Beech Sports Equipment and Memorabilia

Antique Scared Head Charles Ramage Woods. An elegant pair of transitional scared head beech wood hickory golf clubs by Charles Ramage, Brighton & Hove Golf Club (1888 - 1902). This great looking pair of usable scared head clubs, driver and brassie, have polished golden club heads, lead weight to the rear, traditional insert along the leading edge of the sole, brassie with full brass sole plate, both heads stamped 'C Ramage'. The original hickory shafts fitted with good hide grips with thick underlisting. Approximate head size of Driver (front club) :- a = 9 cm b = 3.4 cm c = 5 cm Club is 110 cm in length and has an approximate 5° Loft. Swing weight D-9. Approximate head size of Brassie (rear club):- a = 7 cm b = 3.5 cm c = 4.9 cm Club is 109 cm length and has an approximate 8° Loft. Swing weight E-2. This is a great example of a pair of a scared head golf clubs from the 1890's in excellent usable condition. The early clubs are made with a hickory shaft glued to the head by means of a splice or scare joint. This joint is then further strengthened by whipping with a pitched thread. All beautifully hand made by craftsmen of the time. Charles Ramage born 2nd September 1856 in North Berwick, son of William Ramage, quarryman and his wife Ann Greig. Charles was a plasterer to trade and during the season he was a licensed caddie on the West Links. He resided with his mother, step-brother Andrew Denholm and Charles Gibson at 42 Westgate, (now No.47) North Berwick. Charles Gibson, a 22-year-old golf clubmaker from Musselburgh was employed by Tom Dunn in his workshop beside the first tee on the West Links, North Berwick. Charles Ramage's sister Helen born 5th June 1853 married Charles Gibson in the Abbey Church, North Berwick on 30th December 1881 and they set up home at 27 Westgate, North Berwick before moving to Devon in 1889. Charles 'Chas' Ramage's neighbour at 41 Westgate was Tom Arundel, a clubmaker who was the first player to enter the Open Championship from North Berwick in 1879. The adjacent property was occupied by Ben Sayers and his family for a short period. Charles Ramage married Bessie Scotland from Kinross in 1884 and they resided at 23 Quality Street, North Berwick. In 1886 Charles Ramage worked as a clubmaker with Tom Dunn and was a fine 'bulger' maker (a driving club with a convex face). In 1888 he was the first professional and clubmaker to be appointed to the newly opened nine-hole-course at Brighton & Hove Golf Club. In 1891 the members organised a professional tournament played for £10. The field included Charles Ramage, Douglas Rolland, Peter Paxton (winner), Tom Dunn, Charles Gibson, George Douglas, David Pinkerton, Alex. Alexander, Ramsay Hunter, Rowland Jones. During this period Charles and Bessie resided in Cowpie Road, before they moved to 49 Fonthill Road, Hove, Sussex. In 1891 Charles was joined at Brighton by his step-brother Andrew Denholm as his assistant. The course commanded stunning views over the Sussex Downs and was served by the Brighton & Dyke Railway. Andrew Denholm born 23 September 1861, in Edinburgh son of George Denholm, gardener and his wife Ann Ramage. Andrew Denholm was an original member of the PGA and played in the Open Championship in 1900 and 1904. Charles Ramage died suddenly in 1893 aged 36 years and Andrew Denholm took over as professional and clubmaker at Brighton & Hove. In 1908, Andrew Denholm played in an exhibition match with James Braid...

Antique Sunday Club, Golf Club Walking Stick. A desirable walking cane with the handle in the shape of a golf club head. The gentleman's walking stick has a beechwood socket head han...

Antique stained Beechwood walking stick with silver handle - 800/1000 German silver content - steel ferrule (may be a replacement) - featuring a warm aged patina over-all - hallmarks...

Antique Golf Club, Scared Head Brassie A nice original beechwood head golf club with hickory shaft and sheepskin grip. The scared head club with traditional...

Vintage 'Kleenball' lawn Tennis ball cleaner. A very good example of a hand held lawn tennis ball cleaner called the "Kleenball". The cleaner is made up o...

A Walt Disney licensed old wooden Donald Duck with articulated limbs/joints. It was made by BRIO in Sweden from 1938. This version in painted Beech dates from the 1940s. It can be us...

Antique Auchterlonie Putter, St Andrews. A very nice socket head putter by Auchterlonie of St Andrews. The golf club has a lead weight to the rear, traditional horn slip along the leading edge of the sole, the polished wooden head stamped 'Auchterlonie', the original hickory shaft with suede leather grip. This is a very nice example of a golf club from the 1900's in excellent condition. Approximate head size:- a = 7cm b = 2.6cm c = 4.4cm Auchterlonie was a family firm in St Andrews making hand crafted wooden golf clubs...

Vintage treen football rattle. A good wooden Victorian football rattle. This piece is made from beech with a well turned handle and in original working ...

Antique scared head putter, Charlie Hunter. A good long nose style putter by Charlie Hunter, Prestwick. The golf club has a lead weight to the rear, tr...

Schoenhut indoor dolf toy, Tommy Green. This indoor golfer is called Tommy Green. He is a 6 ½" tall wooden golfing manikin attached to a 30 ½" wooden shaft. He is in complete original condition with one original white alloy Mashie and one celluloid golf ball. He has the original manufacturing plate on the shaft 'Manufactured by 'The A. Schoenhut Co. Pat. U.S.A. March 14. 1922, Foreign Patents Pending'. He comes with a paper 'Schotten' instruction booklet. "Tommy" is so contrived that at the will of the player he can be made to execute an actual golf shot with the tiny club set in his hands. He plays exactly as you would on a regular course; he drives from the tee, approaches and putts. It is actual golf and his score is just what you make it, according to the skill with which you operate him. He is operated by a lever which protrudes from the underside of the "Club", just below the leather handle. The lever controls the movement of the miniature club in the manikins' hand. Slide the lever downward and the club is drawn backwards, slide the lever up and a stroke is made, the force and direction depending on the operating player. Being the perfect player the manikin always keeps his eyes on the ball until the stroke has been made, the head will turn and 'follow through' and watch the course of the ball. Interchangeable miniature clubs fit into the socket in the manikins hands and are held firmly in place by means of a spring. The ball used is a small celluloid ball, similar in appearance to a golf ball; it will do no harm...

Scared head golf club, driver, by Willie Park. A well loved long nose golf club, driver, made by Willie Park of Musselburgh. The stained and polished beech-wood head in good conditi...

The read balanced straight line wood putter. A scarce Read rectangular duplex wooden head putter with full brass sole plate stamped with makers USA details. The Linus Glover Read du...