2025 January Golf Memorabilia Auction - Closing Date 02/02/25
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This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/3/2025

Glenna Collett's Sterling Silver Palm Beach Golf Club Women's Championship Trophy


On temporary exhibition in this lot is perhaps the only surviving significant trophy from Glenna Collett's Hall of Fame career. The principal reason for the scarcity of Collett's trophies is the fact that, as reported by the USGA’s Rhonda Glenn in 2010, beyond her six US Women’s Amateur gold medals which reside with the USGA, her other trophies were melted down and made into a silver tray inscribed with each of her victories.

The Palm Beach Championship title went to Glenna Collett three consecutive times, in 1923, 1924 and 1925. In her 1928 authored book 'Ladies in the Rough' she lists these Palm Beach Championship wins as as “Major” Championships! Indeed, newspaper and magazine accounts of the Palm Beach championships she won refer to them as Florida State Championships. The later Florida State Golf Association Womens Amateur championship tournaments did not commence until 1927.

In 1919, Mrs. Henry Flagler first presented a trophy for these championships. Anyone who won the championship three times would RETAIN permanent possession of the trophy. Reminiscent of Young Tom Morris and his Open Championship Challenge Belt winner's prize that was discontinued after a trio of first places in 1870. An article in the March 1925 American Golfer magazine noted that a strong field teed off for the 1925 Florida Women’s Championship for the cup offered by Mrs. Flagler. There were three golfers eligible to take permanent possession of the trophy including Miss Bessie Fenn , Mrs. Quentin Fellner, and Miss Collett, each of whom had won the trophy two times previous. In the first round Collett would defeat Fellner and Edith Cummings would defeat Fenn. In the final round Collett would defeat Edith Cummings 6 and 4 and win permanent possession of the trophy which is now offered here.

Individual trophies won by Glenna Collett are incredibly rare. We can find only one other trophy won by Collett that sold at auction and that was in 2007 for a group carryforward trophy won by Collett and others (non-individual).

This rare Florida Glenna Collett trophy somehow escaped the meltdown and has now come to our auction indirectly from our consignor via Collett’s estate that was passed down to her descendants .

In 1931 Glenna Collett became Mrs Glenna Collett-Vare upon her marriage to Edwin H Vare Jr. They had two children. daughter Glenna, or Glenny, born in 1933, and son Edwin, or Ned, born in 1934. Glenna Collett-Vare died in 1989 at the age of 85 in Gulf Stream, Florida. This elegant sterling silver trophy weighs 690 grams, stands 8 inches tall and is 6 3/4 inches in diameter at the top.

Glenna Collett-Vare is known as the 'Queen of American Golf' and is regarded as the female Bobby Jones, the highest of praise. She won six US Amateur Championship titles from 1922 to 1935. The year before she won this trophy she won 59 out of 60 matches, losing only on the 19th hole of the semifinal of the Women’s Amateur when Mary K. Browne’s ball caromed off hers and into the cup.

Life-long amateur golfer and pupil of famous teacher Ernest Jones, Glenna Collett-Vare received the Bob Jones award in 1965 and was elected into the World Golf hall of fame in 1975, finishing offer her piled up accolades. Excellent condition is this trophy, with its original layer of lacquer/gold-tone still prevalent in an inside ring of the trophy which should be able to be removed/cleaned by winning bidder if desired. This is without question a museum worthy offering. Do not miss this opportunity to add it to you collection.

This is our first auction of 2025, and it will end Sunday, February 2nd at 10pm ET. Please utilize the categories column and search bar to help you navigate towards your preferred collectibles. Bids must be placed before 10pm ET Sunday in order to participate in extended bidding. Bid Now!

AUCTION CLOSING RULES:


1. Place your initial bids BEFORE 10pm ET Sunday February 2nd in order to bid on the item(s) during extended bidding
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Please Note: TGA will charge the Bidder/Buyer of the Item(s) a commission (Buyer’s Premium) of nineteen and one-half percent (19.5%) on the successful and final bid price of each of the Item(s) or lot(s) won. No discounts apply. No returns. TGA is not responsible for customs, duties, brokerage and/or similar charges on items shipped internationally. Placement of a bid in this auction constitutes acceptance of all of the terms and conditions in this auction. ALL SALES ARE FINAL.

Bidding
Current Bidding
Minimum Bid: $500.00
Final prices include buyers premium.: $13,973.14
Number Bids:19
Competitive in-house shipping is not available for this lot.
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