From the President

The Official Newsletter of the Golf Society of Australia Golf Australia House, 155 Cecil Street, South Melbourne, Victoria, 3205, Australia Issue Number 16 December 2003 Telephone (03) 9699 7944 Fax (03) 9690 8510 Editor Telephone (03) 9583 6192 Life Association of Scotland Calendar 1915 … Prestwick, The Himalaya Hole 1914 . A brilliant foursome of Harry Vardon, James Braid, J.H. Taylor and George Duncan, winners of seventeen Open Championships between them. Arran is in the background. Acknowledgement to The British Golf Collectors Society. From the President t is with pleasure that I present this report of the activities of the Society over the past year. In so I doing I sincerely thank the Committee for their support and the members for their continued interest in all our activities. The Long game is now being published regularly which gives the opportunity to better communicate with members, keeping you informed of coming activities, together with very interesting articles on the game's history. Roy Paterson as editor with John Lindsay and Michael Clayton assisting in an Editorial Committee role have increased the number of issues 1 (Continued on page 2) The 2003 Doug Bachli Trophy at Victoria (Continued from page 1) per year. More Than a Caddie Can Bear The Museum continues to be a major focus for the So- ciety. Following the completion of the Moonah Links Clubhouse, a large display of museum items have been round 1938, the R&A and USPGA agreed to established in the main foyer area of the club house and limit the number of clubs carried by any one hotel reception. There is considerable interest being A player to fourteen. Previously there was no shown with very complimentary comments about the limit on the number of clubs a golfer could carry and display. The Museum at the A G U Headquarters in many players would take as many clubs as their bags South Melbourne is continuing with space now avail- would hold. The caddie might find himself lugging able for added displays. Cataloguing of all museum anything up to twenty odd clubs in a bag. items is now complete with over 800 items listed. Viv Beer is co-ordinating our Consultant Librarian, Moira Indeed, now there were so many clubs that their identi- Drew, who was assisted with the move to Moonah by ties were reduced to numbers, not names. Daryl Cox, Ross Baker, Glen Carboon and Hedley Ham. For the old-time golfers such excess seemed to reduce the player's need to develop his shot-making skills, and The guidelines for membership have been revised and the R&A stated that "players were virtually buying will appear in the 2004 handbook. An electronic format shots," with the belief that good play depended on hav- of the handbook is being considered. A revision of the ing an absurd number of clubs in their bags. Constitution is currently under review. Jean Gilbert is being assisted by Roy Paterson and Barry Donaldson in For professionals, there was a waning of the traditional undertaking these tasks. The movement and history of feeling that each club had its own identity, hand- club locations over the years are to be researched with picked, each a valued friend. Allan Robertson, for ex- the results to be consolidated into a concise report. ample, had his own names for all his clubs: 'The Doc- Barry Donaldson, with the assistance of Dick Kirby tor,' 'The Frying Pan,' 'Sir Robert Peel,' etc., each with and the VGA are carrying out this research. a specific task. The Hickory Day is popular and Members are encour- When the 1938 rule became widely known, more well- aged to join in the fun of playing with the old tradi- known professional golfers, including Henry Cotton tional clubs. There have been four dinners this year declared the new rule "entirely unnecessary... golfers which have had varying attendances, the highlight be- should be allowed to carry as many clubs as they ing the dinner at Royal Melbourne with an inspection want." They suggested that caddies "are well remuner- of the new club house. ated for their efforts." We thank Royal Melbourne, Kingston Heath, Yarra One caddie in vigorous disagreement was Jock Hut- Yarra Peninsula and Victoria for use of their facilities. chinson, who had his stamina well and truly tested by Thanks also the A G U for their continued support and one enthusiastic golfer. His man’s leather bag con- assistance, with the Society's administration, particu- tained twenty clubs, two dozen golf balls, a pair of golf larly Colin Phillips, Alex McGillivray and Christine shoes, a waterproof suit, and an umbrella. After the Freehan. game, wiping the sweat from his brow and pointing to his load, he