This is a lovely looking transitional golden beech brassie from the early 1890s. How it got to its present 'hybrid' state is a matter of conjecture. It has a Forgan brassie head with the maker's name and the Prince of Wales feathers. The shaft, however, is of driver length (about an inch longer) and stamped by the equally well-known clubmaker, Robert Simpson of Carnoustie.

So, one cannot discount the possibility that some eejit has restored the club in the last 120 years adding an inappropriate shaft. However, the workmanship suggests to me that this is not the case. The whipping at the end of the grip seems to be a little too long but this could have been added at any time. The sheepskin grip is certainly contemporaneous with the club and could have been added any time within the club's first ten years of life (if not salvaged from another club). So, why add a driver shaft to a brassie? This elongated head is close enough to the longnose era for a player of that time to hanker for the clubs which one swept to lift a ball in the air, the longer shaft being a distinct advantage in this area.

I have not hit a ball with the club but have had a few swishes through the air and the balance is great.

Price $910.00 Reference: B395