30 years to amass, gone in six hours: auction of antique golf-club collection brings in $2.17 million
November 27th, 2007
“I don’t have any regrets,” said Ellis, author of the genre’s signature book, The Clubmaker’s Art. He receives the record amount for an antique-club sale of $2.17 million, minus 25 percent and a seller’s commission, which go to Sotheby’s.
Ellis, 55, said his decision to sell is a result of wanting to spend more time with his family. In 2002, his wife, Susan, was diagnosed with spinal cerebellar ataxia, and he believed he could no longer commit time to his collection.
Confounding the sale was a golf periodical’s pre-auction article that questioned the history of the club that ultimately sold for the highest bid (see The “Old” Hot List). The article also suggested Ellis might have sold prime items to a collector in Monaco. Ellis strongly refuted the claims, but there was a perception that the auction was affected. “We had hard-core collectors, but they didn’t come forward in the numbers we expected,” said Leila Dunbar of Sotheby’s.
Despite the sale’s predominantly big numbers, the thrifty buyer had plenty of options. fifteen lots sold for $200 or less, including my favorite, the $100 William Harness solid-steel-shaft putter with walnut grip, made in 1928 in my hometown of Bloomington, Ill.
Even though Ellis is disappointed the sale didn’t reach its $3 million potential, the auction plus the release this year of the second edition of his classic book have brought some satisfaction to this self-described “natural-born collector.”
THE ‘OLD’ HOT LIST
The top-three sellers from the Ellis sale:
1 / Long-nosed putter stamped A.D., attributed to Andrew Dickson, 1700s, $181,000.
2 / Square Toe Light Iron, 1600s, $151,000.
3 / Long-nosed scraper, mid-18th century, $91,000.
The auction moved a lot of hickory, but Ellis retained 159 lots, including the Henry Febiger Patent Lead Shot Driver (top), which can be yours for $6,000 to $9,000.
Author: Cliff Schrock
How To Feel The Golf Clubhead As You’re Swinging
November 16th, 2007
For a lot of amateur golfers, feeling the clubhead when swinging simply doesn’t happen and sadly never will. But for golf professionals they have an intimate feeling of where the golf club is at all times during the golf swing.
Could that be a golf swing secret?
Well, I don’t want to say for certain but if you have trouble feeling the clubhead as you’re swinging here’s a simple golf drill that will help give you the feeling of the clubhead as you’re swinging. This can only help you to hit the golf ball better.
To do this golf drill simply setup to a golf ball and grip the golf club as you normally would. BUT move your grip up the club so that you have the last two fingers of your top hand off the end of the golf grip. Once you have done this then I want you to swing with this “new” golf grip.
By doing this it will force you to place a lot less emphasis on your hands and arms as your big muscles will be forced to control the golf swing. You’ll also get great feedback when doing this golf drill if you swing too fast because if you do you’ll lose all control of the golf club through the ball.
If that happens you simply have to swing the golf club with more rhythm and better tempo.
And what you want to feel when doing this golf drill is that the golf ball simply gets in the way of your golf swing. You shouldn’t force anything, especially with your golf grip. Remember to “swing the golf club” and not “hit the golf ball”. The golf ball is hit as the result of you “swinging the golf club”!
So please do this golf drill and you’ll get a much better feeling of the golf clubhead as you’re swinging and definitely through the ball. Don’t however expect to hit the golf ball great when doing this golf drill. That’s not the point of this golf drill. Instead when doing this drill you should be focusing of the feelings that go along with swinging with the different grip. Then you can transfer those feelings over to your normal golf swing, which can only help to improve your ball striking.
Author: Nick Bayley
How To Grip A Golf Club Correctly
November 3rd, 2007
For anyone who has ever attended a golf lesson, it is clear that among the first things to be achieved is to learn how to grip a golf club correctly. The ball and the club are the main objects of the entire game, so it goes without saying that any beginner should know how to grip the golf club correctly. For those who’d like to find out more about golf before actually going to some sports centre to attend classes, here are a few tips to learn how to grip a golf club correctly.
First of all, keep in mind that the grip is the only way you connect and feel the golf club. A proper position of the hands on the club brings better control of the club’s face of impact. Therefore, when learning how to grip a golf club correctly, you have to swing your body so that you imprint power to the ball. If you really want to know how to grip a golf club correctly, then make sure that your hand and the club become one in the move. Always use your dominant hand for a stroke, since this is the way to hit with precision.
In order to learn how to grip a golf club correctly, place the last joint of your index finger right under the club’s shaft. Then, keep the club at a clear downward angle. When you place the lead hand on the angle, put the left thumb on the back part of the shaft. Try to imitate the moves of the trainer who shows you how to grip the golf club correctly. For very professional information you may turn to online resources like those provided by the following site: http://golfswingtrainer.blogspot.com/. They provide great tips and ideas that will assist you in the pleasant effort of learning to play golf.
Author: Banpom Kiat
Used Golf Clubs - Information You Should Know
November 3rd, 2007
What are Used Golf Clubs?
As the name suggests, used golf clubs are those clubs which are already used by aspiring or professional golfers. The most difficult part for a customer, who wants to purchase used golf clubs is to purchase good quality clubs at a great price. The purchase of used golf clubs drastically reduces the costs for a person, who aspires to play the gentleman’s game. With the purchase, a person would save hundreds of dollars.
Are Used Golf Clubs Better in Performance?
Prior to its purchase, most of the people would be in two minds, as to whether they need to purchase a new golf club or a used golf club. Although, majority of them would straightaway go in for a new golf club. It needs to be mentioned over here that, used golf clubs used for a few occasions are not a bad option. The major advantage that such clubs have is their cost.
Steps to be Considered:
The following are few steps which need to be considered prior to buying used golf clubs.
1. The first thing that needs to be seen is as to whether the used golf clubs are in a good condition or not. Numerous sensible golfers would have a look on the overall quality of golf clubs. This is because they would like to maintain them for the purpose of resale.
2. Essentially, a check on any sign of wear and tear, in both the sole and the grips of the club would be beneficial.
3. Some amount of time needs to be spent for the purchase of used golf clubs from a reputed brand.
4. A trial at a pro-shop and a subsequent search for used golf clubs of the same type would always help.
Author: Dave Demink