This Robert Forgan driver is an early bulger transitional club, marked “R. Forgan” on the crown. The clubhead features a face with a dramatic convex curve from heel to toe. This outwardly curved design, which gave the "bulger" its name, stands in stark contrast to the inwardly curving faces of earlier long-nose clubs.
The bulger design was introduced by Henry Lamb in 1888 and quickly revolutionized the game of golf, rendering long-nose clubs obsolete (TCA2 V1 p108). This particular club features a splice neck, its original 41" shaft, and a sheepskin grip. "J.W. Pease," a former owner, is stamped in shaft. The bulge on this face is dramatic, making this a great early example of one of the most significant innovations in golf club design.