at auction although have achieved higher prices.

The 1952 and 1953 Golfing in Ireland by J.P. Murray and Martin Coffey are considered scarce titles and were withdrawn at a recent auction as the bidding reached EUR280 and EUR110 respectively suggesting the former is the scarcer title, however, a subsequent auction suggested a EUR100-EUR125 would represent a more likely valuation. Pre-1960s Golfing Union of Ireland year books were first published in 1927, at a recent auction a 1930 and 1959 year books sold for EUR65 and EUR30 respectively but a very rare 1941 year book sold for c.EUR425 in 2007.

Any of George C. Nash's trilogy of letters: General Forcursue and Co…[1936] [EUR110], Letters to the Secretary of a Golf Club [1935] [EUR200] and Whelks Postbag [1937] all achieve good prices at auction when they do surface and in so far as a golf book can maintain a cult status these have come closest. The first in the trilogy, Letters to the Secretary of a Golf Club, have been reprinted in the Classics of Golf series and by Rhod McEwan publishing.

Patrick Campbell's: "Around Ireland in a Golf Bag" [1937] published from articles that appeared in the Irish Times would expect to fetch EUR180-EUR220. Even centenaries have achieved exceptional prices at auction, see prices in red italics, but the prices you would normally expect are: Lahinch [EUR30-EUR50] {EUR95*} , Portstewart [EUR30-EUR50] {EUR85*}, Royal Dublin Golf Club 1865-1963 with original slipcover [EUR140], K F C Purcell's: A short history of Dublin University Golfing Society 1909-1975 [EUR155]. The Curragh, Royal Belfast and Royal Dublin centenaries can expect to achieve good prices given their chronology in the affiliation of Golf Clubs. These prices are a recent phenomenon as on-line auction houses list these books individually when in the past they would be sold in sets.

Golf booklets like: May Hezlet's: Portsalon, Robert Browning's: Royal Portrush, the Portstewart booklet and the official handbook of the Killarney golf and fishing club 1946 (c.EUR80) would also enhance any collection.

While the above books would be considered the more valuable from and investment perspective essential golf books for the Irish collector are: William Gibson's: Early Irish Golf [1988], William Menton's: The Golfing Union of Ireland 1891-1991 and the Gilleece and Redmond collaboration of Irish Ladies Golf Union - An Illustrated Centenary History 1893-1993 are all indispensable and likely to increase in value over time. Patrick Campbell's: How to become a scratch golfer [EUR15-EUR20] has regularly made the list of peoples favourite golf books of all times and is part of the Classics of Golf collection.

The 1905 Golf Stories by Marietta and published by Hodges Figgis & Co. Limited: Dublin could expect EUR400-EUR600 but probably more valued for its age and rarity rather than its content. Other books that have significant interest for the Irish golf collector are two very rare booklets on ladies championship golf both of which were auctioned in 2003; Thomas Glover's: Ladies Open Golf Championship May 1902 a privately printed book sold for EUR1,400. This championship was held at Deal golf course but was won by Miss May Hezlet. The other book is The Ladies Golf Championships - A History from 1893-1932 sold for EUR1,250 its significance to Irish golf being that nine of these 35 championships were held in Ireland and some of those held overseas were won by Miss May Hezlet or Ms Rhona Adair the two most renowned Irish golfers from the turn of the twentieth century.

The railway lines left their mark with London and N.W. Railway - Greenore and the Ulster Golf Links circa. 1920, Dell Leigh's Golf at its Best on the LMS 1925 includes Portrush and Newcastle Co. Down and Great Southern Railways: Parknasilla Co. Kerry: New Golf Links 1929 to name but a few. A. Duffer (hopefully a pseudonym) in his book "Lines from the Links" [1928], Adam Mathers: "Along the Northern Coast..[1940], even Percy French felt the need to to put pen to paper to voice their frustration with the game.

The Golfers annuals [1888-1910]/handbooks[1899-Present]/manual[1881-1907?] are valuable reference sources for an Irish golf collector as much of the first half of the twentieth century provides photographs and details relating to Irish golf.

