Golf Unions & Associations

 

 

Whilst the vast majority of  markers collected are golf club markers, or those from major golf tournaments, a few that maybe of interest represent golf unions and associations. Some are shown below, should you have any others, I would be pleased to hear from you/acquire them, or an image of them.

 Contact kinghamphil@aol.com

Click on images for clearer picture, hover mouse over image for desription.

Collecting, Display, Storage - ideas & experiences!

When I first started playing golf, I (like many golfers) ,  picked up a souvenir marker and put it on a wall in a modest frame and wondered how long it would take to fill the frame with markers as I played different courses. After 2 or 3 years I had a couple of frames and decided to buy another and try to fill it with all the  courses with Royal patronage from  GB & I. whether I had been to the course or not.  That if only I knew it, was to be the start of a very slippery slope!

 BECAUSE I FOUND on ebay a collector ......Martin, who before long had suggested that I got involved collecting and swapping with three enthusiasts that he knew. That was 2006/7 and very soon  the first flock of Jackdaws were seen and heard picking up 'shinny things' from each and every golf club in the land.

 NO AMOUNT OF FRAMES on walls could cope with the markers being accumulated.... A re think was needed!

 

 
MY SOLUTION  was the acquisition of   some desk mounted flat files from local stationers. As shown in photo (right). They seemed ideal.  Each drawer could accommodate 11 rows of 8 markers=88 x 10 drawers= 900 or so per cabinet. I bought 4 cabinets, thinking that would solve the problem.
 

 

IT DID FOR A WHILE.....

 Then I realised I needed to get a couple more!!...... along with some smart new frames that I found could accommodate a mixture of stemmed and flat markers in purpose built cases for my Centenary year sets,  Ryder cup, and masters collections. That was just over a year ago...

 A SENSE OF DEJA VUE...

 Early this year I found myself with time on my hands to update my collection. Loose markers everywhere I looked and still I couldn't trace them all. Markers loose in drawers, in envelopes, tins, cabinets overflowing for some counties etc etc. The desk mounted cabinets had served me well but I needed something bigger- but what?

I spoke with a couple of cabinet makers, but quickly realised I had to find a cheaper solution. The pictures below are of  an ex ebay item from the 1960's with a bit of a clean up and  a few additions.

 

These pictures provide an insight as to the size compared to the desk top drawers and  a close up of the top and how the drawers have been in filled.

 

  In all there is room for 19 x 19= 360 small brass and 4 rows of 15 large 1'' markers= 60 = 420 markers per drawer. 10 drawers 4200 + 200 1'' flat markers on the magnetic top. I am now looking to source a similar/identical size cabinet for a similar approach.

 

 If anyone is interested in any aspect of this drop me a line, likewise if anyone would be interested in acquiring some of the desk top files, I will have some (up to 3) that will be looking for a new home!

 

 

 Likewise, if any of you have come up with a way of successfully keeping on top of an ever increasing collection, please drop me a note (I may need a backup plan) !  Kinghamphil@aol.com

If though your budget or woodworking skills are superior to my own, you may like to consider the collectors systems below for inspiration.

Cabinet makers approach

 

 

 

 

 

 

Superb cabinet produced in American Oak, a  piece of quality furniture commissioned by Martin 204 Lincs. The cabinet consists of 34 trays, each tray pre drilled to hold 154 markers. These trays together with a series of wall mounted display frames, accomodating over 6000 markers in total.

Some more pre drilling here but on a purpose built wall unit produced by our own Mick 202 Northants

 

Photos and information from other collectors, would be most welcome and will be put onto this page for the benefit of all. If you are interested in bespoke  wall frames, check out the TRADE LINKS page.

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 A fabulous  Mahogany finish purpose built 6 drawer unit with glass display top. Commissioned by Geoff 110 Cambs. Not just something practical to store and display markers, but an attractive piece of furniture.  He is delighted with it and with good reason!

 

The Lancashire Golf Museum?

 Welcome to  Ray 403 Lancs den/golf room/museum and home to his ball marker collection,  Hickory clubs and golf spoons.

