ANTIQUE GOLF BALL

[edkes]

I recently found a very old looking golf ball at my Grandmother's house, and was wondering if it was of any significance or value. It appears to be a sort of fabric with red stitching (I know it sounds like a baseball, but it isn't) I can upload a picture if there is demand.
The box that it was in is also interesting and my grandfather says they are not related, but it reads "The Challenger Golf Ball" and appears old.

Thanks, Ed.

 

[Alex1975]

Welcome, I would love to see some pics of it please.

 

[brendy]

Golf balls have no real value to be honest, check ebay.

 

[edkes]

Well I'll still link you some photos for interest, give me a minute

 

[edkes]

http://s1238.photobucket.com/albums/ff490/edkes/

 

[G1BB0]

googled it and with old balls the stitching was inside, the only reference is a game called 5 balls in victorian times.

the box is circa 1910 btw

 

[edkes]

Thank you Well I'd be intrigued to find out what this Victorian game was so i'll do a little googling myself. And the box's age is very interesting

 

[PPE]

The Wilson Staff is worth £1.25 !!!!

 

[edkes]

Haha Anyone else got any thoughts on either the ball or the box?

 

[HawkeyeMS]

The box is old, shame the ball doesn't go with it cause I just found this.

 

[edkes]

That is a shame, £750! I'm still looking but if anyone has any insight into the ball pictured it would be greatly appreciated, even if it turns out not to be a golf ball at all.

 

[G1BB0]

tried looking for it, nothing, if you google the box theres loads of balls that it could be and none match

 

[edkes]

Yes, the ball is definitely simply a Fives ball only, and has very little value.

Still interested by the box though...

 

[G1BB0]

the ball is still bloody old though and never heard of fives until now.

 

[edkes]

Yea the sport has died out a lot but I know people at schools such as Eton and Marlborough who still play it, and who recently attended the Fives Schoolboy Championships in London. It is definitely regarded as a sport for the wealthy and posh.

 

[Imurg]

I used to play at school.
Not overly posh - Royal Grammar High Wycombe. We played at Eton, Rugby, Marlborough, Wolverhampton, Harrow - all over the place. Quality game, really fast and often painful!

 

[samesh]

I don't think it would be helpful or effective in your gameplay.

 

[edkes]

Yes sorry I sounded so scolding, especially as I myself went to an incredibly posh school when I was younger, but I moved before I was old enough to play Fives. Was told it was similar to squash so I played that a lot.

 

[RGDave]

Yea the sport has died out a lot but I know people at schools such as Eton and Marlborough who still play it, and who recently attended the Fives Schoolboy Championships in London. It is definitely regarded as a sport for the wealthy and posh.

No. It's a sport generally played by the wealthy and posh.
I got some local kids to play here once on the courts that I use.

 

[Imurg]

Was told it was similar to squash so I played that a lot.

Basically, it's squash played with the hands instead of a racquet, using a ball similar to a golf ball but lighter and heavily padded gloves. Ball speeds are phenomenal sometimes and with the walls of the court covered in ledges and ridges the ball can come off them at odd angles. Quick reflexes needed, although I did get one right between the eyes once.