On June 4, 1904, Walter Travis became not only the first American citizen to win the British Amateur but also the first person from outside the United Kingdom ever to win the British Amateur. In defeating Edward “Ted” Blackwell in the finals of this venerable championship, Travis used a Schenectady putter. Ever since then, the Schenectady has been associated with Travis and his victory. It has been loved, despised, copied, rejected, ruled illegal, protected, and legalized. Through it all, the Schenectady has become one of the most historic of all clubs. And the example offered here, is one of the first every produced.

The creation of  Arthur Knight, of Schenectady, New York, the Schenectady putter was patented in both the U.S. and the U.K. His U.S. patent (No. 723.534) applied for on August 26.1902. was granted on March 24.1903, the date marked on many Schenectady putters. His British patent (No. 7,507) was dated March 31,1903, the date of its application. 

The putter offered here, however, was produced by Spalding prior to the patent being issued, which would date it between August 26, 1902 and March 24, 1903 (Spalding offered the Schenectady in their 1903 catalog). Schenectady Patent Applied For models are the first ones to hit the market and, by far, the most difficult to collect for obvious reasons.

This major club of historic proportions has its original 35 ½” shaft and leather-wrapped grip.  The aluminum head remains in good condition with all the lettering clearly visible.   

Following on the heels of Travis winning the British Amateur, the R&A banned the club in 1910, but the USGA did not. The R&A's ban lasted over 40 years before it was reversed. Read about the great uproar surrounding this club during the early 1900s in The Clubmakers Art, second edition, Vol 1: 225-228.