RARE! 1903 SCHENECTADY 35" PUTTER #H308

Description: Vintage Hickory Shaft Golf Club 1903 Schenectady 35" Putter. Small print Schenectady Putter, Pat. Mar 24, 1903 stamped on trailing edge. No. 976267, Sole Licensees, Harry C Lee & Co. stamped on the sole. Shaft and Grip are in near mint condition. Sight line on top. Hosel joint is flush and tight, hosel pin is secure. Face is in smooth good condition. - Medium Lie (not stamped) A nice putter for a collector. See photos for other details. "THE BEST PUTTER I HAVE EVER USED" Walter Travis was the country's top amateur golfer, winning the U.S. Amateur in 1900, 1901, and 1903. In 1904, he became the first player from America to win the British Amateur, a feat that would not be duplicated for 22 years. He was the #1 player in America. There were no professionals. PGA started in 1916. The Schenectady Putter and Walter Travis will be linked together forever in the history of golf. The Schenectady Putter was invented by Arthur F. Knight, a General Electric engineer, in the summer of 1902 at his home course, Mohawk Golf Club in Schenectady, NY. Devereux Emmet, the designer of Mohawk Golf Club, was the first golfer of note to be shown Mr. Knight's new aluminum putter while he was visiting Mohawk. Emmet asked to take the putter with him back to his home course, Garden City Golf Club, where he proposed to "play with it, show it at Garden City and at Myopia and will then send it back to you". It is reported that "a day or two later Mr. Knight received a telegram from Mr. Walter J. Travis ordering a putter like Mr. Emmet's, and one was hurriedly made and forwarded". Later, a second putter was sent to Travis which was declared "the best putter I have ever used." Travis used this putter to finish second in the U.S. Open Championship held at Garden City Golf Club. "Within a week thereafter, Mr. Knight received over one hundred letters from prominent golfers asking for a putter like Mr. Travis's". After his initial success with the Schenectady Putter in 1902, Travis used the putter to win the 1903 U.S. Amateur and then the 1904 British Amateur. Schenectady putters, marked "Patent Applied For", were produced prior to its patent on March 24, 1903. The Schenectady Putter was among the "centered-shafted, croquet style mallet-headed implements" that were banned by Royal and Ancient Golf Club Committee on the Rules of golf in 1910. There was rumor that Travis's use of the Schenectady to win the 1904 British Amateur contributed to this controversial ruling. The ruling became controversial because, for the first time, an R&A ruling was not adopted by the United States Golf Association. The banned ruling was put on hold in order to get Ben Hogan, who used a center shafter putter, to come and play in the British Open in 1953 at Carnoustie. After Hogan won the Open the R&A ban on center-shafted putters was finally removed.Long after he had retired from active competition, Travis agreed to a match with an old opponent, Findlay S. Douglas, to support the war effort of the Red Cross. The match was held at Garden City Golf Club. Following the match, Travis donated his Schenectady Putter to the Red Cross fund-raising auction. A member of Garden City Golf Club, Lewis Lapham, had the winning bid of $1,700 and immediately donated the Schenectady to Garden City Golf Club where it would remain for the next 34 years. In1952 it was stolen and was never found. Save on your Purchase with Combined shipped Discounts.Be sure to check out our collection of the Finest Quality Golf Memorabilia in our store.

Price: 179.4 USD

Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma

End Time: 2025-01-06T16:47:22.000Z

Shipping Cost: 19.95 USD