Circa 1840 W & J Gourlay Feather Ball with Weight Marking

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/20/2020

Circa 1840 W & J Gourlay Feather Ball with Weight Marking

Feathery golf balls are a cornerstone to a vintage golf ball collection, with this example a nice and tight one from the celebrated makers W & J Gourlay. Perhaps never used, a condition report would give praise to this 'W & J GOURLAY' stamped specimen from nearly two centuries ago. The time-consuming processes involved in creating a feather ball ensured that the price was out of reach of the masses. Though expensive, this type of ball had great flight characteristics and made the wooden ball obsolete almost immediately. The leather was cut in two, three or four lobes then fanned out like petals of a flower, three of the sides would be then be sewn together by hand on the inside edge, then boiled goose feathers would be pushed into the open end and finally sewn together. William and John Gourlay were grandsons of the three generation golf ball making dynasty family and made feather golf balls until 1950, when the gutty was introduced. Its pennyweight '29' is inscribed on the ball in light ink, a common mark to accompany the makers.' The outer layer appears to be its original paint, with some wear and flaking from poor storage over the years. Derived from the Patino Collection, its most recent housing was with the PGA of America. There is a small hole from an old mounting, common for balls from this collection. The one time Scottish golf pro at Augusta Country Club had one like this along with 5 others mounted in display circa 1972. A letter of authenticity from PGA Historian Emeritus Bob Denney will accompany this lot.

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