Lot # 27: Willie Dunn One-Piece Driver

Starting Bid: $400.00

Bids: 1 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "Fall 2021",
which ran from 11/4/2021 11:00 AM to
11/20/2021 8:00 PM



The head and shaft of this driver are made from a single, solid piece of wood.  There is no neck joint.  The club is in its original finish.  The face insert, held in place by its original 9 tiny nails, and lead back weight are original. The grip is a replacement that matches the age of the club well. The club shows wear but no abuse, no chips or cracks.

An added feature of this club is it is stamped "Willie Dunn" on the crown and "Made By Crawford, McGregor & Canby, Dayton, Ohio"  Willie Jr. worked for MacGregor for a brief period. 1898, Dunn, after laying out a golf course in Dayton, Ohio, was hired to a supervisory position by a young clubmaking company—The Dayton Last Works.  The Dayton Last Works had changed its name to Crawford, McGregor & Canby by 1900, when he was released from the company. His brother John Duncan Dunn was hired by MacGregor in 1901.

The son of famed mid-19th century club and ball maker Willie Dunn Sr., Willie Jr. was one of the most influential golf personalities in America during the early 20th century. He was prominent as a player, businessman, club designer, course architect, and golf instructor among other things. A good portion of his career is covered in TCA2 v1 p309-311.

In 1896, Dunn established his club and ball making operation as well as a "golf gymnasium" in New York City.  Inside a room in what is now the old Madison Square Gardens in New York City he gave golf lessons. 

Prior to coming to America, Dunn was also involved in British golf in the 1880s and 1890s both as a player, a clubmaker, and as a course manager/green keeper.  He went on to split time in America and the UK during the 20th century, returning to the UK for good in 1940.

For more on one-piece drivers, including those made by John Duncan Dunn, Willie's brother, see TCA2 V1 p169-172.

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