Antique Golf Clubs from Scotland: Clubmakers

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Clubmakers

Jean Gassiat
Biarritz/Baden-Baden

Born on 3 September 1883 in Biarritz and christened Louis though always known as Jean, he became a caddy aged 12. The boys were forbidden from playing the course so they made their own course and primitive clubs to learn the practicalities of the game. His first post was as professional in Baden-Baden, in Germany before appointments in his native France at Chantilly in 1909 and Chiberta in 1927,

He won the French Open in 1912 and was a member of the winning French golf team at the Inter-Allied Games of 1919. He was also the winner of, what at the time, was called the inaugural Spanish Open by the British press, in San Sebastian in 1909. Technically it was ‘a professional tournament of international character’, with Braid and Taylor both competing, and almost certainly the first of its kind in Spain, but the Spanish Open was not formally established, until 1912.

In clubmaking terms he is best known for his "grand piano" putter with its large wooden head. It could be used by both left and right-handed players. Originally produced for him by William Winton it was later made also by Forgan and Gibson.

Jean Gassiat died in Biarritz in 1966.

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