Golf Memorabilia

Golf memorabilia is one of the hottest realms of sports memorabilia collecting.

No matter if your passion is antique golf clubs or Tiger Woods autographs and trading cards, there is a niche for you in golf collecting.

You can mix your passion for the game by displaying an old gutta percha golf ball next to your signed Masters flag. It really doesn't matter and unlike the game itself, there are really no rules!

Golf has been around for centuries, so there is no shortage of antique golf equipment, some of which is extremely valuable.

In all cases, it's best to do your due diligence. Understanding what makes a golf club rare and why there are so many non-genuine Tiger Woods signatures out there is vital.
Learning to identify and properly date golf memorabilia is vital.

Collectors can trace golf's history through the use of equipment, which changes on almost a yearly basis. The clubs and balls used in the early 20th century are vastly different from those high tech pieces of equipment we see in PGA players' bags today.

Golf was first played with wooden golf balls, then leather stuffed with feathers. Gutta percha followed, then rubber cored balls. Balls were once made with no dimples then those of other sizes and shapes. Learning which was used at what time is important.

Golf clubs were once made with wooden heads and shafts. A player didn't have a "2 iron" or "sand wedge". He had a brassie a mashie or a niblick. Hickory shafts were common, but some are more valuable than others. Putters and woods stand above irons in most collectors' eyes.

Golf clubs and balls have been reproduced both as legitimate replicas and as fakes with the intent to

Golf trading cards have been around for nearly a century, especially in Europe. Bobby Jones and Gene Sarazen each had cards. In the 1980s, Donruss created two sets of modern-era cards packed with gum. Even though his pro career was already almost 20 years old, Jack Nicklaus' first Donruss card is considered his "rookie card".

In the 1990s, Upper Deck created sets centered around the emergence of Tiger Woods. The young star had an exclusive deal with the company, signing a set number of cards for insertion into packs. Some of the limited, autographed cards are worth hundreds of dollars.

Golf autographs aren't typically as valuable as their baseball, football and basketball counterparts, but vintage golf signatures can be very pricey.

PGA Tour programs are another area for golf collectors to consider. Publications from the major tournaments are great keepsakes and relatively inexpensive. Collecting Sports Illustrated magazines with golfers on the cover is another popular pasttime. Arnold Palmer, Nicklaus and Woods have been popular golf subjects for the magazine. Getting them signed is a nice touch.

Golf memorabilia and cards are great display pieces for the office or your den at home. When you're not playing, you can draw inspiration from the game's greats or the knowledge that you're not all that different from a player who swung one of those old clubs 150 years ago.