About this Event
In the mid-19th century, the dialogue between a clubmaker and his materials was more than just a trade—it was the soul of the game. Join author and craftsman Elmer Nahum for an exploration of the "long-nose" era of golf, where he reveals what the physical recreation of period-correct clubs and balls teaches us about the evolution of the sport.
Drawing from his interpretation of J.H. Taylor’s 1899 chapter called Practical Club-Making in the Book of Golf and Golfers, Nahum moves beyond theory to the workbench. By using traditional tools—rasps, planes, and turning saws—he investigates the technical nuances of the trade and dispels myths while looking at "unsolved mysteries" of 19th-century golf clubmaking. This presentation offers a rare look at how the disciplines of golf history and traditional woodworking intersect, showing how making history with one’s own hands fundamentally changes our understanding of the game.
Speaker Biography: Elmer Nahum
Elmer Nahum is a retired interventional radiologist and the author of Practical Clubmaking: A Guide to Long Nose Era Golf Clubmaking (2019, 2022). His fascination with the early history of the game was sparked in the 1980s while playing for his college team at East Lake, the home course of Bobby Jones. He has been an amateur golf historian since those days.
A lifelong practitioner of traditional craftsmanship, Nahum specializes in constructing 18th- and 19th-century furniture using traditional hand tools—a skillset that naturally evolved into the recreation of pre-1890 "long-nose" golf clubs. Since the publication of his book, he has been an active participant in the growing resurgence of interest in craft-made historic golf. This movement has seen a new generation of players and makers returning to traditional methods to experience the game as it was played over a century ago.
Based in Pennsylvania, Nahum continues to explore the physical nuances of historical play through the study of antique clubs and period texts. His work serves as a bridge between the artisan traditions of the 1800s and the modern study of golf history, providing fresh insights into how the tools of the past dictated the physics and spirit of the game.
There will also be contributions from ball makers and hickory golf organisers Cathy and Denny Lane.
Speaker Biography: Denny and Cathy Lane
Denny and Cathy Lane have been making playable featherie golf balls under the name Hickory Lane Featherie since 2015. Denny is a life-long golfer who is fascinated with golf history, while Cathy, a new-ish golfer, is a retired editor/writer/event organizer who handles the business side of their kitchen table company. They both work together to produce about 200 balls per year. (The best makers of the day only made about 3–4 per day.)
A curious path led them to even consider the thought of making feather balls: their four sons were all in Boy Scouts, which has ties to Native American craft. To support their efforts, Denny and Cathy have built full sets of dance regalia, hand-crafted drums, created intricate beadwork, and even sewed an entire tipi. All of these endeavors involve using leather, feathers, and thread, which happen to be the exact same ingredients one needs to construct a featherie golf ball. So they had the tools and skill sets already.
A few years back, Cathy had the opportunity to copy edit a second edition of Elmer Nahum’s remarkable book, Practical Clubmaking: A Guide to Long Nose Era Golf Clubmaking, and worlds collided. The book has inspired many golfers to experience the historic game not just as players, but also as makers. As interest in these clubs has grown, so has the demand for featherie balls.
Based in Illinois, Denny and Cathy want to share their “recipes” and experiences so that others can have the satisfaction of building these balls and even improve on their craft.
This lecture will take place in the Museum galleries, doors open at 6.30pm for a 7pm start. Tea and coffee will be availiable upon arrival. Please contact [email protected] with any further questions.
Event venue & nearby stays
The R&A World Golf Museum, Bruce Embankment, St Andrews, United Kingdom
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