Your Courier of late has been filled with stories providing unhappy reading of the impending closure of the Camperdown golf course, which has disappointed many readers.
Back in the day, the sport spawned a number of local industries, chief among them was club making.
The sporting specialist auction house Mullock’s had a Dundee rarity in their August 29 sale – a centre-shafted putter made and sold in the city.
This was a ‘Dundee Patent Perfect’ centre-shafted putter made around 1904 by John Gouick of the Overgate.
Its remarkable rectangular head had a curved sole, which was stamped with the maker’s name, ‘J Gouick Dundee,’ with a patent number alongside the name ‘Perfect’.
The shaft had its original hide grip and was stamped ‘W. Green Monifieth’. Gouick was a member of Monifieth Golf Club and won several local competitions.
The putter was advertised in The Courier in 1905 as the ‘Perfect Putter’ and one that ‘Cannot be improved upon.’ Golf enthusiasts were encouraged to ‘See it and you will use it.’ It was priced at 5s 6d from all dealers, with Gouick’s own outlet listed for 123 and 125 Overgate.
Initially, John Gouick had worked with Nicoll’s the Ironmonger in Bank Street before taking on his own premises in the Seagate. His subsequent ironmonger’s and outfitters’ retail unit in Overgate suffered disastrous fires in 1902 and in 1904. Despite that, he was able to advertise his revolutionary putter the following year.
A man of many talents, he also invented a spittoon for train carriages!
Fewer than 10 examples of this club are known – perhaps frustrated golfers quickly gave up on it? This example passed into new hands for £320.
Picture: Dundee putter £320 (Mullock’s Auctions).
