Replica Merion Golf Club Wicker Basket Pin 'Flag' Standard - 20" Tall
Merion Golf Club was founded in 1896, but their iconic symbol of the red wicker basket was first referenced in print in a local Philadelphia newspaper in the summer of 1915. Prominently centered in the club's logo, Merion Golf Club uses the baskets in place of pin flags to mark each hole of their East Course. The front nine holes of the East Course are red baskets, with the backside utilizing those orange in color.
Produced for the club's contestants of one of the recent hosted championship on the highest level were these custom elevated production value miniature replica of the wicker basket pin standards in limited quantity. The piece consists of a red painted woven wicker basket top secured to a wooden post by a red plastic connector. The post is finished in white with a single red horizontal stripe. The assembly is mounted on a circular wooden base painted dark forest green resulting in exceptional display that the eyes naturally travel to.
The Ardmore, PA golf haven has hosted an array of significant tournaments in the nearly 120 years of it's existence. Home to 5 US Opens, including the 1950 US Open where Ben Hogan made his incredible comeback from the near-fatal car accident, and the 1971 US Open that saw Trevino defeat Nicklaus in a playoff. Merion has also hosted a slew of men's and women's Amateur Opens, including the 1924 and 1930 Amateurs won by Bobby Jones.
One of the greatest traditions in golf is thanks to a man named William Flynn. Superintendent Flynn was responsible for the first baskets at Merion in 1915. Upon receiving a federal US patent, William Flynn requested the committee's permission to place them on the course. They said yes, but at his cost. Worth it. The original color scheme was white baskets out, orange in. After WWII the white were painted Toro brand red, the paint they had laying around for the equipment. The orange baskets left on the back 9. The baskets eventual affect on play? Unlike normal pin flags these are not affected by the wind of that day - players shooting at the pins by feel and without the indicator. Add your version of this tradition with the winning bid on this lot.
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