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THE GOURLAY FAMILY
Although Douglas Gourlay is chronicled as arriving at Bruntsfield as a ballmaker circa 1780, there have been unchecked references to the family being connected with golfing in even earlier times and by their connection by marriage with the McEwan and Dunn families. They achieved in the 19th Century an unrivalled reputation as feathery ball makers. They also moved down to Musselburgh in the 1840s when McEwans the club makers set up there. John (1815-1869) and William (1813-1844) were in partnership as J. & W. Gourlay until the latter died in 1844. Thereafter, John Gourlay accepted the arrival of the gutta ball and started making them with success. Examples of feathery balls marked J. & W. Gourlay and J. Gourlay are to be seen together with the latter's early gutta balls.
A FINE FEATHER-FILLED GOLF BALL
BY J & W GOURLAY, CIRCA 1840
Details
A FINE FEATHER-FILLED GOLF BALL
BY J & W GOURLAY, CIRCA 1840
Stamped 'J & W Gourlay'
BY J & W GOURLAY, CIRCA 1840
Stamped 'J & W Gourlay'
Provenance
Christie's Scotland, 14 July 1988, lot 61.
Brought to you by
Philip Harley