Silver Golf Sculpture, Golf Presentation Trophy

Silver Golf Statue - Beckenham Golf Club Presentation Trophy (1893)
A fine and rare sterling silver presentation trophy in the form of a male golfer, crafted in 1893 by the renowned London silversmith Henry Lewis & Co., celebrated for their exceptional quality and royal patronage. The fully hallmarked silver base displays the lion passant for sterling silver, the Leopard's Head assay mark for London, and the date letter "S" for 1893, together with the maker's mark "HL" for Henry Lewis & Co. The edge of the base is engraved "Henry Lewis & Co., Silversmiths to The Queen, 172 New Bond St., London".
Henry Lewis & Co. were distinguished London jewellers and silversmiths, trading from prestigious addresses including 7 and 172 New Bond Street, and later 109 Mount Street, Grosvenor Square. The ebonised base features two presentation plaques, the front hallmarked silver plaque is finely engraved "Beckenham Golf Club, Challenge Trophy, Presented by F.E. Loyd Esq., President, 1893". The rear plated plaque reads "Upon The Closing Of Beckenham Golf Club In 1944, This Trophy Which Was Given In 1893 By The First President Was Presented To Wilfred Earl Mullen, President From 1938-1944, In Appreciation Of His Many Valued Services To The Club". This inscription provides a wonderful layer of historical provenance, linking the trophy to both its original presentation and its later dedication upon the club's closure.

The sculpted golfer is beautifully modelled with exceptional detail, captured mid full back swing, poised to strike the ball set upon a naturalistic base. He wears traditional 1890s golfing attire - plus fours, belted jacket, flat cap - and sports an impressive period moustache. The club features a finely detailed head and is removable to prevent damage during transit.

Size shown is for the total height, figure alone stands 22 cm high and is fixed onto a 12 cm diameter base.

An outstanding and historically significant piece for the golf collector, equally suited to being reinstated as a distinctive and prestigious golf trophy once more.

Taken from golfsmissinglinks.co.uk

Beckenham Golf Club.
The club was founded in 1892/3 the course was laid out over the old Croydon Racecourse. The racecourse proved a very popular venue with race enthusiasts from London in the Victorian era, unfortunately the then Mayor of Croydon was not a racing fan. He was unhappy with the type of people it was attracting and following pressure from the Mayor the race track closed. It was brought by Beckenham Golf Club and continued as a golf course until the late 1930s. The course was acquired by the Council in 1942, the area is now the Stroud Green housing estate and Ashburton playing fields.
The following is taken from "Golfing and Cycling Illustrated" May 20th 1897 - The Golfer in Cockaigne - Beckenham Golf Club - By R A Foster. (Thanks to Golf Heritage - @LdnGolfHistory).

"What was formerly the Croydon Racecourse, surrounded by a hoop of trees, and comprising 120 acres of meadow land, now constitutes the links of the Beckenham golfers. From Cannon Street or Charing Cross Stations the journey occupies just enough time to ash a slow Havana. From Woodside Station the clubhouse is within striking distance of a catapult.

Mr Jockel shares the record for the course with Booth, the professional, with a score of 78.

The secretary, Mr S F Prest, (who has just succeeded Mr P G Collins, now promoted to captain), welcomed us like the golfing enthusiast the members know him to be. He told the story of the club's phenomenal progress since its formation in 1892, and conducted us into the old tithe barn, which has been converted into the homeliest imaginable club-room. A cross-beam in the roof bears the date 1761. The members sat around at small tables, chatting gaily, like fellows who infinitely preferred the old-inn aspect of their rural sanctum to the more pretentious appointments of upholstered urban counterparts.

Now to make a survey of the links. Let it be calculated that the outgoing nine-holes are about four strokes easier than the incoming nine. The eighteen-holes were laid out by Tom Dunn, a celebrity in his day, and now teaching Yankees a better game than baseball. It was Tom's great care to keep the bunkers well away from the tee, so as to inspire good driving. But fair enough sportsmen may often be tempted to lie conveniently on this side when strokes are being recorded. Consequently Beckenham affords rare opportunities for far drivers distinguishing themselves. A canal intersects four holes at different stages and forms a very effective aquatic hazard. In winter the current runs so briskly that it is no uncommon sight to see a player drop his sticks and bolt after his shillingsworth before it is carried down the wood.

The ninth winter hole ought surely to be included in the summer course. Booth's ingenuity has constructed a clever arrangement of bunkers to encourage accurate driving. There is a small bunker, with two large ones looming twenty paces behind on either side, showing up a clear straight line for the green beyond. The idea is that a short driver gets caught by the little bunker, and a far driver of the straight, is caught in the bigger trap.

The 13th hole is allowed to be the stiffest on the course, and its neighbour, the 12th, is excellently well done in five. This hole has the finest punch bowl green we have yet seen. Hundreds of cart loads of soil went in to the making of it. Beckenham has a climate of its own. You have not traversed half-a-dozen holes till the delicious coolness of the air elicits remarks. The members say that be it never so sultry in London, a grateful breeze always awaits them at the links. The view from the higher holes is very charming, comprehending the Crystal Palace perfectly outlined against the sky, amid the villadoms of Beulah Hill and Sydenham. In the gloaming of a summer evening the woods ring with the melodies of nightingales."

Result of the April 1897 bogey competition; Gold, W Gibbs, 2down; Silver, J Fawcett, 5down.

Saturday 29th May 1897 was a very busy day at Woodside. Two competitions were taking place. The second Beckenham Open Amateur, and a professional 36 hole match between J H Taylor (Wimbledon) winner of The Open in 1894 and 1895 and Jack White (Mitcham) After a very close match between the professionals Jack White ran out the winner by 2 and 1. About 90 players representing clubs throughout the UK took part in the Open Amateur competition.

The following is taken from the Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser Friday 20th September 1907. "Remarkable Drive" What is believed to be a record drive has just been made on the Beckenham course by W H Horne, the local professional. He drove altogether 381 yards, the spot where the ball stopped being marked by Mr Potter, a club member, it was then measured. There was only a slight faltering wind, and the ground was level. The previous longest known drive was Mr Edward Blackwell's 366 yards at St Andrews fifteen years ago.

On Saturday 25th July 1914 Mr H G Rowbotham, captain of the club, had a hole in one at the eighth, the hole measured 220 yards.

In 1922 the secretary was E A Gifford, 123 Victoria Street, London SW1 and the professional H Brown.

An 18-hole course the amateur course record was held by G L Mellin with a score of 71, professional record holder was H Vardon 69. Visitors' fees on introduction were 2/6 a day and 15/- a week.

In 1930 the secretary at Beckenham Golf Club, Woodside, Croydon was E A Gooch.

From 1935 to the clubs final appearance in 1940 the secretary was G Cameron, telephone Addiscombe 1132. The professional was still H Brown and the greenkeeper L B Pinner. An 18 hole course with a SSS. of 73 and a Par of 71. There was a membership of 350. Visitors' fees on introduction were 2/6 a day, 10/- at weekend and Bank Holiday.