c.1890 Alex Herd Putter with 'A. Herd' Shaft Stamp
Inspecting this club while in hand, condition and eye appeal seemingly could not be better. From the light blonde wood finish of the head, to clear 'Alex Herd' crown stamp all the way through the 'A. Herd' lemonwood shaft stamp into the whipping and vintage tightly would leather grip pinned at top. As common practice, a lead insert was added and remains firmly inside the backside of the head. A ram's horn sole insert is found on the leading edge of the club held in by three unique wooden pegs with the smallest amount chipped off towards toe. The tag states that it was produced c.1905. This club glistens in the light and is a top example of the rather uncommon Alex Herd craftsmanship. Alex 'Sandy' Herd famously won the 1902 Open Championship with a one stroke victory over Harry Vardon and James Braid at Hoylake. 34" It measures 1 1/4" in face depth, 4" in head length, and 2" in head width.
Ralph H. Martin Collection
Highly accomplished business professional Ralph H. Martin started as a rocket scientist for the US military, then being an officer with the Naval Reserve in WWII prior to going on to be an engineer and executive. He was deeply passionate about golf with six holes-in-ones to his name and the astute collection with focus categories of antique golf clubs, silver, prints and books. The High School Valedictorian Martin was a member of more than five golf clubs including: the Willoughby Golf Club of Stuart, Florida and The Ridge Club of Sandwich, Massachusetts, with previously holding memberships at the Ocean Reef Club, Key Largo, Florida; the Card Sound Golf Club, Key Largo, Florida; the Hartford Golf Club, West Hartford, Connecticut; and the Canoe Brook Country Club, Summit, New Jersey. Shooting his age on several occasions, he was a member of the Southern Seniors Golf Association and had a fine eye for patent clubs and the equally coveted 'long-noses' dating back decades into the 19th century. It is with The Golf Auction's honor that we share Martin's collection of hand-chosen pieces with the collecting public, such as the one in this lot.
Welcome to our 2026 February Golf Auction, it will end on Sunday, March 1st at 10pm ET with extended bidding to follow! Please utilize the categories column and search bar to help you navigate towards your preferred collectibles. All initial bids must be placed before 10pm ET Sunday in order to participate in extended bidding. Bid Now!
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