Some examples of the golf books mentioned are shown below:

May Hezlet: Ladies Golf [1904/1907]	George C Nash: Golfing in Northern Ireland	Patrick Campbell: Round Ireland with a Golf Bag [1937]
William H. Gibson: Early Irish Golf [1988]	Bernard Darwin: The Golf Courses of the British Isles [1910]	Patrick Campbell - How To Become a Scratch Golfer [1963]
Lionel Hewson: The Irish Golf Directory 1926-27	Golf Stories - Marietta [1905]	John D. Sheridan - It Stance to Reason [1947]
Fred Daly - Golf As I See It [1951]	Dermot Gilleece : Breaking 80 The Life and Times of Joe Carr [2002]	Oscar W.Walker: Practical Golf Lessons from a new angle [1949]
Dermot Gilleece and John Redmond: The Irish Ladies' Golf Union 1893-1993	William Menton: The Golfing Union of Ireland 1891-1991	Eoin McQuillan : The Fred Daly Story [1978]
Centenaries
Portstewart Golf Club 1894-1994	The Island Golf Club 1890-1990	County Sligo Golf Club [1991]
Royal County Down Golf Club 1889-1989	Sutton Golf Club
Handbooks
Official handbook Killarney Golf & Fishing Club	Robert Browning: Royal Portrush Golf Club handbook [1949]	May Hezlet's: Portsalon Golf Links
Portstewart Golf Club handbook	The Royal County Down Golf Club handbook

Golf magazines

Early Irish golf magazines consist of the The Irish Golfer from 1899-1905 and these are extremely rare and difficult to gauge their value without a precedent but given their shortage it's probably not something a collector will have to worry about. The National Library of Ireland has two volumes 1898-1899 which may have been part of the Rev. John Kerr's (aka The Sporting Padre's) collection which was put up for sale in Edinburgh on September 20th 1901. The volumes 1900-1903 are held in a private collection and 1904-1905 may well be near extinct at this stage, at least in Ireland, although a complete collection is kept by a library in London.

1924-1971 saw the publication of Irish Golf and these too are proving to be uncommon and likely to set you back EUR15-EUR20 per edition. The National Library's collection begins from August 1927 (Vol 4 No. 40) the existence of the earlier magazines in this series are unknown but persumably some private collector has them in their collection. The 'Ulster Golf' magazine which started publication in June 1949 are also extremely scarce and likely to fetch EUR10-EUR15 per edition. 1971- early 1990s saw few Irish titles in circulation but in the last ten years has seen a surge in the number of titles available most of which have little monetary value (apart from their retail value) but are invaluable for understanding the current state of play in Irish golf.

Some examples of the magazines mentioned are shown below:

A 1906 issue of Golf Illustrated headed "The Irish Championship"	The Irish Golfer September 1898 to 1905	Irish Golf 1924?- 1971
New Golf	Golfing the official magazine of the Golfing Union of Ireland.

Golf postcards

In general early golf postcards are likely to fetch between EUR10-EUR35 with the most prized being postcards which contain golfers, events and clubhouses. Most golf courses up to the 1920s would have a postcard printed mainly by the Valentine & Sons, William Richie or the Lawrence Publishing companies. Some of the cards were issued by the railway companies like the Irish Golf Links postcard issued by the LNWR (see reproduction copy below), this is extremely rare and recently sold for EUR250. An early 1900s Acme postcard of the golf clubhouse at Dollymount (now Royal Dublin GC) was sold for EUR75 in only fair condition.

Other postcards were published by the manufacturers of golf balls like the Michael Moran postcard to promote the Dunlop Junior golf ball in the early 1900s. The postcards are far too numerous to detail here but the more valuable of them provide historical record of golf fashions at the time or known golfers (e.g. Rhona Adair or May Hezlet), hazards (Mann's Bunker, Matterhorn etc.) any of the clubs houses dating back to the early 1900s (e.g. Royal Dublin, Woodenbridge, Rosapenna, Malahide, Royal Portrush,Arklow etc.).

The National Library of Ireland has some of the postcards original pictures in its archives from its Valentine collection. A postcard [1903] from Harry Vardon to Miss Mand Quin of Dun Laoghaire sold at auction for EUR200. The Portrush compendium of postcards placed on a card reading "Would suit you to a tee" would also be of interest to the Irish collector. There were also humorous cards issued by E.T.W. Dennis & Sons in the 1930s for Irish resorts like Rosslare and Killarney.

Trading cards

Trading cards are somewhat limited when referring to Irish golf, the exceptions would be Fred Daly and Harry Bradshaw on the A& B. C. Chewing Gum Ltd (c. 1954) or Wristy Christy on one of the sportscaster cards (1977-79). There is also the Irish edition of the Churchman's issue Jovial golfers (73 cards), the W.D. & H.O. Wills golfing issue (1924) which includes Royal Portrush and Newcastle and the John Player & Sons tobacco cards on championship golf courses which also includes Portmarnock. Probably the rarest in this genre is WM. Clarke & Son (Dublin) from 1902 that contains 12 cards on golfing terms the full set sold for EUR480 in 1997. Naturally there are other cards since then that would have been mass-produced and are not referred to here.

