Bonhams sale of Golfing Memorabilia on 25 July in Chester includes a signed image of Tiger Woods, a 113 year old golf ball and a watercolour of the Old Course at St Andrews signed by all 96 players who made the cut in 1995.
There is something here for every golf enthusiast, from items for a few pounds to a few thousand.
Lot 47 is a Willie Park Junior ‘Park Royal‘ gutta-percha golf ball circa 1896 formed with flattened or partially flattened hexagonal facets, 1¾ inches diameter. This extremely rare golf ball, believed to be one of only six surviving examples, appears to be in an un-played with condition. It is estimated to sell for £5,000-8,000.
The Story of the Golf Ball page 187: ‘The Park Royal design was registered as No. 11761 on 30 May 1896…the faces may be slightly hollowed or indented which were supposed to prevent the ball running too easily on keen greens or downhill.‘
Historically this golf ball is thought to have been restored, however recent detailed inspections would suggest that this is probably not the case.
An oil painting of ‘Tiger Woods at the Masters‘ by Craig Campbell(British, born 1960), signed in gold ink by Tiger Woods above the artist’s signature and dated 2007, is estimated to sell for £4,000-6,000.
A very large watercolour (60 x 48 inches) by David Eley, of the Old Course at St Andrews, executed on handmade rag paper, featuring a plan of the Old Course, bunkers, tees, fairways and greens, surrounded by over 50 vignettes of the Link’s features such as the R. & A. Clubhouse and the Hell Bunker and portraits of many of the Open Champions to include R.T. Jones, Jack Nicklaus and Seve Ballesteros is estimated to sell for £2,500-4,000.
Each of the 96 players who made the cut in the 1995 Open signed the painting, including Tiger Woods, John Daly (Champion), Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Payne Stewart together with a further 24 Major winners. It is framed in a gilded English oak frame.
David Eley, born in 1961, is based in Bordeaux, France. His work hangs in many private and public collections both in the UK and the USA. His subject matter is varied, ranging from golf and fishing to vineyards and the famous Savoy Hotel. In 1995 he was commissioned by the United Nations to celebrate its 50th Anniversary. It was displayed at the Golf Museum at St. Andrews.
The complete catalogue including an image and estimate for each of the 273 lots can be viewed on line.
Bonhams www.bonhams.com