Club: Carruthers Patent smooth-face Cleek

Maker: Thomas Carruthers, Edinburgh

Year: c.1890s

Shaft: Original hickory shaft. Vintage leather grip, a later replacement.

Length: 37.75"

Condition: Good condition for age. Some small dents and marks commensurate with age.

Other details: Smooth-face Carruthers patent cleek with short 2.25" hosel and through shaft.

This club was part of a collection owned by David Stirk, Golf historian and author of many books on the subject, including "Golf in the Making".

David's hand written notes on the club are attached, giving a description and condition report of the club. The description reads;

"Cleek. Smooth face. Built up back. No cleekmark. Typical short hosel and shaft going through to heel. c.1890 Shaft - hickory. Grip - leather, probably not original.  The principal of Carruthers Patent Cleek was the very short hosel - thus more weight could be put in the head behind the ball. With such a short hosel a very exact fit into the hosel was important. To achieve this the taper was driven right through the hoseland the excess in the heel cut off. The club was made very popular by Bob Ferguson of Musselburgh, Open Champion in 1880, 1881 and 1882, tied first 1883. Ferguson, in his day made Carruther's cleeks as popular as J.H. Taylor later made the mashie."

More photographs available on request.