Markers are in display cases, drawers and flat markers are in binders in the cabinets. The last picture is of an old optician's cabinet which has 12 drawers and was a useful acquisition to house a good number of markers.

Have you had one of these?

BMCC Aces 

In Golf you either have to be good or very lucky. Two BMCC members  would admit to not being very good at Golf, but enjoy the game immensely. They consider themselves very lucky to have aced a hole at their local Clubs. Brian from Southampton & Phil in St Neots are therefore mentioned here in acknowledgement of that great moment in their golf lives. 

UPDATE: Brian 206 Hants  2nd ACE 

A change of  club membership (to FurzeleyGC) and a change of golf ball, were instrumental in securing Brian's second hole in one on 4/9/2012 at the 8th hole 146 yard par 3. A glorious 6 iron shot with a Titleist he found only two holes previously made his day and a few others in the 19th. If you lost a Titleist on the 6th hole at Furzeley early in September Brian would like to thank you, it was clearly though a better match for his swing than yours!

If you have a story of a 'hole in one' tell me about it, or send me another picture/scan of a 'hole in one' marker and I will add it to this 'roll of honour'. Kinghamphil@aol.com

Well we did ask

 

Mark's  Caldecott Hall  Ace and some,  or should it be handsome!

Mark a stalwart of the collectors club  takes up the story........

I have not only had a hole in one, but also, in the same round, another eagle as well.  At Caldecott Hall, my home club, the 14th is a 498 yard par 5, with a water hazard running across the fairway at about 220 yards. To be short of the water I hit a 3 wood, and then topped a 5 wood over the hazard, the ball trundling down to 165 yards from the green. My 6 iron looked good in the air, but the green is on a bit of a plateau, so you cannot see the base of the pin. On arriving at the green I was a bit miffed, as the ball was nowhere to be seen, so there was I, hunting in the rough at the back of the green when my playing partner told me to come and look at this, pointing into the cup, and there was my Titleist. An eagle on Stroke Index 2, 3 for 5 points.

Par on the short par 4 15th gave me 2 points, a bogey 5 on the par 4 16th, with a shot, gave me another 2, so onward we went to the 17th, a 111 yard par 3, stroke index 17. Another plateau green, with loads of bunkers short to catch the underhit shot and one long to catch the overhit shot. A 52 degree wedge or the pitching wedge? A bit of wind behind and the pin was near the bunker at the rear of the green, so the 52 degree wedge it was. I hoisted it high, and it was all over the pin. That will be close, I thought, but again nearing the green, the disappointment came, as the ball was nowhere to be seen. This time I looked in the cup. There it was again, Titleist No. 4, down in 1, for 4 points. And I could ask the question on the next tee; 'anyone beat a 1?' A par on the last, on which I get a shot, gave me 3 points, meaning that on the last 5 holes I scored 16 points.
That ball went straight into my pocket, and now sits on the shelf indoors, where it cannot be lost.
 

Details of  where and how to purchase the two markers and hatclips on the right, can be found on the TRADE LINKS page.

Six of the best

The record for Hole in One's, by a BMCC member  is held currently by Phillip 224 Hants. With an amazing tally of SIX!  Phillip has ACED  the following holes: 
 Southampton Mun. G.C.-10 th.
Corhampton G.C.-9 th.
County G.C.(Rosebowl) 17 th.
Whitsand Bay G.C.-15 th.
Stokesbay G.C.-6th.
Skibbereen G.C.-14th.
The one that stands out in his memory was the one at Corhampton,  his opponent made a birdie two  and as Phillip gave  him a stroke and finished up halving the hole, he asked him to share the bar bill...... but the request was flatly refused!
 
Phillip is keen collector of golf ball markers and as you would imagine he is very proud of his achievements mentioned above. He does though only have the corresponding markers from his first 5 hole in one's, as he was unable to purchase one from Skibbereen & West Carberry GC Co Cork. If you can help him he would be very pleased to hear from you. Please contact him direct or through our web site contact sheet at the bottom of the SPECIALS page.