Introduction to Rare Golf Clubs

While most golf enthusiasts concentrate on the sports aspect, some golf aficionados, both ladies and gentlemen, pay greater attention to its hobby aspect usually in the form of collecting. One of the most coveted pieces of golf collecting are rare golf clubs which are prized both for their heritage and even their possible usability. They are as difficult to find as, say, cheap ladies golf clubs, but they are definitely prized and treasured more.

What rare golf clubs are out there?

Avid rare golf club collectors look for a wide variety of items. Among the types of rare golf clubs that collectors search for are those that have wooden shafts. Rare golf clubs that have wooden shafts can go as much as thousands of dollars each. The priciest and rarest clubs are usually those which are made in the 19th century, which feature long noses or more popularly called “early irons” by collectors. These are quite rare because by the 1930s wooden shafts were gradually replaced by steel.

While wooden shafts may be more valuable than steel ones, some steel shafted-clubs are also considered to be precious. Those made between 1930 and 1945 are usually considered rare and collectible as they are considered to be the “classics”. But unlike the wooden shafts of the olden days, classic clubs are coveted more for playing purposes rather than display.

Generally, clubs made during the latter part of the 20th century are not considered collectible even if they have been used for a time. Some exceptions are those used by golf legends and such clubs are valued like the baseball mitts of legendary players. It is important to consult a golf collecting guide when trying to venture into a rare golf club collecting hobby to make sure that items being purchased are indeed rare instead of just a cheap common one.

Knowing the Value of Rare Golf Clubs

The prices of rare golf clubs differ very much on several factors. For example a golf club may be more considered valuable based on the face markings or scoring on the heads. Age would also vary the pricing as antique golf clubs would generally be more expensive than new ones.

To get a general sense of how rare and valuable particular golf club is, it is wise to consult an extensive golf club collection book or catalogue. However the pricings may still vary as it is only the market that could tell how much a particular club really costs. One should see how much people are willing to pay for particular clubs and what kinds of clubs are people willing to collect. One may have a very rare club but if it is something that does not catch collectors’ fancies, then it might not become that valuable.

A great resource for information about rare golf clubs is Olman and Olman’s Encyclopedia of Golf Collectibles. While the prices specified in the volume may be outdated, as it has been 10 years since its publication, it would still be able to provide a general idea of which clubs are more valuable than others.

The value of the club may also depend on who is selling it. For example you could get a particular rare club from an antique store for $30, but you may chance upon it in a garage sale for only $10. Thus, when getting the value of a possibly rare club, it is important to consult the knowledge of experts.

While generally older clubs are rarer than new ones, the rule does not always apply to every kind of club. Some clubs which were common in the older days may still be common at present when compared to rarer clubs belonging to the same period. A mass produced club in the 1930s would still be considered common these days when compared to the special edition clubs coming from the same age.

When dealing with rare clubs, thorough evaluation of all factors should be considered before one can be certain that it is indeed valuable. Again, the importance of expert opinion cannot be overstressed.