Feathery golf ball history books

The ball was painted and finished off by punching it with the ballmakers. An authentic feathery golf ball styled in the 1700s design. Golf equipment improved, with many of the top golf ball and club makers being in high demand. An apprentice would be bonded to a mastercraftsman for up to seven years whilst they learnt how to make. Going back through my collection of golf books, a dig around on the internet and asking golf ball companies what their opinions are. Gutties, or guttapercha golf balls, were invented in 1848. Best sellers todays deals new releases books electronics gift ideas home customer service computers gift cards.

The feathery touch of death by john logue overdrive. Another one discloses a golf ball with a rubber solid core containing an oil substance, an oilresistant coating layer, a wound layer and an ionomer cover layer. In the mid1800s, someone invented the gutta percha ball, or guttie. As it dried the leather shrank and the feathers expanded to create a hardened ball. According to history, haskell had driven to nearby akron to have a game of golf with a guy called bertram work. Anchoring the book is a colorful, looselimbed history of the sport by the sports illustrated senior writer john garrity. The following is a partial timeline of the history of golf. The feather ball period was the longest period of stability in the history of the golf ball. They would stuff a hatful of wet feathers into a wet inchandahalf leather pouch, sew it up, and let it dry. So was the development of the rubber core golf ball. It starts with a description of that golf match and how a. Feather balls are quite valuable, but smooth gutty balls are just as rare and. It is possible that feathery golf balls were used for play from the earliest written records of golf which date to 1457. Mar 20, 2016 tony parker, world golf hall of fame historian shares history of the feathery golf ball.

The feathery touch of death by john logue nook book. Hello select your address best sellers todays deals new releases books electronics gift ideas home customer service computers gift cards sell todays deals new releases books electronics gift ideas home customer service computers gift cards sell. Antique golf balls were originally wood before featheries came along, then gutta percha superseded feather balls and at the end of the nineteenth century it. I started collecting antique golf clubs and antique golf balls in 1995. You can look at the history of golf in three eras, based on the type of ball used. Basically, the ball can perform well for a lot more times than most of us use them for.

Robertson attempted to suppress the popularity of the new and cheaper ball, which hastened the end of his own 100yearold business making the featherie ball. Lake balls museum the feather ball golf ball museum. The story is set in san diego, london and new york, as well as in ancient and modern scotland. Mar 04, 2015 the feathery touch of death ebook written by john logue. But just as the courses, clubs and rules have evolved through the years, so the golf ball has changed out of all recognition from the first ones ever used. How feathery golf balls were made and how far they went. To hold a ball that is at least 150 years old, and in some cases nearer 200 years old, is quite a thrill for a golf collector. From its beginnings to the mid 1800s, the feathery golf ball was used. Shop from the worlds largest selection and best deals for vintage golf balls. When american golfer barry vinson turns up dead at the british open, golf writer john morris and his companion, julia sullivan, search for clues, but when an antique golf ball is stuffed down a second murder victims throat, they uncover a bizarre mystery as old as the game itself a mystery taking them back through the history of scotland itself, where golf and blood.

But when it came to personality, the brilliant young american was strictly a duffer until someone took him off the course. Andrews is founded, the first golf club for women in 1867. Make offer vintage reproduction feathery golf ball. The history of the feathery and the game of golf is well researched and told in a delightful manner. Golf is the ultimate informational resource for everything golf, with a unique approach where the focus is not just on improving your technique, but where golf tips are based on five axes that make up the game of golf indeed, our philosophy is that to make rapid improvements or to break out of a plateau at any given level, playing golf should not be just about having a good. Hotchkiss 1997, the author of one of the most acclaimed books on the history of the golf ball, the latter revolutionised the game at least four times. An anthology of the golf ball1899 1984 this auction is for a presentation box conta iningan anthology of the golf ball1899 1984 for thetrue golfers collection it is a limited edition collection of replica antique golf balls from original molds spanning the 40 years from 1899 to 1939. Wooden golf balls were used up until the seventeenth century, when the feathery ball was invented. Founder tim carter talks with frank hardison of laguna beach, ca. The feathers and leather were fashioned into the ball while wet.

