The auctioneer does not know the actual age of this walking stick other than it is old. The whipping is clearly old, as is the finish.  The nail near the tip of the shaft and another nail 7 inches below it are old and indicate that this stick had a small grip (also, the finish on the shaft does not extend under where the grip would have been). In short, everything about this miniature play club including the distressed wood on the sole appears old.

This stick was most likely made by someone who loved the game as opposed to a clubmaker. The head is crudely finished and does not have a lead backweight or a piece of horn on the sole. The shape of the head is not that of anything made in the 1800s.  Rather, this head shape—with its pointed, splay toe—is far more consistent with clubs made in the 1700s or earlier.  Most surprising of all is the shaft, which has only a sight bow, is made from an actual tree branch.  It has knots all along its length. 

The auctioneer suspects this 35 1/2" walking stick was made closer to 1900 than 1800. All in all, this is a most interesting piece the likes of which probably does not exist anywhere else. 

TCA2 v2 p690-691