Harry B. Wood stands as the undisputed pioneer of golf collecting. He was the man—the early 20th-century collector who put golf antiques on the map for every enthusiast who followed in his footsteps. His landmark book, Golfing Curios and the Like, published in 1910, was the first book ever written on golf collectibles. Today, it remains an essential cornerstone for serious collectors of both golf antiques and rare golf literature.

Wood’s personal collection was extraordinary. He amassed approximately 60 historic clubs and 175+ golf balls, and a trove of books, medals, tiles, prints, and other golf-related artifacts. The July 1913 issue of the USGA publication Golf described his holdings as “the finest golf library in the world, and perhaps the greatest collection of old golf clubs, golf balls, and golfing curios.” Many of these legendary items were photographed and documented in his book.

Wood displayed his collection at North Manchester Golf Club, where he was a founding member. After his passing in September 1913, the artifacts remained at the club. In 1940, following the death of Wood’s son, ownership transferred to the club. Then, in 1985, collectors Frank Hardison and Peter Crabtree orchestrated what Joe Murdoch, co-founder of the Golf Collectors Society, called “the block-buster of the month—the year—the century…one of the great coups in all of collecting” (The Bulletin, Feb. 1986).  They divided the collection, dispersing its treasures into collections around the world.

Wood meticulously tagged each club with his signature yellow description cards.. For his golf balls, he applied circular labels handwritten in his own script, making each ball uniquely documented.

This hand-hammered gutty is from the famed collection of Harry B. Wood and bears his handwritten label.  The hand-hammered pattern on the ball is strong and well executed. There is a chip out of the reverse pole of the ball (opposite the HBW label) - The paint coverage is outstanding for a ball of this age.  It is quite possible that the small chip in the revese pole took the ball out of play and helped preserve it to our day.

Hand-hammered balls are an important, early step in the evolution of the golf ball.  This particular ball with its provenance is that and more. It's an important piece of Harry B. Wood's timeless collection. This ball was also once part of the famed Frank Hardison golf ball collection, and comes with an LOA attesting to that fact from the Old Golf Shop in Pinehurst.