Made in the traditional method, a leather pouch filled with top quality goose down and some feather. Feathery golf balls feather stuffed leather covered golf balls the first real golf ball was known as a feathery golf ball. The solidcore titleist pro v1 became the first nonwound golf ball to gain wide accepteance among professional golfers. Robertson caught morris playing with a guttie, and fired him on the spot. With an antique golf ball a feathery stuffed down his throat. Vinson could pulverize his tee shots and dazzle with his short game. Fewer golfers have ever seen one, and fewer still have been lucky enough to ever own one. The relationship between robertson and morris soured when the guttie ball was introduced see golf ball history. Although the era of the feathery golf ball may have started in the early 1400s and run until the late 1840s, it is believed that it was in 1618 that a new type of golf ball was created by handcrafting a cowhide sphere stuffed with goose feathers.

Made from cow hide stuffed with goose feathers, just like allan robertson used to make them in st andrews 170 years ago three litres of dry feathers boiled down and stuffed into the hide shell. The feathers expand and the leather shrinks as they dry out, creating a remarkably hard. The new ball flew farther than the feathery and was. A lot of golfers know the term feathery golf ball but few know what they actually look like. David auld daw anderson 18191901 my great great grandfather. Antique golf balls featheries gutty balls rhod mcewan golf. Golfers who have an interest in the history of the royal and ancient game will know the name allan robertson. Feathery golf balls feather stuffed leather covered golf. Three basic types of ball have figured in the development of the game the feathery, the gutta percha and the now familiar rubber cored ball. The featherie ball was a handcrafted ball made of goose feathers packed into a cowhide sphere. Mythical origins of the golf ball and the game of golf.

Golf ball history from that first rock in the field hit with a bent stick, through the wooden ball and the featherie, right up to the modern day dimpled ball. The feathery ball period latest from as early as the 14th century or as late as the 16th century and was produced until the early 1850. Oct 28, 2009 founder tim carter talks with frank hardison of laguna beach, ca. Antique golf balls were originally wood before featheries came along, then gutta percha superseded feather balls and at the end of the nineteenth century it was the rubber core ball which held sway. Feathery golf ball history hickory golf wisconsin hickory. For clarity there is a clear distinction between replicas and fakes. How the ball is hit and directed is the essence of golf. The idea of collecting golf balls and of making it public goes back to the 1970ies, where the first balls were found and the 1980ies where the first article was written in a german golf manazine.

Throw in the suspense of murderous thugs, auctioneers, and millionaires who covet the feathery at any cost, and you have a seriously entertaining novel. Apr 30, 2020 how the ball is hit and directed is the essence of golf. Here are the key features that identify a genuine feather golf ball. There are many interesting facts in the history of golf such as the lawmakers ban the playing of golf on sundays in 1592. The brown line cut ball is a playable modern replica of the ball david deacon brown would have used to win the 1886 open championship at musselburgh. History shows and attributes the creation of the famous double.

Synopsis how has the golf ball affected the game, club development and the rule of golf. Information about the historical way of manufactoring golf balls are shown covering gutta percha balls, feathery balls, the development of dimples and other classical methods of ball production finally, we describe aerodynamics of ball construction, give background on number and form of dimples, weight and stability of balls. A golf ball that was more suited to hackers than good golfers. Dec 19, 2016 tony parker, world golf hall of fame historian, shared information about feathery golf ball. The feathery is an easy, entertaining read whether you are a golfer or just like a good.

The feathery is a touching story of a young mans struggle to find his place in the world. It took several years before i had the confidence and the funds to purchase my first feathery golf ball. The science and the art, the price of a single feathery ball from a reputable maker could. A golf ball is a special ball designed to be used in the game of golf under the rules of golf, a golf ball has a mass no more than 1. Tony parker, world golf hall of fame historian shares history of the feathery golf ball. A feathery golf ball with his stamp allan is a very rare and prized collectors item today. Explaining how the ball has evolved from the first feathery gold ball in the 1400s right up to the present day, this book is an essential read for any golf follower. They are balls made from pieces of animal hide sewn together and stuffed with feathers.

