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Conference 7.286::golf

Title:	Welcome to the Golf Notes Conference!
Notice:	FOR SALE notes in Note 69 please! Intros in note 863 or 61.
Moderator:	FUNYET::ANDERSON

Created:	Tue Feb 15 1994
Last Modified:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	2129
Total number of notes:	21499

1688.0. "R&A Info please" by DPDMAI::VENEZIO (Perfect Practice Makes Perfect) Sat May 01 1993 17:23

    Can someone list the address for the R&A in Scotland. Does anyone know
    if they have a historical society for golf in Scotland?
    
    Reason for all this is I had an old putter in the house that I recently
    refinished and I'd like to know the origin. Its engraved "Geo.Nicol"
    "Leven,Fife" "Hand Forged" "Made in Scotland". It still has the original 
    grip (leather wrapped) and a beautiful hickory shaft. The workmanship
    on the head is something special and must have taken a long time to
    complete. It probably took days and sold for a few pence. As a
    clubmaker for the past 18 years I can appreciate the effort of our
    (fore)fathers.
    
    I must have slept thru world geography the day we covered Scotland. Can
    someone confirm Leven and Fife are two regions or Counties and not one.
    
    Thanks in advance
    Ken

T.R	Title	User	Date	Lines
1688.1		POWDML::VARLEY	`Mon May 03 1993 18:07`	9
	Ken, I've seen a couple of those putters - they're beautiful. I believe Leven is a town in the "shire" of Fife - kind of a subset area to a larger area kind of relationship. Truthfully, some of the antique collectors here in the "States" could probably tell you all you need to know. I'd start with the USGA in Far Hills, NJ. Ask for the Librarian. She can tell you who to contact, or perhaps get you an answer right then. __Jack
1688.2	Sadly Geo. Nicol no more.	WOTVAX::MORRISON	`Thu May 06 1993 10:21`	47
	Ken, George Nicoll was a small golf club manufacturer, based in Leven, Fife. Leven is a small fishing village I would think about 10-15 miles south west of St Andrews. Apart from fishing, it is famous, if that is the correct word, as a small holiday centre. I would think that the population is about 1,000 - 2,000 people maximum. However, it does have two golf courses, one of which is absolutely fantastic. Leven Thistle Golf Club was laid down in a very narrow stretch of land between the sea and a railway track. It must be about 100 yards wide, and maybe a mile long. You play away from the club house for the first 5 holes, do a loop, then come back all the way to the club house. This is a true links course, very sandy, very long with an uncanny number of blind holes. The main problems are bunkers, gorse, blind approach shots, fast greens, more bunkers and then more bunkers. It is used as a qualifying course for the Open. Coming back to the point of the note. I'm not 100% certain, but I'm sure that Geo. Nicoll went bankrupt a few years ago. I think they were bought by John Letters, another Scottish golf club manufacturer. Over here in the U.K., they are probably best known for their Trilogy range of clubs. These are peripheral weighted on the long irons, and true blades on the shorter clubs. Its interesting reading you describe the putter. I know exactly the one you mean. My grandfather-in-law used one as long as I knew him. I was always concerned that the head looked very loose and would fall off. Mind you, it never did. That's about as much as I know. There is a Golf Museum behind the 18th Green at St Andrews. You could write to them for more information on the club and the company. I'm sure the following address would get to them. The Historian The Royal and Ancient The Old Course St Andrews Fife Scotland Randall
1688.3	George Nicoll	SEDOAS::TRAV06::Stephen_I	`Thu May 06 1993 12:31`	14
	As an ex-resident of Leven in the County of Fife, I can confirm that George Nicoll did in fact go bankrupt about 3 years ago. The factory is now empty but I remember as a young boy sneaking through the fence to where they used to dump imperfect clubs. Then fastening bamboo canes into the heads with insulating tape and using them as putters. Iain.
1688.4		POWDML::VARLEY	`Thu May 06 1993 12:37`	4
	The Leven course sounds just like Western Gailes, near Glasgow. No ladies invited to WG though. Pity... __Jack
1688.5	Explain ?	WOTVAX::MORRISON	`Fri May 07 1993 07:19`	3
	re : .4 Is Jack short for Jacqueline ? ;-)
1688.6		POWDML::VARLEY	`Fri May 07 1993 15:36`	3
	No - short for John. However, this is the 90's - confusing, no ? __Jack