1870s Photograph of George Glennie

        Offered here is an original photograph of George Glennie, possibly the greatest amateur golfer of the mid 1800s. Before the Open Championship was even formed (in 1860) and before St Andrews first hosted the Open (in 1873), the "First Golf Tournament" was held in 1857 at St. Andrews to determine "the Champion Golf Club of the World". This was the first golf championship, in which eleven different English and Scottish golf clubs sent two players to compete. Founder of the Open Championship at Prestwick in 1860 and Royal Blackheath's most accomplished golfer. That 1857 golf championship was won by Royal Blackheath by George Glennie and his partner. Much to the dismay of the locals, Glennie beat St. Andrews on their home course and brought the trophy - a claret jug - home to England. Glennie won numerous other championship medals at the Royal & Ancient and Royal Blackheath, but none would beat becoming the first ever world champion. To this day, both the R&A and Royal Blackheath still compete for George Glennie medals, which began in 1880 and 1891, respectively.

        This is a scarce original photograph of the great amateur, George Glennie, who also contributed in founding the Open Championship in 1860. This 4 1/4" x 6 3/8" photograph on card dates to the 1870s.