A putter owned by the legendary golfer Samuel Ryder fetched £18,000 at Bonhams Golfing Memorabilia sale in Chester on 26th January 2008.
The c.1910 Robert Forgan mallet shaped putter was one of only two owned by Ryder, the entrepreneurial golfer who gave his name to one of the sport’s most famous competitions, the Ryder Cup. Not only is it stamped with the initials “SR”, but it was also sold with a signed letter from the godson of Joan Scarfe Ryder, Samuel Ryder’s daughter, which charts the history of the putter.
Bidders also vied for other golfing treasures, including a winner’s silver medal won by Muriel Dodd at the 1913 British Ladies Open Championship, a competition heralded as the “Coming of Age” Championship for women’s golf. The medal clearly captured bidders’ hearts, doubling its estimate to sell for £9,840.
Other highlights from the sale included:
• £4,920 – An original stamped ‘First Class Proof’ engraving entitled “The Golfers” by Charles Lee, dated 20th December 1850.
• £3,600 – “Samuel Ryder with Ryder Cup Trophy” by Craig Campbell, Oil on board, 2007.
• £3,000 – “Samuel Ryder with putter” by Craig Campbell, Oil on board, 2007.
• £2,880 (estimate £200-300)- A 19th Century long nose scared neck grassed driver head.
• £2,880 (estimate £400-600)- A Robert Dow light coloured long nose driver clearly stamped to crown.
Bonhams www.bonhams.com