Fellow golfers, fellow collectors, enjoy Your stay.

 Thank you for visiting our site.  Whether you are a member of the ball marker collectors club or someone with an interest in golf and or markers, you are most welcome to browse or fully digest its contents.

Since the site was launched in June 2010 we have had over 56,000 hits - well in excess of our original expectations! We take that as proof that there is interest in marker collecting and try to provide information for both serious collectors and those new to the pastime.  The site is edited by a collector whose aim is to  include a  variety of content that  hopefully is informative to a cross section of golfers.

Please also be aware that the site is updated at least 4 times a year, so why not check us out from time to time?

WE HOPE YOU ENJOY YOUR VISIT- you are most welcome!

Phil Kingham

Editor & Collector

 Kinghamphil@aol.com

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, 1,2 & 4

They waited 79 years for an Australian winner of the Masters and then 3 of them finished in the top 4 with Adam Scott winning an exciting finish having birded the 18th for a playoff and then birding the second extra hole to beat Angel Cabrera. 

A great win and a super dated marker issued this year . Other undated markers newly issued in 2013  are shown in left hand column. A limited number of  dated and undated markers are available to members and site visitors. Use the contact sheet at the bottom of the SPECIALS page to enquire.

What a time to be Europeans....

Rory winning his second major by 8 shots at Kiawah with 4 Brits  and two Swedes in the top 10. Followed just weeks later with the greatest comeback in Ryder cup history as  Seve, Olly and Poults inspired  the team to find the bottom of the cup at critical times.  Apologies to US members and visitors to this site for 'rubbing it in' but those exploits have resulted in broad grins and much joy for golf fans  this side of the 'pond'.  

Ernie who Els

It had to be..Ernie on a course and at an event where he has done so well in the past. Many congratulations to Ernie on winning the Open at Royal Lytham St Annes- but I know many club golfers can relate to Adam Scott's sad ending to his competition.

Club golfers can miss the monthly medal by finishing with one or two bad holes and if they do there is another chance next month to enjoy bragging rights for an hour or two. Few if any others will mention a mini collapse , the disappointment of the club golfer will soon pass.

Adam however, will have the last 4 holes replayed in his head, mentioned in interviews by the media until such time as he achieves the major victory that his golf over the first 66 holes fully deserved. Problem being there are only 4 majors a year and many potential winners of majors to contend with. The ballmarkercollectorsclub. wishes Adam a speedy return to the top of a major leaderboard and a successful outcome that reads Adam Scott major winner!

Markers from this years event majored on different colour versions of the claret jug, some 18mm stemmed, some 25mm double sided with the Royal lytham St Annes logo on the reverse. Some spares of the items shown below are available through the club.   

 ...but not quite as Webb Simpson  68, 68 at weekend wins US Open 

Near LEE  4 shots behind finished Tied 10th.
Nearly 4 majors for our man from Ballyroan, Dublin as PADRAIG finished 2 shots back Tied 4th.
Nearly 2 US Open titles in 3 years as GMac missed out on a playoff by  one shot Tied 2nd.  

BUT WORTHY winner was  US Webb Simpson with incredible scores of 68, 68  at the week end as he came through the pack in style  to secure his first major win.

Bubba wins green jacket.

Bubba Watson winning the Masters with his Pink driver wasn't the only unexpected event at Augusta this year.

The 'bookies' couldn't see beyond McIlroy or Woods before the event and they were nowhere. Many thought that Louis (albatross man) Oosthuizen looked a good bet on Sunday after his 2 on the par 5, but he missed out as well.

For collectors the 2012 Masters also heralded some major changes to their limited edition commemorative markers. Both dated and undated versions. The jury is out at the ball marker collectors club on whether the changes were for the better or not. Masters markers, like all memorabilia from Augusta are sure to remain 'sought after' by the majority of collectors worldwide.

The new markers are shown on this page, some of them are available for sale and are  again featured on the SPECIALS page.     

Many congratulations to RORY McIlroy

on becoming the latest winner of the US Open and bursting a series of records in the process.

