This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/22/2013
The Western Open which traces its long history to the first event held in 1899, has been so significant to the golf seen that it has been called the Sports fifth Major. This lot for your consideration contains five NR-MT with all reverse pins intact patrons (spectator) week long badges. The most significant from a collecting standpoint is the 1968 Western Open badge. In '68 the Western Open was contested at Olympia Fields with the 1967 Champion Jack Nicklaus successfully defending his title. The win for Jack at the '68 Western was the 26th victory in his record setting career. In 1974 the western Open moved to its Oak Brook, Illinois home of Butler National (Just outside Chicago). The Western would have a glorious run at that course from 1974-1990. That time frame is where the other four patrons badges in this lot come from including 1976-Al Geiberger (Champion), 1977-Tom Watson, 1979-Larry Nelson and 1980-Scott Simpson.
Dimensions on these badges are as follows 1979 and 1980 - 2 3/4" x 1 3/4"
1977 - 2 1/2" diameter
1968 - 2 1/4" diameter
1976 - 2 3/4" x 1 1/4"
This item comes from the Penna Family Collection. This highly successful and respected professional golfing family offers golf mementoes from the careers of brothers Toney Penna and Charley Penna, and Tommy Armour whom Toney and Charley worked under for many years as pros at Boca Raton in Florida and various courses in the Chicago area. Toney was a consistent top 20 money winner on the PGA Tour in the 1930's and 40's while his brother Charley competed in 20 U.S. Open and PGA Championships. We have it all from their storied careers in golf both on and off the course, including everything from contestant’s pins, to used sets of clubs, and prototypes for Penna's famous clubs. Toney is an icon when it comes to club making in the 20th Century, first with the MacGregor Golf Company as their chief of design and then later with his own brand of Penna clubs. Many of the designs of club heads used today were first developed by the genius of Toney. We introduce you to this extraordinary collection by offering various lots from the family’s collection in this special British Open offering. This is an opportunity to acquire golf history, possibly for the last time.
In order to bid in extended bidding you must place a bid on the lot before 9pm on auction closing day.