Museum lecture - Elmer Nahum, Cathy Lane and Denny Lane

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.

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.