Some examples of the postcards/trading cards mentioned are shown below:

Buncrana	Royal County Down Clubhouse	Portsalon
Arklow Pavilion	Slieve Donard and Royal County Down GC in background.	LNWR promotional card for Golfing in Ireland
Mann's Bunker	Guinness Advertising	Guinness Advertising

Golf balls		Given the timing of the earliest golf in Ireland we can safely skip by the feathery golf ball and move straight to the gutta or gutty golf balls and then the rubber cored golf balls. In general there is little evidence to support that early golf balls were made on any scale in Ireland and few have been presented for sale at auction. The exceptions to this rule would be (a) John Aitken of Royal Portrush who was responsible for three golf balls; the Aitken, Portrush Lily and The Clan, circa 1890's (b) Joseph Braddell & Son, Belfast with the Meteor and Shamrock in the late 1800's and (c) C.S. Butchart with the Butchart golf ball produced around the 1890's and they also sold the Donard, Celtic and BP golf balls. Probably the most famous Irish golf ball is the one that Harry Bradshaw played out of the bottle at the 1949 Open Championship to be beaten by Bobby Locke in a play-off. From the mid-1930s Dunlop use the produce golf balls in its factory in Cork.
Elverys special	Foxrock
The "Elverys Special" was sold by J.W.Elvery & Co. at the end of the nineteenth century. Other outlets selling golf clubs and balls around this time were A.W.Gamage Ltd. and Lambert, Brien & Co. Ltd. Tom Hood (Golf club and ballmaker) the professional at Royal Dublin Golf Club offered the Special Rocket, bramble and Dollymount balls, which may have been remoulds, around the same time . During the early 1930s Elvery's also sold an Elverys New Gypsy golf ball. In the early 1940s Michael Bingham (native of Tralee) who had already put his inventive genius to work at producing golf clubs turned his attention to golf balls and specifically and alternative to the rubber cored golf ball as the materials were beginning to prove scare as the war took hold. Spalding at the time issued notice that the only golf balls that would be made available are remoulds. In fact the UK's Board of trade had issued an order prohibiting the manufacture of nearly all sporting goods from 1 August 1942. Early accounts suggest he was successful in his quest and secured a major contract for their production but with prohibition and later the end of the war there was no indication that the new ball went into commercial production as materials needed for production of the rubber cored golf ball were no longer an issue.

Golf clubs

Golf clubs provide a parallel to the golf ball in that they were mainly mass produced and while local professionals would represent themselves as club makers they were more like skilled craftsmen who crafted wooden clubs and shafts from seasoned blocks of wood into a finished product. While in the past many Irish made golf clubs between 1910-1930 were being dismissed for this reason, now their appears to be an upward trend in values with higher prices being achieved for these clubs in good condition as they do represent a part of the Irish golfing heritage. A Fred Smyth [Royal Dublin), Sid(ney) Fairweather (Malone Golf Club] spliced drivers sold for EUR80 and EUR50 respectively. A T. Stewart flanged putter which had been stamped with T. Shannon from the Hermitage Golf Club sold for EUR115. A Thomas Walker (Greystones] spliced neck driver sold for EUR95 and was estimated to date from 1905. The emphasis on quality is reflected in the fact that when a damaged John Aitken shortspoon went for sale which pre-dates all the previous clubs mentioned it only achieved EUR20 at auction.

In the case of irons most would have been imported with the stamp of the local professional but would also contain the original makers cleekmark and this practice was prevalent throughout the U.K. and Ireland so while there were a few genuine Irish manufacturers of irons many would contain professionals names e.g. J. McKenna and B.Snowball (Portmarnock), J. Martin (Milltown), W.MacNamara (Lahinch), Barlow (Knock), T.Walker (Greystones), Fred Smyth, Alec Robertson (Royal County Down) and Clay (Foxrock and Ranelagh).

Fred Smyth retired in 1940 (and passed away in Spring of 1947) as a professional and clubmaker at the Royal Dublin Golf Club passing on his legacy and the world renowed Fred Smyth stamp to his son Bertie. No less a person than George Duncan the winner of the first Irish Open in 1927 and 1920 British Open championship considered him the best clubmaker in the "British Isles". At the 1936 Irish Open Championship Bert Gadd had to borrow clubs from Fred Smyth and liked them so much (after a seventh place finish) he took them away with him - a tribute to the Royal Dublin clubmaker. The following year Bert Gadd won the Irish Open Championship at Royal Portrush.

