Historic golf clubs found under floor in St Andrews

A HISTORIC set of golf clubs has been discovered at the site of a 19th-century factory during renovation work.

Construction workers found the 1-irons, also known as driving irons or cleeks in a former warehouse in St Andrews.

The warehouse building, opening as Forgan’s restaurant and public bar later this month, sits on the site of a former 1-iron factory.

Cleeks are said to have been a signature product made by Forgan which has manufactured golfing items since the 1860s.

Management at the new venue plan to put the clubs on display there.

Construction worker Bill Wright was drilling through a floor to fit tables when his tool jammed. He used his hands to dig into the ground and found four Forgan’s golf club heads buried 3ft down.

“I was just drilling through the floor beside the new bothy seating area when the drill jammed. I thought it was just a piece of harder stone or metal at first but when I started digging with my hands I could see that it was golf clubs,” he said.

Work was halted so the golf clubs could be removed. They are now being examined by a golf historian to determine just how old they are.