ballmarkercollectorsclub.com

Need help identifying markers?

This section is devoted to helping collectors identify items that may be a bit obscure in their  markings. The one on the left the Editor has had for a number of years, acquired as part of a  collectors lot, believed to be Lochgelly, Fife in Scotland. If you know for certain, please get in touch. Likewise if you have a marker that you would like help with, drop us an email and a scan or photo of the marker and we will put it on the website for others to help, if the BMCC cannot resolve the query immediately. 

A must read for all collectors, fully endorsed by the ballmarkercollectorsclub.com


This first ever 'book' on  ball markers, is very readable, just 38 pages of fascinating content and well illustrated. The booklet could easily be subtitled as, The History of the 'Bardel'  marker 1978-1996 and includes examples of the first ever brass markers.   An important source of information for serious collectors and anyone with an interest in golf and a desire to know more about the most collectable and affordable piece of golf history/ memorabilia....the ballmarker.

Available from the ballmarkercollectorsclub.com at just £4.99 (including postage to UK address), email Kinghamphil@aol.com

Payment can be made by Paypal, cheque or postal order.    If you are thinking of buying one as a gift for a golfer, check out the SPECIALS page for a deal that includes membership to the ballmarkercollectorsclub. 

Information please?

If you know of the history behind the issue of this marker we would love to hear from you.
Possibly Mike was a club official/Captain of your club or society in the south of England. Maybe a golf professional with an interest in  early brass markers and giving ' positive putting thoughts'! 
Any information would be appreciated. We will even supply a BMCC marker and a discounted offer for lifetime membership of the BMCC as an incentive to contact  Kinghamphil@aol.com

      

Do you know why 1998? 

This marker was recently acquired from a golfer that was playing Broadway GC before the millennuim. We need your help with establishing what  happened at Broadway GC in 1998 ?.....or is it a marker / printing error and should have been 1995 in celebration of the club centenary?

UPDATE: From Martyn Freeman PGA Golf Professional at the gc since 1991, it is a printers error!

 These  two markers are from the exclusive club in Marbella that hosted the World Match Play Championship in 2009, 2011 & 2012. Annual membership costs are colassal with membership believed to be restricted to just 200 members.

Markers and picture provided by Phil 217 Yorks . He was given the markers by the Head Professional and a member from his course both of whom where lucky/wealthy enough to visit/play the course. These are the only ones ever seen by us at the BMCC and classified as scarce.

Two of our established collectors Alan 203 Notts and Larry 903 NS CA have been scratching their heads with this marker for some time. Can you help? Please contact the members direct, or Kinghamphil@aol.com and the solution will be revealed for everyone. 

UPDATE: Friend of the site Bern't Gustavsson helped us with the name identied by the initials SGF in English as being  the Swedish Golf Association. Many thanks Bern't.

Myopia Hunt Club Massachusetts

The club was founded in 1894 for both equine pastimes & golf. The US Open was held there in 1898. 1901, 1905, 1908 and was won by Willie Anderson, Scottish immigrant to the US in 1901 & 1905.  Image and info provided by Arthur 205 Notts 

This translated is Gweedore Golf Club, County Donegal, Eire.  This Irish links course was founded in 1926 and was designed by prolific architect Eddie Hackett.  The course is situated on the Atlantic coast and is overlooked by Mount Errigal- hence the image on the marker!

 Many of our members have thousands of markers in their collections, including our Scottish specialist Martin 204 Lincs.

Little wonder therefore that from time to time, we struggle to remember or identify a few markers. That is the case with these two. Any thoughts appreciated. Contact Martin or kinghamphil@aol.com

 A regular contributor to the site Brian 206 Hants would like your help with this marker. Any thoughts, suggestions or positive ID, would be greatly appreciated. 

UPDATE: Less than 24 hours after being placed on the site, along came the solution from Jim in Maryland. The marker is from Cape Fear Country Club, Wilmington NC-US. Many Thanks Jim.

If you have a marker that you would like some help with, do get in touch. We can't promise results as quick as this example. BUT, if there is a better solution to solving 'mystery markers'. We haven't come across it!

This is a small brass marker, probably 15-20 years old....

...BUT what is it?  The original purchaser of this marker is now, unfortunately  unable to tell us, but he did play a lot of his golf in East Anglia and Hampshire. Which leads me to think it might be an earlier version of the Blackmoor Hampshire markers shown below. Or, am I 'barking' up the wrong tree!  Mr Helpful from Harrogate, a canine expert, has suggested it is Belton Park, see below Doggie is in walkie position not SIT!  Will contact both clubs in an effort to resolve this one. Ed.

UPDATE -Following visit of 6 bmcc members to a dry but windy course in late October, a senior club member of 43 years standing confirmed it as being a Belton Park marker. But couldn't remember when it was sold by the club. Certainly pre 2002 as the current professional has been there since then and did not commission it.  Any one out there know when it would have been sold by the club?