The exceptions to the above would, as with the golf ball, prove very collectible. John Aitken who was accredited with responsibility for the broad-headed driver (a.k.a. the "Bap"), Braddell & Son who would be responsible for a number of patented golf clubs that would fetch good prices at auction and Butchart manufactured clubs out of the Royal County Down golf club but few have appeared at auction despite a large number having been exported abroad. 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. An rare example of a W Rea transitional driver sold recently for EUR150 at auction. Tom Hood the professional at the Royal Dublin Golf Club was known to supply persimmon, dogwood and hickory drivers and brassies. The era of the hickory shafted golf clubs ended in the mid to late 1920s.

C Clay Ranelagh and Foxrock	W Rea & Sons transitional driver	Barlow - Knock Golf Club
Fred Smyth Spliced Driver and stamped shaft.
T. Shannon Hermitage GC (T. Stewart Flange Putter)	Thomas Walker Greystones est. 1905	Sid Fairweather (Spliced Driver)
Fred Smyth Patent Putter 1920	Irons from H.Hamill and J McCartneys of Ormeau G.C.	J. Aitken (Clubmaker - Portrush) Late transitional shortspoon brassie

Later during the 1930s' a number of the Irish professionals began to take advantage of their reputations to assist the sale of golf clubs. Elvery's would have sold autographed clubs by P J Mahon (Drivers, Brassies, Spoons, Baffy, and wooden cleeks) and Willie Nolan. Spalding Bros. the Belfast based sportsshop was selling Michael Bingham, the one time world's longest hitter and native of tralee who designed the "Clinger irons" and the "Flail-swinging" woods. At the same time Elvery's were also selling there own branded clubs including the "Troon", "Rhythm", "King-pin", "Phantom", "Craftsman", "Glendale" and "Autograph" in order of cost ranging from 11/6 to 22/6 with PJ Mahon clubs being the most expensive at 25/-.

By the 1930s most clubs were available in Ireland, many promoted by well know names including Henry Cotton and Walter Hagen but every golfer who made a name for themselves would likely receive a deal from the club manufacturers as had Fred Daly and Christy O'Connor. John Letters produced the Fred Daly "Masters Model" with reference to Open and Match Play champion stamped on the back and also Philomena Garvey's endorsed, Shot Master.

Fred Daly Masters Model	James Rea Portstewart
William MacNamara Lahinch	J Mc Cartney Ormeau G.C.

 

Golf medals and trophies

In July 1995 Sotheby's listed Max Faulkner's 1951 Open Championship medal for sale but it was withdrawn with a Guide Price of EUR30,000-EUR45,000. When Bobby Locke's collection was sold off by Christies in 1993 one of the lots contained his 1938 Irish Open Championship medal which eventually sold for EUR3,000. The silver golf trophy from the same year inscribed "Course Record 69 Portmarnock Golf Club A.D.Locke Irish Open Champion 21.7.1938" which fetched EUR450. A silver salver belonging to Bobby Locke won for the best amateur at the 1936 Irish Open Championship sold for EUR1,500.

Willie Nolan's (Portmarnock) 1934 Irish Professional golfer's medal was sold for EUR350. It was played at the Dun Laoghaire (formerly Kingstown) Golf Club. Sotheby's in 1988 auctioned a Golfing Union of Ireland hallmarked 15ct. golf and enameled brooch medallion, the enameled shield depicting a golfer in action, the reverse engraved Inter Club Competitions 1900, Won by H.Dodd, D.U.G.C." Guide Price EUR 375-450. Sotheby's also auctioned a set of Irish Golf Union medals one hallmarked 15ct gold, Chester 1909 and the other hallmarked Birmingham 1910 these were eventually sold for EUR1,500. An early 1890 Silver Golf Medal for the Dublin Scottish Golf Club, First Annual Handicap Medal won by John M Fisher was sold for EUR470.

A silver golf trophy for the Irish Amateur Championship 1935, 15in high on ebonised plinth (Christies 1992) EUR1,550. Naturally most of the early golf medals/trophies are heirlooms or are displayed by golf clubs. The earliest medals would be those of the Highland Light Infantry and the Blackwatch officers stationed at the Curragh.

