Pre-war Ryder Cup memoribilia up for auction

Tennants Auctioneers of Leyburn, North Yorkshire will be auctioning some very special golf memorabilia in their Sporting, Fishing & Natural History sale on April 16.

A menu for the Ryder Cup dinner hosted on Saturday April 27 1929 by the Queen's Hotel, Leeds signed by players from each of the British and US teams, including the likes of Henry Cotton, Abe Mitchell, Walter Hagen and Gene Sarazen, is a particular highlight of the auction. Clearly discernible are the autographs - in pencil as the others but like all the names still bright - of icons of the game like Samuel Ryder and two of the ‘Great Triumvirate' of pre-First World War British players, John Henry (J.H.) Taylor and James Braid.

Any pre-war Ryder Cup menu is a rare survivor (there were after all only six Cups played before World War II), and Kevin McGimpsey, Golf Specialist at Bonhams, tells me that a couple of years ago they sold a near-mint unsigned 1929 menu for £3,000. Though this one has clearly been folded into a grateful pocket and is showing signs of wear, any condition considerations are far outweighed by the quantity and quality of names to have signed. Kevin thinks it could well realise its £5,000 - 6,000 estimate.

The decorative card cover of the four-page menu is inscribed ‘W Sanderson Table 12'. The second Ryder Cup was contested on April 26-27 at the Moortown Golf Club in Leeds, and, as an owner's hand has noted in ink on the menu, Britain emerged triumphant, on the first of only three occasions, 7-5.

For more information contact Nick Lambert on 01969 623780 or email nick.lambert@tennants-ltd.co.uk
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