Francis Ouimet Collection

No single person has had a greater impact on the game of golf in America than Francis Ouimet. Though gaining in popularity, golf was still a fringe sport until a 20 year old Francis Ouimet shocked the world by winning the 1913 US Open. It was front page news throughout the country. Ten years after Ouimet’s surprise victory, the number of golfers in the United States had tripled, and hundreds of new golf courses had been built. All it took was a largely unknown caddie from Brookline, Massachusetts defeating the greatest golfers in the world. 

Ouimet’s collection of golf medals, trophies, and memorabilia was acquired by the Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund after Ouimet’s death in 1967. The collection has remained in the Ouimet Fund’s possession ever since. Many of these relics were displayed in the Francis Ouimet Museum that was in Weston, MA from 1984-2002, but have been sitting in storage ever since. Collectors often point to the dearth of quality Ouimet memorabilia in the collecting market. Well, with this auction, that’s about to change...

Now, approximately 50 years after it first took possession, the Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund has chosen to auction its entire collection of Francis Ouimet medals and trophies. Francis Ouimet himself often said “…of all the things I have accomplished, I am proudest of the establishment of the Ouimet Scholarship Fund.” Money raised by this sale will go towards the Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund’s primary objective - providing scholarships so that deserving young men and women who have worked at golf courses can obtain a college education.

Francis Ouimet’s World War I Medal from British Army

This is Francis Ouimet's World War I war effort medal from the Royal Flying Corp - the air arm of the British Army. We presume that this medal was awarded to Ouimet for participating in a golf exhibition to support the RFC (perhaps before the United States got involved in WWI?). 1 1/4" x 7/8" sterling silver with ribbon.