An 9.375ct golf medal for a competition played at Armagh Golf Club in 1897	1938 Irish Open medal	The Golfing Union of Ireland hallmarked 15ct. golf and enamelled Brooch Medallion
Dublin Scottish medal 1890 is one of the earliest Irish medals to appear at auction	William Nolan's 1934 medal Irish Professional Golf Championship Kingstown Golf Club

Golf stamps and First Day Covers [FDC]

The main postage related collectibles here are the 1975 European Amateur Championship 6p and 9p stamps and the Eric Patton designed 1991 commemorative stamps and maxi cards for the Walker Cup and GUI centenary. Another issue of Irish significance would be from Tadjikistan that has Darren Clarke on the face of the stamp. Many of the Irish Opens in the 1980s have first day covers (FDC) that are envelopes stamped with the Irish Open, the venue and the year. Also included in this would be the commemorative FDC for the 1995 Ryder Cup to mark the Concorde flight from Rochester to Dublin, this would likely have even more significance now given the demise of supersonic travel. These are relatively inexpensive with the Ryder cup FDC being difficult to source.

A new issue commemorating the Irish particpation in the Ryder Cup was issued in September 2005 and is made up of four stamps denoting the K Club 2006 venue for the Ryder Cup and the Irish players in the past who contributed to winning or retaining the Ryder Cup. These together with an FDC (6,000 issued) depicting Des Smyth one of the 2006 Ryder cup vice captains and a prestige booklet (10,000 issued) also containing all four stamps. A further issue was released in August/September just before the event itself. Click here for more on stamps.

Ryder Cup 1995 & Concorde commemorative envelope. Rochester to Dublin	Walker Cup plus GUI commemorative envelope and stamps 1991
Maxi cards and stamps commemorating GUI Centenary and Walker Cup at Portmarnock 1991
Commemorative stamps 1975 European Amateur Championship Killarney	Darren clarke on stamp issued from Tadjikistan

Golf art
This encompasses all aspects of golf art including prints, posters and original art. Golf Art is also much sought after and early pictures of Irish golf courses and golfers are no less treasured. Harry Rowntree's classic pictures of Portmarnock, Dollymount, Newcastle and Portrush included in Darwin's Golf Courses of the British Isles 1910.

James Michael Brown (1853-1947) whose passion for golf was reflected in his art. His original artwork for the Life Association of Scotland calendars depicted the Links at Royal County Down (Sotheby's 1997, EUR41,000) and included Mr. Lionel C Munn (North-West GC) and Harold Reade (Royal Belfast) driving with the town of Newcastle and the Mourne Mountains in the background and one which Rhona Adair is playing at the Ladies Championship in 1901.These were also issued in print form and would likely sell for between EUR250-EUR350.

Art was used to reflect events in the news magazines of the day e.g. Illustrated London News and Graphic. Other artists have painted the Irish links (mainly Killarney and the Royal County Down courses) and these would include Joseph William Carey, R.U.A. (1859-1937), Sean O'Connor, J.R. Thomas and Sir Robert Ponsonby Staples.

The widely acclaimed portrait artist Sir William Orpen from Blackrock, Dublin did a commissioned portrait of The Prince of Wales to commemorate his captaincy of the R&A and Norman Wilkinson's classic painting of the 8th at Portrush used to promote the LMS railway line.

The contemporary painters would include William Grandison, Peter Munro, Philip Gray and John McNulty and Graham Baxter most have produced limited edition prints of the Irish courses and the latter commemorated Christy O'Connor jnr's two iron approach shot to the final hole at the Belfry to clinch the Ryder Cup. Ray Ellis also produced a compilation of his work in the John Degarmo's The Road to Ballybunion and the Spirit of golf.

An original Guinness poster depicting a golfing scene illustrated by H.M Bateman, e.g. "What should I take here, Caddy," "I should take a Guinness, Sir!" is likely to fetch EUR100-EUR120.

James Michael Brown - Ladies Championship 1901 showing Rhona Adair putting	Alexander Williams - Portmarnock links
William Grandison : 15th Ballybunion	Baxter's Killarney
James Michael Brown links of Royal County Down	Peter Munro : Royal County Down

Golf photographs

Photographs like postcards depend on age and the importance of the subject matter and no rule of thumb can assist you. Usually the item will have some significance to the buyer. Few early examples of Irish photographs have come to the market over recent years. Six early photographs (c.1895) of Royal County Down sold for EUR300. A 1932 photograph of professionals at Belvoir Park sold for EUR25 and an old Tramore ladies championship programme (1906), together with the negatives (7) used in it, was sold at auction for EUR190.

