Tom Dunn was a well respected clubmaker, and for good reason as this club demonstrates. The c1875 Dunn putter here is solid, and its 37" shaft has a pronounced St. Andrews bend as it curves back to the golfer.  Such bends were thought to facilitate more of a pendulum stroke. All components are original except the grip, which is an Auctherlonie installed sueded leather grip that matches the period well. The original backweight is discreetly marked with the WGHOF inventory number "279."

Born in 1849, Tom Dunn was the son of Willie Dunn Sr. and brother of Willie Dunn Jr—two of golf's great historic figures. Tom learned clubmaking from his father and started his own business at North Berwick in 1870. From there his career as a clubmaker and professional was off and running. He worked at the London Scottish Golf Club of Wimbledon in the autumn of 1870, and returned to North Berwick as the custodian of the links in 1881. He held that position until he returned to London in 1889, to work as the professional for the Tooting Bec golf club.

From the World Golf Hall of Fame collection formerly displayed in St. Augustine, Florida, and bearing Laurie Auchterlonie’s hand-etched mark on the back of the neck, this Tom Dunn putter has been restored by Laurie Auchterlonie. 

Laurie Auchterlonie was the last of the great St Andrews clubmakers with roots that went back to the gutty era before he died in 1988. He was the son of 1893 British Open champ Willie Auchterlonie. He knew how to make hickory shaft clubs and all things related, as his restoration work always attests. In 1963, Laurie replaced his father as the honorary professional at the R&A. He certainly knew his craft. As a further side note, Laurie Auchterlonie helped supply the WGHOF with many of the clubs in their collection. On those clubs that he worked on, usually installing new grips and sometimes cleaning up the finish he would often mark the shaft with "Restored by Laurie Auchterlone" or etch two small, discreet marks - a straight line and an angled line - in an out-of-the-way place on the club, which was typically on the heel of the sole or back of the neck.