Collectible Golf Ball Values
- “Feathery” Golf Balls. “Feathery” golf balls were the earliest golf balls produced in great numbers, and a leather craftsman would create around 3-4 balls in a day.
- “Gutty” Golf Balls. Gutty golf balls are the next in line for the most valuable golf ball collectibles. ...
- “Haskell” Golf Balls. ...
- Logo Golf Balls. ...
- Autographed Golf Balls. ...
Why are feathery golf balls so valuable?
The feathery was the first true golf ball, in that it was created specifically for golfers. Featheries remained the standard golf ball until the mid-1800s. It was time-consuming to create a feathery ball, which meant they were expensive in their own time. Today, featheries are highly sought and very valuable as collectibles.
When did the feathery golf ball come out?
The feathery arrived on the scene probably by the mid-1500s, although the first definitive reference to featheries comes from the early 1600s. The feathery was the first true golf ball, in that it was created specifically for golfers. Featheries remained the standard golf ball until the mid-1800s.
What's the difference between a feathery and a gutty golf ball?
They were made from the rubber-like sap of the gutta percha tree, and gutty (or guttie) golf balls could be made from molds, made much faster and much cheaper than featheries. After the invention of gutties, featheries faded from golf very quickly. Did Featheries Have Anything to Do with Golf's Bird Theme for Scoring Terms?
How far does a feathery golf ball go?
The most commonly cited range for feathery driving distance is from 180 yards to 200 yards for the most skilled golfers. Featheries were the best golf ball technology of their time. But they also were frequently out-of-shape — not perfectly round — from the start, depending on the quality of the maker.
What was a feathery golf ball made of?
Yes, featheries were stuffed with feathers. No, they were not soft — at least not so long as they stayed dry. The cover of a feathery typically consisted of three pieces of leather stitched into a sphere. The feathers stuffed inside were typically goose feathers, sometimes chicken feathers.
How much is a feathery golf ball worth?
Feathery golf ball - Price Estimate: $4000 - $6000.
How far can you hit a feathery golf ball?
Interestingly, the featherie also had excellent flight characteristics as it could reach a distance of up to 175 yards22; although the longest recorded distance is more than 361 yards.
Who invented the feathery golf ball?
With Tom Morris as his apprentice, Allan Robertson made 1,021 featherie golf balls in 1840, 1,392 in 1841 and 2,456 in 1844.
What is the rarest golf ball?
The gutta percha balls once belonged to golfing legend Old Tom Morris, who won the Open four times in the 1860s. It is believed the balls have been lying at the bottom of one of the county's deepest lakes for 120 years.
What's the most valuable golf ball?
Dixon Fire tops the list of most expensive golf balls by quite a margin. These golf balls are extremely pricey at $75 per dozen, which makes each ball over $6 apiece. You better not send very many into the water!
How far did Old Tom Morris hit the ball?
220 yardsHis opening hole at Prestwick was a staggering 578 yards—in 1851. Given that golfers were only hitting the ball 180–220 yards, it was a monster.
When did they stop making wound golf balls?
Remember, wound golf balls were popular prior to the 2000s and they were constructed with thread windings that wrapped around their cores.
What does apex stand for in golf?
Height – The maximum height (apex) of the golf ball's trajectory measured relative to the height where the golf ball was launched from (resting point prior to impact).
What makes a golf ball Illegal?
Legal golf balls can't be smaller than 1.68 inches in diameter. The Polara balls have a diameter of 1.68 inches (the same size as normal). If you have a smaller ball, you'll have less drag and that should give you more distance.
What was the liquid in old golf balls?
For decades, the wound rubber ball consisted of a liquid-filled or solid round core that was wound with a layer of rubber thread into a larger round inner core and then covered with a thin outer shell made of balatá sap.
Are old golf balls worth anything?
Because of the age and the craftsmanship put into these balls they are among the ones that have the highest price tag of collectible golf balls. These balls are referred to as antique, and goes for sums upwards of +$5000! See example from eBay below.
How much distance do you lose at sea level?
With a driver, you get an extra 2.5 yards per 1,000 feet of altitude.
How much less does a golf ball travel at sea level?
Altitude, or elevation, and wind have the greatest and most apparent effect on golf ball distance. Every 1,000 feet above sea level a golf course sits, a golfer can expect their ball to travel approximately 2 percent farther.
Do golf balls go farther at sea level?
First, figure that for about every 1,700 or 1,800 feet of elevation a ball will travel about 5 percent farther. That means that the ball will typically travel about 10 percent farther at this elevation than at sea level, give or take a few yards.
How do you adjust yardage for elevation?
The first thing is to use the 15-feet formula. This formula should be approached as follows: If there is an uphill or a downhill shot of 15 feet of elevation, add or subtract one club. If there is more than 15 feet, add or subtract one club for every 15 feet.
What is the most famous golf ball?
The feathery or featherie is the most famous of all golf balls, though it is not definitively known when or where it was developed. There is a reference in the Edinburgh Testaments (vol xlvii 123b) to 'fyve scoir twell flok goiff ballis' (112 flok golf balls) in a will in 1612.
Why are gutties painted red?
Gutties were painted white or red for winter play, for the same reason as featheries, as protection and to be able to find them. The cost of gutties was 1/- one shilling, much cheaper than featheries, and a main factor in bringing golf to the masses. The gutty lasted until 1900.
When were gutties invented?
However, by 1860, gutties were good enough and popular enough to replace the feathery and a new era of golf was born. In 1871, Willie Dunn at Musselburgh created a mould to make gutties, which was a quicker and more consistent method of production.
How many metres can a hairy colf ball hit?
It is estimated that the ball could be hit 135-150 metres and it was more controllable than wooden colf balls, although it was prone to water damage.
What was the first ball used in golf?
There are theories that wooden balls may have been used in a target version of golf in Scotland, but this is not golf proper and it is more likely than not that the ‘hairy’ colf ball was the first ball used for golf on the links in Scotland.
What does "flok" mean in Latin?
Flok, from the Latin for 'floccus' meaning wool , is also used to refer to 'the down of unfledged birds' as well 'a tuft of feathers on the head of young birds' (OED) and is thus probably an early reference to feathery balls and may explain their origin. The cordiners began by using the sweepings out of bird coops.
What are the four types of golf balls?
In the first four hundred years of golf there were only four types of golf ball - the Hairy, the Feathery, the Gutty and the Haskell. Everyone refers to golf as a ‘stick and ball’ game, and this has over-emphasized the role of the clubs, ...
When was the feathered ball invented?
There is also conjecture as to when the “featherie” ball arrived, but the historians at St Andrews believe that it first appeared in 1618. This new ball was formed from cowhide and stuffed tightly with goose feathers. The technique involved both parts being wet at the time of forming and stitching so that the leather would shrink whilst the goose down and feather stuffing would expand. This would then form a hard durable ball with favourable flight characteristics.
Will feathery golf clubs ever return?
Whilst the feathery will never return to widespread use, it has piqued the interest of the resurgent hickory golf community and#N#is starting to be seen more often in North America and around the world.
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