Auctions are where action meets awe, and nothing proves it better than the recent sale of a golf ball used by Harry Vardon to win the 1900 U.S. Open. The historic ‘Vardon Flyer’ golf ball fetched $194,259.20 at The Golf Auction. What makes a golf ball worth nearly $200,000? It’s not just the ball, it’s the legend behind it. This irreplaceable piece of sports history was preserved by five-time Ryder Cup player Ken J. Brown, who also provided a signed letter of provenance confirming its authenticity.
The ball’s original owner, Harry Vardon, was a dominant force in early golf. His streak of victories caught the attention of sporting goods giant Spalding, who partnered with him in a groundbreaking marketing move to launch their new signature product, the ‘Vardon Flyer’. Made from gutta-percha, a natural latex material that revolutionized golf equipment in the 19th century, the ball featured an improved formula that gave players better distance and control. At the time, it was considered cutting-edge sports tech. In 1900, Vardon set sail for the United States to promote Spalding’s ball and clubs. He played, and won, the U.S. Open using this very ball, helping popularize the game across the Atlantic.
Incredibly, Vardon earned just $200 for his U.S. Open win back then, the same amount this ball now fetched, just adjusted by 125 years of reverence and inflation.
The auction kicked off with a bang, 21 bids and a minimum starting price of $15,000. After intense bidding, the gavel fell on a staggering six-figure sum. The ball comes mounted with a silver presentation plate engraved, “American Championship – Wheaton 1900 – Won by H. Vardon – Score 323.”
Interestingly, the “2” in the score of 323 was a mistake; it was meant to be a “1,” a charming engraving error typical of the time. Despite its tiny size and century-old scuffs, this is considered one of the finest and most important golf balls in existence, a symbol of a man who won nearly 75% of his competitive matches and helped transform golf into an international sport.
