As golf clubs go, this one is loaded with personality. Of course golf clubs are not people, but I say personality because this club has a number of interesting traits and characteristics that really stand out.
To start with, the face measures a full 1 1/4" in depth, which is extremely deep as long nose clubs go. In like manner, the neck is also extremely thick top to bottom, but is normal in width from side to side. The head itself measures 1 3/4" in width, but the sole is not nearly that wide. Consequently the back of the head slopes up and out, so that the top of the head extends much further back, away from the ball, than the back edge of the soleplate. Measuring 5 7/8" in length, the head is exceedingly long which adds to the skinny/shallow appearance of the sole. On top of all this the club measures 45" long, has a great deal of loft on the face, and the leather wrap grip is duly oversized. This is one cool creation—most likely something custom made to suit the desires of a customer.
This club shows relatively little use. Everything is original—grip, shaft, finish, and neck whipping. The few insect holes on this head are of little to no consequence. They do not impact the club's value or its beauty, especially when one considers that there is no other club out there quite like this one.
Tom Dunn was a highly skilled clubmaker. The son of the famed Willie Dunn and brother of Willie Dunn Jr, Tom learned clubmaking from his father. He began working as his own as a
clubmaker at North Berwick in 1870. He soon left North Berwick to work
for the London Scottish Golf Club in Wimbledon. In 1881 he moved back to
North Berwick and re-entered his duties as custodian of the links
there.
In addition to being a fine clubmaker from one of the most famous
nineteenth century golf families, Dunn was also a prolific golf course
architect, laying out 137 courses—a number of them outside of Great
Britain—during his lifetime.
Tom married Elizabeth Gourlay of the famous ballmaking family. Tom's
two sons, John Duncan Dunn and Seymour Gourlay Dunn, moved to America
where they became well known and respected in the golf world.
TCA1 V1 p99 This club is second from the right in the group shot.