1902 Oakley Country Club Inv. Tourn. Best Gross Sterling Silver Trophy Plate - Donald Ross' First Design!
Oakley Country Club in Watertown, Massachusetts was Donald Ross' very first design of what would be an illustrious career. The Scot immigrated to the United States finding his first employment as a golf professional at Oakley CC in 1899. Shortly thereafter the ambitious Ross overhauled the 9 hole course and made it a "full" 18 holes complete with, as written by Richard Mandell for Golf Course Architecture in 2007 dated 'The Pioneer: Donald Ross', a layout that was typical of the era: punchbowl greens, blind shots, and rudimentary mounding. Just a year after its 1901 completion, this very trophy plate was presented for the Oakley CC Invitational Tournament Best Gross and composed of sterling silver - while working on a project in North Carolina with the Tufts family named Pinehurst! 'Best Gross Oct 18, 1902 - Oakley Country Club - Invitation Tournament' reads the sterling silver tray as hallmarked on its verso. Proud of its rich history, Oakley CC remains a prestigious club with one of the top claims in the industry.
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