American golf trophies from the 1800s are exceedingly rare, as very few clubs existed in the very early days of golf in the United States. To illustrate, there were exactly 75 golf clubs/country clubs in the United States in 1895. Just 5 years later, in 1900, over 1,000 golf clubs existed. 

Offered here is a rare American golf trophy from the 1800s. 

This is a circa 1898 Island Golf Links sterling silver Challenge Cup. It has the winners engraved from 1898 to 1902. Island Golf Links is listed as being in Haverhill, MA, though the course almost certainly does not exist now, almost 120 years later. This sterling silver trophy stands 6" tall x 8" handle to handle.