Rut Or Track Iron, Golf Club, Wm. Park Musselburgh
Rut Or Track Iron, Golf Club, Wm. Park Musselburgh
Hickory Shafted Rut Iron By W. Park, Musselburgh.
A good quality early smooth faced rut iron, also known as a rut niblick, rutter or track iron, attributed to Wm Park of Musselburgh and dating from the 1870s - the heart of Scotland's early clubmaking tradition. This rut iron is heavy in weight, has a long hosel and a thick blade, not to be confused with the later 'Rut Niblick' that was lighter, thinner blade and a shorter hosel.
Head size:- 6 cm long, 5 cm high.
Hosel length:- 12 cm long.
Rut irons were commonly used to hit the ball from cart tracks and deep ruts etc. Young Tom Morris was known to hit his rut iron from the fairway to play a high shot onto the green, a shot only a player of his calibre could master. They say he even managed to get backspin on the ball.
There is no visible maker's mark on the head, however the hickory shaft is clearly stamped just below the original sheepskin grip: W. Park. It is possible that the shaft has been replaced at some point with another 19th-century period shaft bearing the Park stamp - something not uncommon in clubs of this age. Nevertheless, the combination remains entirely sympathetic and historically appropriate.
A very attractive and honest 1870s rut iron, ideal for the serious collector of early golf clubs and the formative era of the game.
The measurements shown are the length of the shaft with hosel and the width and depth of the face.
Dimensions:
1850-1899
Circa 1870s
Hickory and steel
Scotland
Good
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