125 Years of the Golf Tee

With the calendar turning to the month of December we at the Society of Golf Historians thought we would provide a golf history holiday shopping list for the golf history lovers out there.

Our goal is to provide a thorough list of items that hits every socio-economic household. Plenty of options under $100 and at least one item worth $500,000 in next week’s edition.

In this week’s newsletter we will dive into where you can shop for some of the world’s greatest antiquities and some of my favorite companies for your Golffice design.

But first…

125 YEARS OF THE GOLF TEE

This week on Thursday, December 12th, we all should hold up a glass and say a toast to Dr. George F Grant! On December 12, 1899 an obsessed dentist from Boston decided to improve how we hit our tee shot. Prior to the dear doctor, golfers would tee up their golf balls up with a pile of sand, but Dr. Grant invented and patented the first wooden golf tee.

Unfortunately for Dr. Grant, it would be another two decades before the wooden tee took hold and when it did, Dr. Grant received zero credit and zero financial benefit from its success. 125 years to late - let’s say a toast and give special thanks to Dr. George F Grant!

GREAT ANTIQUITIES SHOPS IN THE USA

If you live in the United States or are visiting from overseas you can shop at three of my favorite golf antiquity stores to acquire your own piece(s) of golf history.

The Old Golf Shop

Located in the Village of Pinehurst and in Palm Beach, Florida. The Old Golf Shop may be the most upscale golf antiquities shop in the entire world. An amazing source for historical clubs, balls, artwork and trophies.

Golf Links to the Past

Located at the shops of Pebble Beach. Golf Links to the Past is one of the oldest high end golf antiquities shops in the United States. Everything from vintage to modern artwork, balls, clubs and autographs. If you are in Pebble Beach this is a must see shop. At the end of this newsletter I will share with you the ultimate golf antiquity from the Old Golf Shop for the collector with means.

Old Sport Gallery

Another fantastic golf and sports history shop located in the Village of Pinehurst. Owned and run by Tom Stewart, this shop offers the golf history collector quite a few affordable items on top of some rare and expensive books, golf prints and autographs.

HOW TO DECORATE YOUR OWN SPACE

Here are a couple of my favorite golf companies that can help your decorate your own golf spaces.

Evalu18 Artwork by Joe McDonnell

This incredible print, stunningly portrays the course in a three dimensional way, achieved through Joe's command of Lidar data, photogrammetry, 3D sculpting, and digital watercolour painting techniques. Whilst the print and mount are flat, the effect is so real, you'll want to get up close to check. I personally have four of Joe’s magnificent prints - I can vouch for their beauty!

You can order prints at: https://shop.evalu18.com/collections/joe-mcdonnell

BALLPARK BLUEPRINTS

You can purchase blueprints of some of the most famous golf courses in the world at Ballpark Blueprints including this blueprint of the famed Bushwood Country Club (Caddyshack).

Click the link to check out Ballpark Blueprints collection: www.ballparkblueprints.com/collections/golf

ARCHIVE 22

Another great combination of golf history and golf art is Archive 22’s collection of U.S. Open and PGA Championship Venues. Hand drawn by Chandler Withington these collections not only document very host of our great major championships but the artwork of their club’s logos.

If you are interested in ordering a print here is a link to their website: https://www.archive22-store.com

THE ULTIMATE GOLF HISTORY HOLIDAY GIFT

This year’s ultimate Holiday Gift is available for purchase at the Old Golf Shop.

For the price of $500,000.00 you can purchase this 1904 Olympic Trophy for Golf. This championship cup represented the last time golf was in the Olympic Games until it was resurrected in 2016.

Thank you for taking the time to read this week’s newsletter. If you enjoyed it please consider sharing it with your friends and family. If you disliked it please consider sharing it with your enemies.

Until next time…

Yours in Golf History,

Connor T. Lewis