Club: A smooth-face George Lowe Patent anti-shank Lofter with stamped serial number on reverse.

Maker: James Anderson, Anstruther, Scotland

Year: c.1898

Shaft: Original shaft stamped 'T.Williamson' below the grip. Slight bow. Head firmly fitted to shaft (not loose).

Grip: Thick, and most likely the original, calf-skin grip with underlisting. The grip is intact and mostly complete but worn in parts.

Length: 37.25"

Loft: 45 degrees.

Condition: Reasonably good for age. Some surface pitting and wear to stamps on back of blade as can be seen from the photos. The word "LOFTER" also stamped, but worn, on the sole.

Other details: A smooth face Anti-shank Lofter made by James Anderson, Anstruther for Tom Williamson, Bulwell Forest Golf Club (1898-1904) and The Notts Golf Club (1905-1949).

Tom Williamson was born in 1880, and started his career as a caddie at the young age of seven. He learned clubmaking whilst apprenticed to J.H. Hutchison at North Berwick before becoming the professional at Notts Golf Club where he stayed for more than 50 years. Tom entered the Open Championship over forty times during his career, finishing eighth in 1899 whilst still only a teenager, with two seventh place finishes in 1907 and 1913, and finally a fourth place finish in 1914. Tom also represented England against Scotland on nine ocassions between 1904 and 1913, losing only once, and was Captain of the team in 1909.

The striking feature of this iron is the front edge of the club head being forward of the hosel, and was one of a number of ingenious designs that were developed at the turn of the century, to overcome the problem of ‘shanking’ (‘socketing’), where the ball makes contact with the hosel on a poorly hit shots.

There were three similar patents for anti-shank irons. This Lofter was patented by George Lowe of St. Anne's-on-Sea in 1896, and manufactured by James Anderson, Anstruther, Scotland. Lowe's irons included a serial number stamped on the reverse which recorded the specifications of the club, allowing it to be replaced with an identical one if the owner so desired. Lowe's clubs were advertised as having an "all hitting face" because the hosel was attached behind it. The  patent also described 'matched sets' (which could include a cleek, iron, mashie, lofter, niblick and putter), and this is probably the earliest concept of the modern matched sets we play with today.