2023 June Golf Memorabilia Auction - Closing Date 6/18/2023
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/19/2023
1916 National Amateur at Merion GC Rare Program - Bobby Jones Debut at 14yrs Old
Bestowed upon the winner of this lot is the only known 'Bobby Jones Major Debut' 1916 US Amateur program survivor! In fact 'None Known' was printed in the price listing in industry scripture 'Gilchrist's Guide to Collectibles.' Why? This lone exemplar was safely and somewhat secretly secured in a private collection at the time of 'Gilchrist's Guide to Collectibles' 2004 print date and yet to be seen by the public eye. A year later, in 2005, this very, magnificent program would surface for public exhibition at the World Golf Hall of Fame's 75th Anniversary of the Grand Slam titled 'Bobby Jones: A Salute to the Grand Slam.' It was part of the finest Bobby Jones memorabilia grouping ever curated, alongside items from the USGA, Augusta National and R&A.
Bobby's first major championship of any sort, not just US Amateur, the spry 14-year old was forced to go against his father 'Colonel's' initial wishes when entering the field in 1916. Coincidentally Merion's next major championship hosting of US Amateur in 1924 Bobby Jones would see a different result and Jones be presented the Havemeyer Trophy. This stunning canary yellow softcover was published by the Northeast Brooklyn Daily Eagle for September 4th-9th, with the company's full-page advertisement inside the front cover as well as the back. It remains not only the only one of its kind, but in unimprovable condition, while that's not even an option.
“It only required a glance … for one to be speedily convinced that the boy from Atlanta was a golfer from top to bottom,” wrote P.C. Pulver in Golfers Magazine observing Bobby at the 1916 US Amateur Championship. “There were times where with easy and almost perfectly timed stroke he would get as much distance from the tee as the big chaps who had been playing the game much longer and had twice his length. “Everything he did was brought off without fuss or frills of any kind.” Teenage angst would surface for inexperienced 14-year old Jones as soon as the first round against past champion Eben Byers. Pulver described Jones as an “unbroken colt” who seemed to find “difficulty restraining himself from doing things with undue haste.” Bobby Jones would win the match somewhat surprisingly 3 and 1. Talent would carry the freshly anointed crowd favorite, after a tumultuous first six holes against New Jersey's Frank Dyer in which Jones lost 5 of them, 'Boy Wonder' conquered Dyer 4 and 2 to advance in the match play bracket to the Quarterfinals and a head-to-head with the defending champ. Even with an early one-hole Bobby Jones lead, it wasn't meant to be against the wily veteran Robert Gardner.
As the card community would put it, this program is a population of 1 and is housed in a custom crafted deluxe clam shell case for maximum both preservation and presentation shown in the final two photos. It worked, as the program improbably remains in good to exquisite condition, with expected rusted (tight) binding staples a sign of age and not a condition detractor. Unlike Bobby Jones' chance at Merion Golf Club, you almost certainly won't get another - bid to win.
The Golf Auction is proud to present our 2023 June Golf Memorabilia Auction. Please utilize the categories column to help navigate you towards your preferred collectibles. Bids must be placed before 10pm ET, Sunday, June 18th in order to participate in extended bidding. Please note that all initial bids must be placed BEFORE 10pm ET
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