Joe Carr during 1953 Amateur Championship	1925 Irish International team to play Wales

Golf curios

There are unusual items of ephemera that just don't fit into the other categories. Percy French's sheet music "No more o'yer Golfin for me" or a menu from the Grand Central Hotel in Belfast signed by Walter Hagen, Joe Kirkwood and Walter Smith (Hagen's caddie) sold for EUR115 at auction in 2000. A Portmarnock sterling silver golf spoon sold at auction for EUR375. Christy O'Connor bag tag for the 1963 Ryder Cup was auctioned off for EUR120.

Other curiosities would include autographs, golf markers and cigarette cards. Irish autographs generally don't achieve good prices at auction, they usually appear on the on-line auction sites and their authenticity is sometimes difficult to ascertain. The Irish autographs that might make it to the big auction houses are May Hezlet, Rhona Adair, Fred Daly and Jimmy Bruen.

A scrapbook recording the career of the distinguished Irish International golfer A.W. Briscoe of Loughrea, Co. Galway Golf Club with mostly 1920's & 30's, news cuttings, original photographs etc. A.W. Briscoe played for Ireland between 1928 & 1938 and was leading amateur in the 1928 Irish Open. He also won the West of Ireland Championship on two occasions 1928 and 1931. This item sold for EUR 575.

A 1904 members book belonging to T. H. Mayes who three years later must have witnessed champion golfers Harry Vardon and James Braid played an exhibition match at Malone Golf Club (Ireland) commemorating the laying out of its new course, sold for EUR2,000, it was signed by Harry Vardon and James Braid. Golf markers do have a large following amongst collectors and don't under-estimate the price that some can achieve just bear it in mind if you have a marker commemorating a significant event, it may be worth something. A golf marker from the 1947 British Open sold recently for EUR150 while one for the 1951 British Open sold for EUR40. A 1960 Canada Cup entry ticket could expect to fetch EUR15-EUR35.

 

Canada Cup 1960 Admission ticket.	The Grand Hotel Belfast menu signed by Walter Hagen and Joe Kirkwood	1991 Walker Cup ticket - Portmarnock
Norman Wilkinson's travel poster fot the LMS showing 8th green at Royal Portrush	Christy O'Connor Ryder Cup badges	Fred Daly Sculpture

Conclusion

This article has tried to outline the collectibles/memorabilia that are being traded, prices are indicative only and based on the latest prices being achieved mainly at auction. It is by no means an exhaustive list as there are many other items that have probably not yet been chronicled or are in the hands of private collectors, golf clubs or museums. As items appear infrequently they may not be representative of the prices that will be achieved at future auctions. Generalisations have been made in order to encapsulate whole categories, if you have items to buy or sell you should check with a reputable source to determine authenticity and to ensure you can achieve a maximum return on your purchase or sale. Most auctions houses have a golf representative well versed in the value of golf memorabilia.

If you do decide to start collecting golf memorabilia you should decide on the area to focus on, as the range is vast and obviously not just restricted to Irish golf.

Just bear in mind nearly everything has a value in the world of golf memorabilia and collectibles sometimes feel like calories much easier to put on than to take off. Whether it is a photograph, marker, badge, scorecard, just think twice about discarding it as it might pay part of your next green fee or all of your next holiday. If collecting golf memorabilia, beware, while golf players may be considered gentlemen and voluntarily call penalties on themselves on the golf course, the purveyor of memorabilia maybe a little less scrupulous so view everything with skepticism and do your homework beforehand.

Before buying anything at auction you must factor in many things into the cost of the item as it doesn't end with the auction price, obviously there will be the commission fees but the shipping costs can add substantially to the overall price as many auction houses outsource their shipping to specific companies which can sometimes quote exhorbitant rates and many multiples of the cost of a normal parcel posting service. As an example an non-bulky item purchased at auction in the US, a medal for instance sold for a hammer price of US$200 your costs to bring this item back to Ireland would look as follows:

(a) not apllicable to zero rated items like books.

In the example you have nearly paid as much in incidental costs as you have paid for the item itself. So do your homework beforehand otherwise you'll get some unexpected surprises.

Associations/auctions houses
There are two main golf collectors associations in Britain and the United States: British Golf Collectors Society and Golf Collectors Society. The main auction houses are:Oldgolfauctions, Mullock & Madeley, Sportsbilia, PBA Galleries, Bonham's, Christies, Sotheby's, Lyon & Turnbull, Bob Gowland, Mealys and EBay.