I run hickory golf events in the UK and buy and sell antique hickory golf clubs. A major collecting interest of mine for 20 years has been "feathery golf balls", that is, balls used prior to 1855 and made of a sewn leather case stuffed with feathers.
Since 2007 I have been endeavouring to make a feathery golf ball that performs as the original ones did. I have spent many hundreds of hours making balls and I have built up expertise on recognising genuine balls from replica balls. If you *think* you have an original feathery golf ball, but aren't sure, I will happily assist you (for free!) in ascertaining whether you do indeed have a very valuable antique feathery golf ball or not. You can contact me using my email
info@timewarpgolf.com
Below are some pictures of some genuine feather balls and some fake/ replica balls.
Some genuine Feathery Golf Balls
Some images of Golfers in the Feathery Golf Bal Era
A recreation of Allan Robertson at work making Feathery Golf Balls in St.Andrews, Fife, Scotland. Allan died in 1859.
Some replica/ reproduction / fake feathery golf balls ( I've seen and owned a lot so am experienced at telling genuine balls from replicas).
This next ball is actually a pelota ball ( a game played in the Basque region of northern Spain).
A couple of replica balls ...made about 1990 by someone called MacKay ( think is USA).
An old ball found in the chimney of an old house....but is it a feathery ?? (Actually, I've not been able to examine it with my own eyes so the answer is .... "maybe").