Vintage Golf Clubs - An Introduction For The New Collector 

  Those of us who share a passion for collecting Vintage Golf Clubs, whether beginner or experienced collector, tend to have a preference for either wood or irons.

And then of course there are people that like to collect all varieties. Every category of Vintage Golf Clubs has it's own set of criteria which aids in determining the ultimate value of the club. Most serious collectors will invest most of their energies in a specific category of club. This helps to minimize the amount of research which one must perform, and allows one to become much more of a subject matter expert in their particular niche.

How To Turn Vinatge Golf Clubs Into Much More Than  A Treasured Collectible

One aspect relating to hunting for vintage golf clubs and this can be disregarded, is going out of your way to make an effort to develop the identity associated with a club. What do we mean by identity? It refers back to the ability and willingness to search much deeper into your reasearch, and although it's possible you have previously authenticated that you do in fact possess one or more authentic vintage golf clubs, to ascertain a history on your specific golf club itself. For instance, was this golf club utilized by a well known player or possibly might it have been owned by a famous celebrity. In this case, you now aren't only the proud owner of an antique vintage golf club/antique golf clubs, but enjoy the extra value and intrigue of knowing that they've got a well-known prior owner.

There are many examples of individuals purchasing a club without knowing its history and then being pleasantly surprised to find that its history is much richer than they ever could have imagined when they bought it. It really no diiferent than the gargae sale hunter who pays next to nothing for a little trinket, only to later have it appraised or pointed out by a friend that it is a rare piece worth exponentially more than ever imagined.

So there are all types of possibilities. If not owned by a big name or famous golf player, perhaps it had been used at a famous event or course. The specific road that the really serious collector might get pulled down as a result of collecting vintage golf clubs can be almost endless.

Also keep in mind when buying vinatge golf clubs that a club doesn't have to have a famous story to be considered a very valuable golf collectible. When looking at the value of an old club, the real value is in the club itself, famous prior owner or not, and that is the attraction for the antique golf club collector.

As with all other forms of antique hobbies, collecting vintage golf clubs may have its problems. It is advisable to make sure that the particular pieces you are buying really are authentic vintage golf clubs, and not reproductions or replicas. As an example, present day golf clubs could be distressed to look vintage. When you're buying merchandise containing autographs from famous players, it is advisable to ensure the signature is authenticated. These kinds of collectibles, whenever authenticated, can enjoy great price appreciation through the years.
 

The first written record of golf dates to 1457 when King James II of Scotland issued a law banning the game as it was interfering with his soldiers archery practice. Some rare examples of ancient woods and irons remain but it is difficult with any certainty to date them accurately. The earliest set of vintage golf clubs known is believed to date to the early 1600’s, and maybe the late 1500’s.

You can see that a game and equipment with such a rich history offers the collector an amazing level of challenge and satisfaction. When shopping for, or examining vintage golf clubs, there are 5 areas of focus which will give you a reliable preliminary "authentication".

They are;

• The Grip
• The Club-Face
• The Wooden Shaft Test
• Metal Clubhead Test
• Markings or Stampings

You can read more details about this Vintage Golf Clubs test here.

http://www.antiquegolfclubs.org/Used_Golf_Club_Appraisal.html

So you can see that there are quite a few things to know about Vintage Golf Clubs. One guide that I think every serious collector must have, is the Antique Golf Collectibles Price and Reference Guide.

It is excellent on giving you not just great guidance on what is out there, but also the most trusted way of determining the value of a specific piece. I think it is an absolute must have for any serious collector of Antique Golf Clubs.

The purpose of this post is primarily to offer a word of caution, so when you are searching for your next acquisition - just PLEASE check it out thoroughly, as not all old clubs are antique vintage golf clubs, and any reputable dealer would certainly know this.

Source: http://www.antiquegolfclubs.org

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Vintage Golf Clubs Are Really A Passion Of Mine, And I hope That They Are A Passion Of Yours 

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