Lot # 216: The Travis Center Shafted Wood Mallet Putter

Category: Golf Clubs

Starting Bid: $100.00

Bids: 7 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "Golf Antiques - Hosted by Jeff Ellis",
which ran from 7/18/2024 6:25 PM to
7/28/2024 9:00 PM



This circa 1905 wooden mallet putter, complete with a brass face and aluminum soleplate, is marked "The Travis" and "Slazenger" on the shaft. It is modeled after the aluminum Schenectady putter Travis used to win the 1904 British Amateur. Travis, already a three time US amateur champ before he used won the 1904 British Am, caused quite a stir with his outstanding putting which eventually led to the R&A banning the Schenectady putter in 1910. 

Center-shafted Schenectady and Schenectady-style putters remained conforming to the USGA rules, however, and a few US clubmakers took to producing such clubs, sometimes with wood heads.  A Spalding 1904-1905 catalog offered a Travis Putter very similar to this one.  Spalding was, no doubt, the maker of this club as well.  The 35 3/4" shaft and leather wrap grip appear to be original. 

For more on the Schenectady putter and Walter Travis putters see TCA2 V1 p225-228 and TCA2 V2 p609-610.