2023 June Golf Memorabilia Auction - Closing Date 6/18/2023
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/19/2023
Arnold Palmer Game Used Personal Driver Gifted & Signed to Ermin Lucas
Here we proudly present Arnold Palmer’s Game Used and his Personal “AP” Driver gifted in 1978 to Ermin Lucas, father of Ron Lucas, Head Golf Professional at Latrobe CC. Arnold knew Ermin Lucas quite well and gave this club to Mr. Lucas in appreciation for a landscape painting Ermin Lucas gave to Mr. Palmer. Arnold played with and used this driver according to our consignor, Ron Lucas. Arnold also tinkered with it, as evidenced by the re-gripping work and painting of the head in typical Palmer fashion. Arnold's obsession with getting his clubs what he considered to be just right has been well-chronicled - putting in the same hard work that he put into his golf game was paralleled in his shop.
In the case of this Game Used Palmer Driver you will see where Arnold used electrical tape at the collar of the grip and also re-painted with a black spray can portions of the head and facing insert where it was otherwise red at one time (see the top of the insert which was red now black). Palmer also used a belt sander to smooth the persimmon face and ground the facing clear into the neck of the club in typical Palmer craftsmanship fashion according to Latrobe Professional Ron Lucas.
The club exhibits heavy game use by the King. More importantly, nobody used this Driver subsequent to Palmer’s ownership. After all, Palmer personally inscribed on the face of the Driver in black marker - “To Ermin, Best Wishes, Arnold Palmer.” The autograph and inscription are still perfect and the winning bidder can be rest assured nobody other than Palmer used this club since 1978! Ermin Lucas passed away in 2007.
This club’s origin comes from Ron Lucas, longtime caddy in the 1960’s at Latrobe C.C. and subsequent Head Golf Professional at Latrobe Country Club from 1978-1981. Ron would frequently work on Arnold’s personal clubs during his tenure at Latrobe C.C. Ron, a master clubmaker himself, also serves as founder and president of Pro Golf Club Manufacturing and has also worked on clubs for tour players Lanny Wadkins, Ben Crenshaw, John Mahaffey and Chi Chi Rodriguez, among others, over the years. This club was produced by Wilson during Arnold’s final years of playing Wilson prior to the creation of The Arnold Palmer Golf Company.
A Certificate of Authenticity from Ron Lucas will accompany this lot. James Spence Authenticated has reviewed this signature and a JSA ALOA will accompany this lot. 43"
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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