1937 USGA Open Championship Contestant Pin

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/18/2011

After Ben Hogan overcame Oakland Hills Country Club to win the 1951 U.S. Open, he described the course as a "Monster". He could have just as well been talking about the 1937 US Open Contestants Pin offered here with its origin at that same Oakland Hills testing ground. For it is a "Monster" in the collecting of Golf's Majors Pins. With roughly 200 or less of these crafted for players.Sheer numbers and the time period from which it comes scream out the difficulty of this historic relic. The verso of pin carries #160 etched into the gold surface for the unknown player that gently wore this pin.The 1937 Open Championship was claimed by Hall of Famer Ralph Guldahl who bested 25-year-old rookie Sam Snead by two strokes. Snead had foreshadowed his greatness with a first round 69 to establish the course record at Oakland Hills. For Guldahl it marked his first Major victory, but not his last as he would defend his US Open title successfully in 1938 and add a Masters win in 1939. Guldahl,the necktie wearing Texan, was at his best over that three year period from 1937-39. Offered here is the best example of 1937 US Open Contestants pins with a pristine front which presents nary a scratch or speck to the white and black enamel facing which reads, "CONTESTANT" and "OPEN GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP OAKLAND HILLS C.C." "1937". Also boldly present on the front of this gem is embossed "USGA" for the sanctioning United States Golf Association which oversaw this event. Stamped on the reverse of the pin is "ROBBINS CO ATTLEBOKO". Contestants pins are highly collectible, with this representing one of the few known specimens of this widely coveted high grade type. Pin has a 1" width and 1 1/4" height.