Since I posted the previous article, I've been asked by several readers about how to value old golf clubs. It's not an easy job and there are few real experts, but I've put together some information that might be useful. Golf history in Australia Golf has been played in Australia since the 1830s, but the first golf professional and club maker recorded here was Richard Taylor in 1891. So clubs with Australian markings date from that year. Living in Australia, I've come across many hickory shaft golf clubs associated with the early Australian golf professionals.
Many clubs have the professional's name impressed on their head or shaft.
This gives us a way of dating the club, provided we know something about the man. It turns out to be quite a difficult job. Working with collector and dealer Leon Rowbell in Melbourne, I've put together a list of golf professionals in Australia between 1891 and 1941. So far as I know, this is the only list of its kind. As a result of people finding my other pages on antique golf clubs, I've had a few requests for information on the history of the golf club.