Donna Hamilton Brown
It all began with a book! I started teaching golf in 1977. I had felt for a long time there was an easier way to both teach and learn golf, and I kept hearing about a teacher by the name of Ernest Jones. I also heard he had written two books and many articles, but I had no idea where to locate these.
Someone at the golf course told me there was a man in town that had old golf items and might have the book I was looking for. I called this man and he said he would check his files and call me back - which he did; and said yes he did have an extra copy of the Ernest Jones book.
This man turned out to be Bob Kuntz, co-founder of the Golf Collectors Society. I visited Bob’s office and he showed me many-many book shelves, all filled with golf books. I purchased several books that day and as I recall they were $3.00 or $4.00 dollars each.
Ernest Jones talked about other golf instructors in his book, which led me to other books by golf instructors such as Percy Boomer and Daryn Hammond (who had written the first instruction book based on the Jones concept). He also talked about Sir Walter Simpson and his Art of Golf, which was the first golf instruction book ever written. Bob Kuntz loaned me a copy of the Art of Golf. He later made me a gift of the book and it has a special place in my golf library today.
I joined the Golf Collectors Society in 1979. At that time there was one other woman member. Her name was Marjorie Duck. Janet Seagle was also very active with the collectors, but as curator for the USGA Museum and Library, she could not be a member. I enjoyed many hours with Janet and we became good friends. I also was fortunate to become acquainted with Jean Bryant, curator of the Miller Golf Library at Industry Hills G.C. in the Los Angeles, California area.
Because of Bob Kuntz, our Dayton, Ohio area hosted an annual collectors meeting. We also had a member, Paul Petrequin, who was very interested in collecting and helping with the meetings. With Paul and Bob working together, we had good meetings and drew a very good crowd. It was here at the Dayton meetings that I became acquainted with many collectors, and these friendships have grown through the years.
Being a teaching professional, I was asked many times to give seminars or lessons for GCS members, which was a real honor for me. One of my favorite treasures is a letter from Archie Baird from Scotland, thanking me for my unique "Donna" lesson, and telling me that he had broke 70 for the first time in his life.
My interest as a collector grew. I started looking for clubs, and was told to look for anything unusual. I was most fortunate to find a number of interesting clubs. My first (expensive) club was a Cran Cleek. I paid $200 - a lot of money for me at that time. But as time went on and I did more teaching and made more money, I started buying more and more collectibles.
At that time, there were a lot of people collecting classic clubs. I would go to the flea markets, antique stores and shows, and I could still find wood shafted clubs that had been overlooked. For some reason, I had become hooked and bought everything I could find (and afford!).
One of my early memories of collecting was going to Mort Olman's Old Golf Shop in Cincinnati. It was such an interesting shop, almost all golf. I loved to go there and I tried to find something to buy every time I was went. I have Limbershaft clubs in my collection that I purchased from Mort. I also felt Mort and his son John's first book had more information, and helped me more with collecting more than any other book at that time. I still enjoy it.
When Mort Olman had his golf auction at King's Island, Ohio, near Cincinnati, I was VERY fortunate to acquire another one of my treasures. It is a child's long nose club with a Forgan stamp on the top. The mark is the “Plume and Feathers” which was the mark of the Prince of Wales. I am very pleased to have this in my collection.
At a later time, I found a transitional child's club, which also has the Forgan stamp on the top - but this time the mark is a "Crown", which is the mark for the King of England. Forgan had been the club maker for the Prince of Wales and remained so after he became the King of England. These two clubs are the highlights of my collection and are very special to me because of my interest in teaching children.
I have many, many other treasures. Collections within my collection include hatpins, sterling silver spoons, pottery, china, books, balls, clubs, ball boxes, and backspin clubs.
I have also tried to find items that appeal to women. I have many framed prints and I look for postcards of the ladies in their long dresses; they are so charming.
Since I was the only woman collector at that time, when the men found women's items, they would often bring them to me. Herb Matter found a pair of knitting needles and felt I should have them. They are such a nice item and of museum quality. In addition, I have collected many lovely pieces of golf jewelry and I try to wear a piece every day. I also have beautiful golf-themed silk scarves. So you see ladies, there are lots of things to catch our attention!
Writing this profile brought back many memories as each item has a story. And each story involves the people I met, many who have become good friends, and some have even become collectors. The wonderful part of all this is the interest collecting has brought to my life, which continues as I share my collection with people that are interested.
My first husband, Bill Hamilton, passed away in 1991. We had five children and five grandchildren. I now have two great grandchildren. I lived in my home in Dayton for 30 years. Four and a half years later I married Jim Brown and moved to the Youngstown area. We met through club making and collecting. Jim has one daughter, a son in law and two grandsons. We have been married a very happy 10 years, and built our home around our collections. So, we have two golf nuts in one family!
Donna Hamilton Brown