said, "Eighteen holes, six miles and aw Dr Ken Shepherd, a Patron of the Society, regularly this for a twa and six tip, it's no a caddie he wants, but attends the committee meetings. We thank him for his a cuddy [horse]!" continued support. John Lindsay, the Treasurer, is to be thanked for his continued contribution and manage- ment of our finances. Our new Secretary, Ann Reynolds, is to be congratu- Contents Page lated, having worked very diligently to ensure the President’s Message 1 smooth running of the committee activities and to keep More Than a Caddy Can Bear 2 the members informed. The Origins of the Game 3 James Braid 4 My thanks is extended are Anne Court who has been of Twenty Five Years Ago 6 great assistance to me and we congratulate her on her Book Review 7 life membership. A Holiday Crossword 8 Crossword Answers Finally , I wish you all a happy 2003. 9 Member’s Page 9 Keith H Wood AM President ☻ Photo Gallery 10 2 THE ORIGINS OF THE GAME OF GOLF (continued) by Ross Baker An address to members of the Golf Society of Australia at Victoria Golf Club on 17th February 2003 Part Two THE EARLY CLEEK MAKERS. · Scott of Elie, · Gibson of Kinghorn, ron clubs were not popular to play a feather ball, · Willie Park of North Berwick, as they tended to cut the ball very easily. However · Ben Sayers of North Berwick, I it became evident that a robust club was needed to · George Gibson of Westward Ho and extricate a ball from a hole or cart rut. The first people · Cann and Taylor. to make iron clubs were the village blacksmiths. No doubt under the watchful eye and with the guidance of The major cleek makers were the club maker. Can you imagine the first meeting? · Gray of Prestwick, The club maker who only plies his craft with wood, · Condie and Tom Stewart of St Andrews, and the smithy covered with sweat and grime, and used · Nicoll of Leven to creating anything from a garden fork to a wagon tire · Anderson of Anstruther. with iron. Nonetheless the uniting of the two, created firstly a robust club head and later jobs for many “Why golf is Art and Art is Golf we have not far to seek, smiths who became known as cleek makers. So much depends upon the lie, so much upon the cleek.” Rudyard Kipling With the introduction of the Gutta Percha ball in 1849, irons became far more popular and therefore more 20th CENTURY cleek makers began business. The cleek makers of this time were Wilson and White, both of St Andrews. The 1900's saw the advent of the Haskell ball but also club Shortly after F&A Carrick of Musselburgh followed. makers were becoming adventurous with their designs, wood heads and /or the faces were being made out of aluminium Wilson was known mainly for his cleeks, which have and other materials. Irons such as Anti Shank, Spring Face, been described as a real work of art. His creek mark and putters such as the centre shaft Schenectady were be- was a bent carpenter's nail stamped on the back and coming popular. usually near the heel of the club. Who among these past club makers would have ever dreamt Carrick also specialized in cleeks, but turned out high that their trade and skills would evolve into the billion dollar quality irons of all types. White is remembered for business of today? making good quality irons, bringing a refinement to the older coarser and clumsier clubs of the previous years . One thing in all of this remains constant. The art of the club maker to build a mystique and mysterious quality into the IMPACT OF THE GUTTA PERCHA golf clubs we love to use is as present today as it was before. BALL Ross Baker ☻ The Gutta Percha Ball also had a significant effect on Acknowledgements long nose woods. It was found that the long fine neck Golf Antiques.- John and Mort Olman and sleek head did not stand up to the rigours of this A History of Golf- Robert Browning hard ball. Subsequently wooden clubs started to be Golf in the Making- Ian Henderson and David Stirk made with thicker necks, deeper faces and wider heads. A History of Golf in Britain- Various Materials such as leather were often used to repair a cracked face. Results of Doug Bachli Eveny at Victoria GC By the 1880's transitional clubs (clubs that still had the scare /splice neck and look, but had more the stocky Doug Bachli Trophy Winner Geoffrey Cupples bulger look head) were being made. The late 1890's (40pts) saw the advent of the socket joint for woods and the shape being described as a bulger. Medal Winner Jean Gilbert (38pts0 CLUB MAKERS Editor’s Notes Some of the club making businesses of this time were Members are invited to provide contributions to the editor.

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