Following the previous win by GMac, this event is 'tongue in cheek'  becoming known as the 'Northern Ireland Invitational'

Markers from the scene of Rory's first major win at Congressional 

 Some spares are available from the ballmarkercollectorsclub.com

 

 The Spanish golfing maestro Seve Ballesteros, sadly lost his last match on the 7^th May 2011 at the  early age of just 54 against a combination of respiratory failure and a cruel series of brain tumours.   The genius, legend and inspiration of all European professional golfers through the 1980’s and 1990’s as well as to many millions of club golfers will be sadly missed, but not forgotten.

This small tribute includes some ball markers pictures from some of his triumphs that we would like to remember him by. If you have some others that you would like to forward the scans of, they will be added to the site. Please  contact kinghamphil@aol.com

Seve won the first of three open championships in 1979 at Lytham St Annes beating Jack Nicklaus and Ben Crenshaw by three shots. The following year he won the Masters (the first European to win) by 4 shots.  He won it again in 1983 and provided the catalyst for other Europeans to challenge and win at Augusta shortly after.   In 1984 he won the open again, this time at St Andrews. His last open championship win came in 1988, again at Royal Lytham.

He was European No 1 in 1991 for the 6^th time in his career and won 50 European tour events in total.

Seve loved matchplay. He won the World Matchplay 5 times at Wentworth between 1981 and 1985. Ryder cup was though arguably his greatest challenge and thrill. He was a big part of the European team that won in the US for the first time in 1987 and it was there at Muirfield Village  that the amazing   partnership was established with Jose Maria Olazabal that saw them win 11,and halve 2 of the 15 times they were paired together. In all, Seve played in 8 Ryder cups and captained a winning team at Valderrama in 1997.

 My biggest memories of Seve will though be not what he won, but the way he played the game and won.  In Seve's world it didn’t matter where you are on the golf course after your tee shot.  A large dose of imagination, a lot more skill, a swagger, a smile and the course, hole or opponent would be beaten with great enthusiasm and pride.

God bless you Seve.  The memories will last forever.

The latest update to this unique site for collectors, has now featured over 3800 markers across it's eight pages. Specific items added since the previous edition include:

* Advance notification of our Spring meeting appears on the BUY SELL SWAP and contact information to register interest/ obtain further info. 

 *   Further additions to the Open Winners sets are featured on the CLASSIC page and some clearer pictures of UK and Irish Royals in alphabetical sequence.

* Some more markers that we would like your help identifying appear on the WHATS THAT page along with a plea for ideas on how best to display the increasingly popular collectable the 1'' Doublesided marker and the larger 2 in 1 'Medallion Markers'   

* A new section shows markers from Golf Unions & Associations is on the MISC MARKERS page, along with a request for more examples.  

* The markers that captured our plaudits during 2012 are shown on the SPECIALS page. Let us know if you disagree and if you have acquired any for consideration for our 2013 Marker of the year award

* Also on the SPECIALS page is a review of 2012 Centenary & Anniversary issues
 
* Small changes to the other pages, so if its your first visit, or if you've not been on for a while- enjoy your browsing.

If you can't find what you are looking for, drop me a note kinghamphil@aol.com and I will endevour to accomodate your wishes by email, or on a future update.

I DO HOPE YOU CONTINUE TO ENJOY YOUR GOLF, YOUR COLLECTING AND YOUR TIME ON THIS SITE.

Phil

For many the first major of the year, the Masters marks the start of the golfing season. Keen ball marker collectors also look forward to this time, not just to follow events on the fabulous course, but  to acquire the latest exclusive markers from Augusta. 

 A collection of dated markers from the last 30+ years are shown below, including this years special marker.  Most of the post 2000 are known to be genuine (except one of the 2010 versions), but a few others I am nervous about. How many pre 2000 are genuine items that originated from Augusta, we cannot tell. We imagine many are fakes. We would welcome any collectors/ Augusta patrons that can provide any information to help differantiate originals from copies or poor fakes.  Please contact Kinghamphil@aol.com

Visitors to a well-known auction site may be forgiven for believing that certain sellers have cornered the market in RARE markers. They too often use the words RARE, Very RARE, EXTREMELY RARE, and XX RARE to describe their wares, no doubt in a thinly veiled attempt to influence buyers into bidding and trying to lure them into thinking they are within a click of acquiring a bargain.