Basically, the feathery was a leather sack filled with boiled goose feathers, then stitched up and painted. Mary queen of scots is criticised for playing golf in the grounds of seton house soon after the death of her husband, in 1567. He is reputedly one of the first, if not the very first golf professional. Gutta percha balls were first painted white in an attempt to hide the darkcolored gutta sap. When american golfer barry vinson turns up dead at the british open, golf writer john morris and his companion, julia sullivan, search for clues, but when an antique golf ball is stuffed down a second murder victims throat, they uncover a bizarre mystery as old as the game itself. The first mention of the feathery ball, was in 1620.

It took me 10 years before i bought my first feathery golf ball. The feathery touch of death by john logue books on. In its beginnings the leather golf balls were likely to have been filled with wool or hair. The changing story of the balls manufacture falls broadly into welldefined phases, beginning with the feathery, which was used for centuries until it was superseded by guttapercha. History of golf imagine the sun bursting through the trees for the first time of the new day, the smell of freshly cut grass still potent to your nose as you tee the ball up for a round of golf in the cool mist of a spring morning. In this golfers ultimate delight, charles mcgrath and david mccormick have compiled a unique combination of golf history and original essays by some of golfs greatest and bestselling writers and enthusiasts. History of golf balls and history of golf ball production, covering the feathery ball, rubber golf ball, gutta percha, wooden ball. In 1836 the longest drive ever recorded with a feathery ball, 361 yards accomplished by samuel messieux at elysian fields the same year.

Read more single ball box useful for any of our golf balls. An anthology of the golf ball 1899 1984 this auction is for a presentation box conta iningan anthology of the golf ball 1899 1984 for thetrue golfers collection it is a limited edition collection of replica antique golf balls from original molds spanning the 40 years from 1899 to 1939. He was considered the premier ball maker of his time. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the feathery touch of death. Frank describes how the original golf balls were made and shows th. The longest drive ever recorded with a feathery ball, 361 yards, is achieved by samuel messieux at elysian fields. In this golfers ultimate delight, charles mcgrath and david mccormick have compiled a unique combination of golf history and original essays by some of golf s greatest and bestselling writers and enthusiasts. Here is a look at the history of golf balls and how they have evolved over centuries. History of golf balls and history of golf ball production, covering the feathery ball, rubber golf ball, gutta percha, wooden. The feathery plot centers around a unique type of golf ball used during a record match at st. The design of clubs has tended to follow improvements in golf ball design. Thats why used golf balls can be pulled from ponds and still perform like new. Mar 04, 2015 when american golfer barry vinson turns up dead at the british open, golf writer john morris and his companion, julia sullivan, search for clues, but when an antique golf ball is stuffed down a second murder victims throat, they uncover a bizarre mystery as old as the game itself a mystery taking them back through the history of scotland itself, where golf and blood are all part of the game.

The feathery ball period lasted from as early as the 14th century to as late as the 16th century and was produced until the early 1850s. The feathery touch of death ebook written by john logue. Hugh kennedy, robert stewart and john smale, three of the identified players, are credited with introducing the game in scotland. If a ball has fewer or more pieces, it cannot be a genuine feather ball. He was a clubmaker, feathery ball maker, caddy and keeper of the greens at the old course in st.

The first golf ball in history was known as a featherie. And in 1930 and 1932 respectively, the bga british golf association followed by the usga united states golf association standardized the golf balls size and weight. Family history golf tournaments 101 mel lewis, nzpga. Tony parker, world golf hall of fame historian, shared information about feathery golf ball. Smashwords the feathery touch of death a book by john logue. History of early wooden, hairy, feathery or featherie, gutty and haskell golf balls.