GOLF TREASURES:
YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

I have a Wilson R-100 blade putter with a dimpled face and a brown enamel metal shaft. Does this club have any great value or should I merely use it to make my other putter jealous? Your co-operation is greatly appreciated.
Dale Williams

Dale Concannon writes:

Such is the popularity of golf that enthusiasts have collected items connected with the game – known as 'golfiana' – for many years now. However, despite what you may have heard about thousands of pounds being paid at auction for old clubs, balls, books, balls etc., the reality is only a small percentage of items are worth more than a nominal amount. That said, there is nothing connected with golf, no matter how remotely, that is not of interest to some enthusiast. Collectibility, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder and what might be looked upon as a real 'find' by one collector can be dismissed as worthless by another. Therefore when judging the financial value of your golfing item/s you have to bare this important fact in mind. What I have done is offer an estimate of its value but to the right collector it might be worth more and to the wrong one less. That is the fun of golfing antiques.

Regarding your golfing items:

Your Wilson R-100 is a mystery. From your description, it sounds like it was made in the 1930's to 1940's which makes one of the earliest clubs produced by Wilson Sporting Goods at River Grove, Illinois. Unfortunately, I can only track down R-series wedges made around 1935 but no putters. As for value, the only Wilson putters that currently have any value are those made in the 1960's and 1970's and stamped 8802 on the base. (For reference, putters from this period usually have very little value over £10.) Therefore I suggest you write to Wilson, or their agents in Britain for an exact date of manufacture and to see if it is rare or not.