Yet some, if not most of these items are regularly offered by these same sellers, every few weeks! Furthermore, many of our BMCC members have them in their collections and on occasions are holding spares.    So just how rare are some of their offerings?

In an attempt to provide  accurate guidance on what are truly rare and difficult to acquire, we will introduce, on this site, markers that we consider to be rare based on how many of our members have them in their collections.

RARISH- Less than 30% of our founder members have them - but clearly obtainable.

RARE- Less than 20% of our founder members have them - a rarely seen item.

VERY RARE- Less than 10% of our founder members have them - one to cherish, or search for.

Additionally, some clues as to what markers may well become RARE in the future, i.e. markers from clubs that no longer exist, or clubs that have changed names.  So check out the bottom of your golf bag, or the back of that drawer that you put ‘odds and ends’ in.    You may just find a gem of the future!

Got any of these?

For desription hover over image, for clearer view click on marker.

Others you might like to look out for include:

RARISH- Blainroe (Eire),  Dalmilling (Scots), Douglas Valley (Lancs),  Harefield Place (London), Langlands (Scots), Masham (N Yorks), Penkridge (Staffs)

RARE- Castle Gregory (Eire), Castletroy (Eire),  Fakenham (Norfolk), Ingol (Lancs), Moatlands (Kent), Southfield (Oxon), Southport Muni (Merseyside)

VERY RARE-  Brighton & Hove (Sussex), Dublin Mountain (Eire), Periville Park (Middx), St Clements (Suffolk), Selkirk (Scots),  Sphinx (Warwicks), Sedgey (West Midlands), Woodthorpe (Lincs).  Rhondda Centenary issue (see item on SPECIALS page)

Of course these rarity ratings, would change if the clubs concerned issued markers post  March 2011. But, older markers from these clubs are indeed scarce/ sought after by current collectors and would therefore be cherished items.

Should you have any markers that you would like an opinion on, we are willing to carry out appraisals for individual items or indeed vast collections. Contact kinghamphil@aol.com

Welcome to the Ball Marker Collectors Club

Welcome to what we believe is the only specialist web site for ball marker collectors in the UK, possibly the only one worldwide. Our aim is simply to become a place where collectors can contact other collectors and find out more about the interest that they share.

Whilst our membership origins were the Eastern Counties of England, we have since the publishing of a very positive 3 page article in Golf Monthly (April 2010) seen healthy membership expansion, including contact from  collectors in South Africa, the US and Nova Scotia  and are now keen to expand our contacts/membership  worldwide, but particularly  into  Australia, Canada, Eire and the US, as well as throughout the UK.

So wherever you live, if you would like to talk to other collectors, we can help. If you would like to BUY, SELL or SWAP markers, we can help. If you would like to identify a marker that you have, we can help. Whatever your interest in ball markers, we hope there are items of interest for you across our 8 pages.  If there is something you would like to see added, please get in touch Kinghamphil@aol.com

 What can the Ball Marker Collectors Club  do for you?

 Joining the 'Ball Markers Collectors Club' (BMCC)  can only be good for your collection.  Some of the things we can offer different levels of collectors are mentioned below. So give it some thought and do get in touch.

 Those that specialise in Courses they play- BUT, have a number of gaps within their collections. Maybe the Club didn’t offer markers when you played there, or perhaps you didn’t collect markers when you played it. For those collectors we CAN:

 ·                    Supply a database containing 100’s of duplicate markers owned by our regulars. What you are looking for may well be listed!

·                    Circularise your requirements to all known collectors. Your chances of finding your item have just increased 60+ fold!  We all visit & talk to golf clubs and other collectors  on a regular basis and are keen to help fellow collectors as a matter of routine. There’s a good chance, after all, that you will also be able to help, one/some/all of us, as well!

-                Welcome you to our regular Golf & Swap meets. A chance to meet up with fellow collectors, normally Spring & Autumn.

