While Willie Park Jr. was not the first person to produce a compressed wood club, he was the first to patent it. According to his patent, obtained on November 7, 1894, Park aimed to construct better clubs by bending the wood head to shape. He wrote, "I use a piece of wood (preferably hickory) which is bent from the straight form...to a curved shape...The wood is compressed either before or after being bent so as to give it additional solidity and strength. The head is cut or shaped out of the bent piece..."

Using steam and pressure to bend and compress the wood, Park believed his club would be extremely durable and even warranted it against breakage. The wood was bent so that the grain would run straight across the bend and straight up the neck.

This driver features its original 44 1/4" shaft stamped "Wm Park." The head is stamped "Wm Park's Compressed Patent, New York." The full leather face is secured by at least 15 original nails, and a thick piece of what appears to be hornite is inlaid in the head directly behind the leather face. The head is of significant size and appears ready for battle, undoubtedly a great warrior in its past life.

For more information on Willie Park Jr's Compressed Wood Driver, see TCA2 V1 p360-361.