Club: Carruthers Patent smooth-face Cleek made for Willie Aveston, Royal Cromer Golf Club

Maker: Thomas Carruthers, Edinburgh

Year: c.1895

Shaft: Original hickory shaft stamped below the grip with 'Willie Aveston - Cromer'. Vintage suede leather grip, a later replacement.

Length: 39.25"

Condition: Good condition for age, with some pitting and small dents commensurate with age.

Other details: Smooth-face Carruthers patent cleek with short 2.5" hosel and through shaft.

Worn, but still visible is the Thomas Carruthers oval cleek mark on the back of the blade

As a young teenager Willie Aveston had learnt the skills of clubmaking from Willie Fernie at Troon, and George Fernie at Great Yarmouth Golf Club. Willie's first professional appointment was at Royal Cromer Golf Club where he stayed until 1906, leaving there to take up a position as private professional to the Marquis of Northampton at Castle Ashby. 

"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 hosel and 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."  D.I. Stirk (Golf Historian)

More photographs available on request.