My grandfather, besides his law profession, was a renown 'all-round sportsman'. Way back in the 1930s and 40s he used to play a sport that few people played, golf. The Mysore Maharajas encouraged sports also in a big way. Mysore Sports Club was formed in the early 1930s. It had a golf course [now separate as Sri Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar Golf Club].
My grandfather's golf kit was of lovely red-brown leather, which in my younger days was lying around in a corner. He had stopped playing it in the 60s. In the kit were a few woods and a few irons, some of them with wooden shafts [Web grab image]. In the smaller compartments were tees and used Dunlop golf balls, old and damaged. In the mid 1980s, we tried to sell the kit through an uncle [Dixit] in Bengaluru as he was a member of the Bowring Club. But after keeping it for 2-3 years he returned saying he was not able to sell. 
In 1990-91, we found that my friend and street mate 'Raju' was into golf in KGF where he was working [in BEML]. We gave it to him offering to quote his own price. From the Rs.1,000/ he gave, we had booked our first telephone. Before we gave the kit, I kept the weak and broken clubs [3 in number] with me as a memory. I had also lost [regret now] the tees and golf balls, but carefully saved the golf ball tins [pictured here].
In recent times, I converted one wooden club into a desktop paper weight cum note holder. Another weak wood club gives company to my grandfather's walking sticks.
The broken iron club now finds itself on display, sparked by an idea that flashed in my mind two days ago and implemented the next day following some light carpentry work. Proper grooves to hold the two objects. The golf ball is from recent times.
See pictures:
Holder stand is ready.
This is a "No.10 iron" club, hand forged. They imported several items from England. Interestingly, the wooden club above left has an imprint "Spencer & Co, Madras"!
Display ready.
The backside. Simple clips to hold them in place. They are earthquake resistant!
Great! These are priceless possessions Dino! Most golf clubs, real clubs, will give anything to display the old golf clubs, balls as memorabilia.. If you still have any left please have it displayed in Jayachamarajendra Golf club.
ReplyDeleteI had gone there few years back when one of my friends , Madankumar, hit a hole in one - i.e., the tee off shot went straight into the cup. A rare event, it calls for celebration among players and friends!Madankumar is cousin of actor Ambareesh and belongs to pitilu Chowdiah family as well.