Catalog: Antiques: Instruments and Implements: Sports (37)

Here is a fine example of a club created by a skilled craftsman! It is a circa 1910, smooth face hickory shaft golf club sporting a wonderful patina, stamped on the back "NICHOLLS SPECIAL".

Smooth face golf clubs fell out of fashion, and perhaps function, by the very early 1900s, yet they were still offered in catalogues for a number of years beyond this date.

The grip is missing except for the listing which is in good condition, and the almost-straight hickory shaft sports a nice aged patina. There is a stamp near the base of the grip noting the following: ???? A.& C.P. CO. Mfgr - Westboro, Mass. It measures 37 inches from heel to top of shaft and is likely a MASHIE NIBLICK although it is not marked as such. There are various minor dings to the metal surface and examples of wear commensurate with this club's use and 110+ years of age.

Interesting notes: This club was most likely imported from Scotland and sold by the English brothers Gilbert and Bernard Nicholls who emigrated to the US in the early 1900s. Both brothers (who were not clubmakers) had excellent professional golfing careers. Interestingly, Scotland imported thousands of wooden shafts from the US during the hickory golf club era as evidenced by the Westboro, Mass stamp on shaft.