A piece of golf history, thought to be lost, has resurfaced. Collector John Morton acquired a 175-year-old golf ball crafted by the legendary Old Tom Morris. The story behind the acquisition connects the artifact to a surprising pop culture icon.

Morton got his hands on the ball in August 2025, and now, Morton has brought it out once again through an X post. The ball is one of the five Old Tom Morris feathery golf balls that still exist.

The collector had to fly from Alabama to London to get his hands on the prize. Additionally, the ball still bears a faint ‘T. Morris’ stamp. Despite being handmade in 1848 and 1851, the ball retains much of its original shape and stitching.

Reflecting on the short production window, Morton clarified, “Because he worked for Allan Robertson for the majority of the time that feather balls were prevalent… before it was replaced by the gutta-percha ball around 1850.”

“Tom opened his own golf shop in 1848 at 15 The Links in St. Andrews,” he wrote while sharing the image of Morris’ golf shop.

Morton acquired the ball at the Canterbury Auction Galleries, and the price is estimated to be around £4,000 ($5,392.94). According to the spokesperson at the auction, the feathery ball is considered the “first real golf ball.” These were basically small leather sacks filled with boiled goose feathers, stitched together, and painted. 

The spokesperson claimed, “They were expensive to make and easily damaged so only the privileged few could afford to use them.” Yet, there’s another aspect that makes the antique even more unique. 

The Old Tom Morris Ball Belonged to a James Bond Character

In the series of X posts, John Morton revealed, “It was previously owned by Cyril Whiting - former head professional at Royal St. George’s in England.”

Cyril Whiting was a good friend of Ian Fleming, the author of James Bond. In the 1964 James Bond movie, Goldfinger, Fleming even had a character based on Whiting.

Morton further indicated the acquisition aligns with a broader effort to refine his collection around early Open Championship venues such as St. Andrews, Prestwick, and Musselburgh.

Morton's responsibility is now to preserve the ball and share its unique history. And for the collector, it has become a defining addition to a lifetime of golf memorabilia.

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Written by

Krushna Pattnaik

Edited by

Sagnik Bagchi