John Gourlay's 1851 Thistle Edinburgh Golfing Club Winners Medal
A prized heirloom passed down from generation to generation, this winner's medal was in the hands of John Gourlay's and is now brought to auction directly from a Gourlay family descendent 173 years later. In 1839, John Christian Gourlay (1815-1869) and his brother William teamed up at the time of death of their brother Douglas, the final two in the Gourlay golf ball dynasty lineage. The 'Wm & J Gourlay' branded balls were mostly produced by William and sold by John primarily in Musselburgh, not far away from the McEwan family and their recently opened golf club manufacturing facility. The golf ball tandem would continue until 1844 when William passed away and John was the only golf ballmaker in the Gourlay family, ushering in the gutty golf balls would uproot the feathery as the preferred ball only a few years into his solo venture. As the new ball making process involved machine molds, employees and less artistry, John's time opened up and he focused more on being very capable golfer himself. 2 1/4" x 3"
Presented here is John Gourlay's 1851 Thistle Edinburgh Golfing Club winner's medal awarded to Gourlay on March 17, 1851 hallmarked 'JT' and likely the work of John Tongue the skilled Birmingham, England silversmith from 1831 to 1863. Tongue was known for his attention to detail and scrolling leaf decoration encompassing Gourlay's prize here. 'The Edinburgh Thistle Golfing Club' is carefully added stacked in three lines with whispy decorative design of the day containing it, all held and presented in an incredibly ornate rounded outside band, with a hinge and clasp, in relief. The verso is engraved with the stylized 'Far & Sure' crossed clubs and balls logo perched atop the highly significant results 'Gained at 27 strokes by John Gourlay March 17 1851." Shaping his history of the game, one handmade feathery at a time, The Gourlay family was the unquestionably the preeminent ballmaker through the mid-19th century. Tell their story with this aethetically appealing, early 1851 winner's medal presented to John Gourlay.
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