2x Interesting Bramble Guttie Golf Balls one of which was re...

Hammer

£240

2x Interesting Bramble Guttie Golf Balls one of which was reputably used by Irelands Miss Rhona Adair '1900 Ladies' Open Golf Champion at Westward Ho!' in the match played against Tom Morris over The Old Course St Andrews on July 31, 1900 - the balls incl The Challenger retaining much of the original white finish and The Eagle slightly indistinct markings from paint loss- otherwise both balls retained good shape and obvious strike marks. Note: The match was reported in The Daily News London 31 July 1900 see newspaper clipping titled 'Golf. Novel Match at St Andrews -Miss Rhona Adair (Lady Champion) v Old Tom Morris'. The match was played over 36 holes with Old Tom winning by one hole on the home green. Provenance: both balls come from direct descendants of Former Minister, Professional Golfer Rev David Ritchie who caddied for Old Tom from a teenager onwards - full history will be provided of the Ritchie family whose last family residence was at 7/8 The Links St Andrews. In1881 James Ritchie and half his family emigrated to Canada where David Ritchie became a Minister and golf professional having been trained by Tom Morris where he honed his skill as a player, coach and course designer which exceeded the colonial standards at that time. David would make several returns to Scotland to participate in golfing events which included the above match as well as for personal family reasons, later to get married in 1908 and again in 1913 especially as WWI was looming and persuading his family to go back to Canada