A world-record price for an antique golf club was set yesterday when a 200-year-old putter sold for #106,000 at auction.
The rare Scottish-made club was bought by a Bolivian multi-millionaire to add to his private museum. He beat off other collectors from around the world in a tense five-minute spell of bidding at Christie's auction rooms in Glasgow.
Mr Ortiz Patino, who made his millions in tin mining, will display the metal-headed putter at the Valderrama Golf Club, which he owns, in southern Spain.
The club was bought on his behalf by Mr Titus Kendall, a London silver and antiques dealer, who said afterwards: ''It went for a lot more than we expected. ''But the new owner is very happy to add it to his collection.''
The previous record price was #92,400 - also paid by Mr Patino in 1992 for a blacksmith-made general iron which had been found in an Edinburgh shed.
Speaking from his Spanish base last night, Mr Patino said: ''I don't want to discuss the price, but obviously I am very pleased to add the putter to my collection.''
The putter was put up for sale along with 32 other antique clubs by the Royal Perth Golfing Society. Their sale means one of the oldest golf associations in Scotland will be able to secure its future with the #361,000 raised.
The Royal Perth has been under constant threat of flooding from the river Tay but did not, until now, have sufficient funds to prevent any future floods.
Mr Patino, one of the richest men in the world, bid a further #80,000 for one of the society's blacksmith-made irons from the late eighteenth century for his Valderrama museum.
The society, which was founded in 1824, was the first golf club to be granted royal patronage by King William in 1833.
It was forced to sell off the collection after the Tay twice threatened the club in the last 10 years.
Among the other items sold at Christies was a blacksmith-made cut-off nose track iron, sold to an anonymous collector for #50,000.
A hand-written book containing poems and songs on golf was sold for #12,600 to Rhod McEwan, a Scottish dealer, who said the book was, ''a once in a lifetime opportunity''.
The clubs had been exhibited in New York, London, and at the US Masters in Augusta.
Some were made by stars who made the game popular in Scotland, such as Tom Morris, Hugh Phillip, and Robert Forgan.
Mr Edward Monagle, golf specialist at Christie's Glasgow, said: ''We are delighted to have offered at auction one of the rarest golf clubs for a new world record price.''
Also auctioned were rare golfing items from other owners. The sale raised more than #500,000.
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