Schenectady Putter, Circa 1903

        This hickory-shafted Schenectady putter is in exceptional condition, and is one of the most collectible golf clubs of the 20th century.  Invented in 1901 or early 1902, the putter gained some recognition when Walter Travis finished 2nd with this putter at the 1902 U.S. Open.  But this putter gained world-wide attention when Travis won the 1903 U.S. Amateur and shocked all of Europe by winning the 1904 British Amateur.  After that victory, the Schenectady became one of the most sought-after putters in the world - until the Royal & Ancient stepped in.  The R&A declared this center-shafted putter illegal - some say in retaliation for the audacity of an American winning the British Amateur.  To support that theory, in one of the early departures from cooperative rules, the United States Golf Association refused to ban center-shafted putters.  The R&A nonetheless held its ground until rescinding this rule in 1959.

    Schenectady putters remain highly collectible golf clubs, and no golf club collection is complete without one.