Louth Lincolnshire, West Surrey, Denton, Wakefield and from Scotland Helensburgh, Hilton Park, Musselburgh Old Course & West Lothian. Others are  Douglas Valley, Porthpean, Upton by Chester, Drayton Park Staffordshire- not in order, so a chance for you to sort through them, again. How many did you get right?

If you would like to submit images for ID please mail to kinghamphil@aol.com

The Dutch may have first introduced a form of golf before the Scots, but I wasn't aware that we fielded a team of them for the first practice day at Medinah were you?

Royal Belfast Golf Club

Identifying markers with initials is easy when you know them!

Just hover your mouse over the images below for desciption, or click on image for better view

Worlebury Somerset Centenary 1908-2008

Mick an established collector from Kettering, Northants needed reminding of this markers identity. Pleased to say we were able to place it for him the same day he enquired. So don't be shy, if you need help with a marker get in touch. Ed.

Haigh Hall Lancashire, double sided.

Side 2 shown below

 Haigh Hall Lancashire

Interesting one this one as its double sided with the pro details on the reverse. A trend that I like and seems to be popular amongst Lancashire clubs with markers that I have picked up from that County recently. Much better than the early plastic markers that pro's promoted their services with. Would like to hear of other clubs that are selling similar markers. 

For those too young to remember, here are a few old plastic markers, once used by Club professionals to promote their business and services. If many of you are interested in plastic markers, let me know and I will feature a few more on the site in a regular spot. Also, if anyone knows of Captain Tom Hanson and his collection please contact the  Ed.

UPDATE: Tom Hansons collection of 5000 different plastic markers was purchased in the mid 1980's by Morse in the US. If you have a sizeable collection of  golf ball markers whether plastic, small brass stemmed or flat coin type metal markers do get in touch and we will feature your story on this site. Contact kinghamphil@aol.com

Increasingly popular Doublesided markers present a number of challenges when it comes to displaying them. Do you buy two to display both sides or have you come up with a better way than that shown here?

New-  Double sider from Ramsey

Lovely 25mm double sided marker from the Cambridgeshire Fens retails at a whopping £4.

Can't see them selling many at that price,  BUT, a nice one to have. Will put it on my Christmas list!

UPDATE: Didn't get one from Santa.  There's always hope..next  Xmas maybe!

A number of collectors collect one marker per club, but as some clubs regularly change their markers, which one to put in your collection?  Some times the change can just be a colour change or a different style (small brass stemmed, large stem, flat coin type single sided, double sided), or just a change of surround. Perhaps of more interest  are ownership or name  changes that often see a significant change to logo's. Other variations to markers that are much sought after are  special limited editions to celebrate club centenaries and a number of golf clubs  choose to celebrate the dawning of the new millenium with their own commemorative markers. Club markers can also provide a reminder of major contributions to golf history or just a visual clue as to changes in design and in maufacturing processes. Examples of each of these scenarios are shown below:

Abbotsley Cambridgeshire The markers on the right reflect  the time the club was leased to American Golf and Crown Golf  management companies who emphasised the Country Club aspect of the business on the marker design. Hopefully the design will now revert to those on the left as the club is now back in Vivien's hands.

UPDATE: August 2011, marker reverts to similar design to the originals and drops the reference to Hotel & Country Club. Refer to SPECIALS page, left hand column for image.

  Forest of Dean. Name changes Royal Forest, Forest of Dean most recent Bells Hotel Forest of Dean GC. Oldest marker from the left, newest on the right.

Hawkstone Park selection  includes 75th Anniversary and opening of Windmill  (now known as the Championship) course May 1995

John O Gaunt Bedfordshire. No change to design/logo just example of different styles, colours & 5oth Anniversary issue.

The Berkshire.  Deer or Two Deer? Latest markers August 2011 feature two deer, previously just the one! If anyone knows why, let us know. Also drop us a line if you come across  changes to logo's from other clubs.

Royal Worlington & Newmarket. Official crest and members favourite the 'pink jug'

Verulam Hertfordshire Homage paid to Sam Ryder on earlier versions of marker left and on the newer design used for current marker and centenary issue in 2005

Yeovil Somerset . Includes Millenium and centenary issue. Note, some clubs do not put the word centenary or the years eg 1907-2007 on the marker. Annoyingly.

Part 2 of this well received series features clubs that have produced different markers as a result of a name change. Shown below is a row of the original markers, (ones to look out for as they can no longer be picked up from the clubs concerned). If you have some of these, they could well prove to be worth holding onto as serious collectors  seek to complete their collections. The second row shows the later issues/ name changes  below the earlier markers.

  Name change 2011. Cotgrave Place is now The Nottinghamshire Golf & CC. Smart new marker. Has anyone got any others from Cotgrave Place?

UPDATE: Scan on right, provided by Larry 903 NS-CA