A Dundee University engineering team have collaborated with the St Andrews Golf Company and 3D printing company EOS to produce a replica of a 125-year old golf club.

A 3D printer has never been used to create a metal club-head before.

Grant Payne of the St Andrews Golf Company said “Studying the evolution of golf clubs is one of the best ways of learning about the game’s history”.

The British golf museum in St Andrews loaned the research team two rare historic irons, both of which have been recreated by 3D printing. The reason the clubs are considered interestingis that they come from a time when the sport evolved into what we might recognise today. One is known as the “President” water iron from Anstruther and made in 1885, and the other is a rake iron from about 1890.

Payne believes that there is little historical understanding of the game, and these two replicas could be used as educational tools. Hopefully, this project is a start to protecting ancient golf clubs.

The rake iron was invented by a Montrose optician who designed the club to stop bunker sand flying into the eyes of golfers.

The Dundee University research team scanned the head of the 125 year old club, complete with all its dents, and sent it to the German Company EOS who used a 29 hour metal laser sintering process to produce an exact replica. Finally, it was sent back to Saint Andrews where a hickory shaft and grip were fitted.The University of Strathclyde had to use high carbide drills to create the hole for the shaft because the club head was so strong.

It seems 3D printing may have a useful roleto play in historical research.

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