 For those looking to establish a comprehensive collection, we CAN: (in addition to the aforementioned)

 -          Provide a database by Club, County, Country of all GB & I clubs (including name changes and clubs no longer in existence)

-           Put you in touch with collectors of similar interests with the ability to see each other’s collections status, requirements by sharing one common database.

-          Provide an annual emphasis on acquiring new Centenary issues

-          Ensure a shared focus with contact to each & every GB & I golf club to establish Ball marker status and availability.

-         Regular email contact on all Ball Marker  topics

PLUS this new website which we plan to expand to become a REFERENCE  point for COLLECTORS. Content of the site will be updated at least FOUR TIMES a year, with regular features and plenty of Ball marker pictures for you to view.  

So add the site to your FAVOURITES and check us out regularly to keep up to date with Ball markers.

Please also feel able to drop a note to the Editor if you would like to see something added to the site.

IF YOU JOIN THE BMCC and get involved swapping with our MEMBERS, we only insist on one thing. All BALL MARKERS MUST HAVE BEEN SOURCED FROM PRO SHOPS or CLUB SECRETARIES. We do not support or Trade in copies or fakes!

In its simplest form, to join the BMCC  involves a nominal (just £15)  joining fee , with  no ongoing annual charges.   It is open to all Golfers/ Ball Marker Collectors, Worldwide.   Our activities encompass many aids to collecting and it is entirely up to you how much or how little you get involved.  The £15 fee will give you immediate access to our duplicate list, to buy or swap markers, as well as being able to list your own duplicates/wants.  Most collectors confirm that the £15 is easily recovered on their first swap/trade when compared with business conducted with auction house sites. You will also receive contact information for  other members with similar collecting interests to your own, along with an email of introduction to all of them, if required.  

It should be emphasised that the BMCC is a non profit making organisation.  All fees raised are used to support the ongoing costs of the web site (excluding the Editor time which is provided free).  Any surpluses will be used to support small clubs launch their 'first ever' markers, by guaranteeing up front to take a quantity.  Club Secretaries and Professionals, please take note if you are considering the viability of introducing your first club markers.

To join, or receive any further information  that you require contact Phil Kingham on the link below. In collecting terms it will be the best £15 you ever spent!

 Phil Kingham

Website Editor

Ball Marker Collectors Club

kinghamphil@aol.com

United Kingdom

US OPEN CHAMPION

Won the point that secured the RYDER CUP at Celtic Manor

Won the Celtic Manor WELSH OPEN

Beat a T Woods in play off to win the Chevron World Challenge.

In a tribute to a great year we are pleased to feature markers from golf clubs throughout Northern Ireland and  the 'Emerald Island'  towards the bottom of this page. 

Some of our members favour stem markers, others favour flat or coin type markers. The majority of these are Golf Design markers which are also sought after by many. For a clearer view click on image. I have some that are missing- can you help out with any?  I do have some spares of some of these, should you wish to swap.

For description hover over image. Stemmed Ryder Cup markers are featured in the left column, towards the top of the page.

Peter's local club. St Thomas's Priory

I first came across" The Jackdaws" after reading a fascinating article in Golf Monthly.April 2010 about this  small bunch of Golf nuts who like me were smitten by of all things, Ball Markers. I quickly made contact with one of the original founding members Phil Kingham

  He made me feel very welcome from the outset and even more quickly I started buying and swapping. Phil soon introduced me to other collectors in the group and I now have a collection that has grown from 300+ to nearly 700. I have never traded via E-bay  because this likeable friendly and very helpful bunch afford me a feeling of trustworthiness and camaraderie- in short it's like dealing with your friends. I believe Phil is now hoping to extend "operations" to a wider audience via BMCC so take my advice and Jump aboard.You wont regret it.

Peter 207 Staffs

 UPDATE : Nearly three years since becoming involved with the ball marker collectors club, Peter's collection now numbers just over 2500 markers. Whether you would like your collection to grow that quickly, or more sedately, why not join us at the BMCC. 

Rays home club

I became interested in ball markers in the late 1980's and at that time wasn't aware of any other collectors and information was non-existant. 

