Hugh Philp

Hugh Philp (1786–1856) was a Scottish golf club maker, who is considered to be the greatest club maker of all time.
Born in Cameron Bridge in Fife he moved to nearby St Andrews to establish a carpentry, joinery and housepainting business. In 1812 he started to repair and then make golf clubs as a sideline. This sideline became a great success and he subsequently opened a shop and workshop adjacent to the St Andrews Links.
In the 1860s, he was hired by Forgan of St. Andrews to make clubs for the company. Philp used thorn, apple and pear woods as materials for its clubs, which were highly appreciated as craft items and gained him widespread recognition.
His clubs were in great demand by the leading players of the day and in 1819 Philp was appointed as club-maker to the Society of Golfers at St. Andrews (later to become The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews).
Today his clubs are highly desirable as collectors' items with auction prices reaching many thousands of pounds.