Wooden Golf Clubs of the Late 1800's

In the Golfer's Handbook, published in 1881, the author, Robert Forgan, described the clubs, dividing the clubs into two categories: wooden clubs and iron clubs. The sub categories under the wooden clubs included drivers, spoons, and putters.

The wooden clubs were employed when the ball was in open ground where there was a good chance of getting it well away and with little fear of breakage. That was the general rule but several of the stronger clubs were used in more difficult situations.

Drivers were the longest and most delicately constructed, and yet the most powerful from a "swiping" point of view. They derive their name form being the clubs used to drive the ball when the longest possible stroke was required. The handle of a full-sized driver measured 3 feet 7 inches from the grip to its junction with the head, in order to give it the proper spring or degree of suppleness. The head weighed 7 or 8 ounces and had a face that was straight and almost perpendicular. Two types of wooden drivers were used.

The "play-club" was used for "swiping off the tee," but could be used when the ball was in a "good lie", and a full stroke was required. By design the club did not "sky" the ball too much so as to get the greatest possible distance. This is the long driver of the time.

The "grassed driver" was used on the longest holes and differed from the play-club in that it was heavier and stiffer with the face sloped back slightly from perpendicular. It was used when the ball was in soft grass or on a downward slope or a hazard demanded a well elevated stroke. It raised the ball to a considerable height and a good distance.

Spoons were employed in a similar way to the grassed driver but did not send the ball as far. As their title suggests the face of the club has a great slope meant to raise the ball to any height required especially out of very difficult ground. Five different spoons were and included the long spoon, middle spoon, short spoon, baffing spoon, and the wooden niblick. All had their particular use based on the lie and distance from the hole. The first three are descriptive of their use. The baffing spoon got its name from the sound produced when it hit the ground when making the stroke. It was a very short distance club . The wooden niblick was a "long spoon" with a brass sole and smaller head. It was used to lift the ball out of a rut. The brass sole was an advantage on hard or stony ground.

Two putters were used for very different purposes. The green putter was used on the putting green when the ball was near the hole. This club was used up to a distance of 30 yards if the turf was smooth and level. The driving putter was used force a ball out of long grass or the "cheat the wind" by sending a low "skimming" ball.