My modest collection grew very slowly and mainly consisted of courses I had played or visited and eventually it went into hibernation.

The latest new members to the club are:

Rick 116 Yorks

Stuart 913 NSW-AUS

Sam 914  IA-US

Rick  Collects courses he plays and prefers stemmed markers. He is keen to acquire some of the missing markers from his collection.

Stuart  is our first Australian member. His story can be found on the BUY SELL SWAP page. He is keen to hear from other collectors of Australian markers, where ever they may be based.

Sam Resident of Jamestown Indiana is new to collecting golf ball markers, having started with Hickory shafted clubs and early golf balls. He is pleased to be joining the club to build his knowledge of recognising Good from Bad and joining others who find value in preserving this form of memorabilia.

8 new members that joined during the Winter months   were:

Mike 114 Staffs

Steve 115 Lancs
Ron 223 Suffolk

Phillip 224 Hants

John 225 Co Cavan

Iain 406 Edinburgh

Gary 407 Fife
Tom 912 CA-US     

Mike- collects Centenaries, Opens and European mainland markers.

Steve - collects (stemmed markers only) from courses he has played.

Ron- is interested in all golf ball markers for clubs worldwide as well as Ryder cups and those from the 4 majors. He also hopes to meet fellow collectors at the golf and swap meets.

Phillip is a keen golfer and member at Gosport & Stokes Bay with an interest in markers from GB & I, Ryder cups and the 4 majors.

John is another single figure golfer that collects stemmed markers only. His interests extend to all BMCC categories of collecting.

Iain is a keen collector of Masters, Ryder cups and South African markers.

Gary is a collector of 'anything that appeals' markerwise!    

Tom a resident of California is an avid collector of Masters and Ryder cup markers
   
Members can contact any of the above by referring to their members listing, or in case of difficulty contact kinghamphil@aol.com  for help.

Dorset markers to look out for

Continuing the theme regarding scarce items as classified by the BMCC, here are some examples of common place through to Rare and beyond.

The Dorset Golf & CC marker is a current item and is freely available from the pro shop. A commonplace item you might say. Next to it are three marked East Dorset GC which was the former name, but not classified as rarish , yet.

The name before East Dorset was Lakey Hill and these are worth looking out for, we rate them as RARE

Whilst we rate Lakey Hill as RARE. We have categorised two more from the county as VERY RARE, Lyons Gate and Solent Meads.

 Dorset double delight

You wait for years to see markers from Lyons Gate (club no longer exists) and Solent Meads (possibly 12 years since they had some) and then friend of the site (Trevor from Bedfordshire)  sends pictures of two each!

 Needless to say if anyone else out there has some the ballmarkercollectorsclub.com would love to hear from you/try to buy them from you!   Quite plain looking markers of the period, but would complete a number of collections.  Please contact kinghamphil@aol.com if you have one/some!

The site will continue to have its content increased over the next few months.  Though the next major update will be in April following the Augusta Masters.   So log on at regular intervals and be sure to give us another look.   That update will include:

 * A look at new markers from Augusta and a clearer, chronological look at previous Masters markers will appear on the front page.

* A series of new clearer  images of overseas Royal markers will appear on the CLASSICS page 

* A new series  showing markers from the South coast will be introduced to the MORE MARKERS page.
 
* News from our Spring meeting at Oxford will appear on the BUY SELL SWAP page.    

Additionally, if there is something you would like to see added, or if you would like to add anything, please get in touch via the contact sheet at the bottom of the SPECIALS page

Please save the site address

...what a crazy decision to penalise Dustin Johnson on the 72nd hole!  Would you have  expected spectators to be standing all around you in a bunker as you played your shot ?

In celebration of a rare European win at this major (Padraig Harrington 2008  excepted) I have pictured some recent USPGA markers.  Hover on picture for description, click for clearer view.

Shown below are a number of  general golf club markers from the south coast of England. Hampshire is the first county to be shown in this series- others will appear on future updates.

If you can help us with pictures (or the markers themselves) of any that are missing from this tribute we would be pleased to hear from you. Contact details kinghamphil@aol.com or use the contact sheet at bottom of SPECIALS page.