Some months after the end of his term as President of the United States, a journalist asked Eisenhower if leaving the White House had affected his golf game. "Yes," he replied, "a lot more people beat me now."

The thirty-fourth President is properly recognized as the greatest golf enthusiast to occupy our nation's highest office, and can be credited in large degree with the increase in popularity that transformed the sport from the sole property of the upper class to a nationwide phenomenon. In this regard, this full set of five woods, eight irons and a putter takes on a significance that is equally political and athletic. The high-quality "Spalding" clubs bear the stamped facsimile signature of the President, with the irons holding that of Ike's friend and ultimate golf icon Bobby Jones as well. Only the putter is free of either name. All clubs show fine use by the President.

Included are letters of provenance from both Eisenhower's son and daughter-in-law, each of whom attest that the clubs were used by the President, then given as a gift to their neighbors after they had inherited them following Ike's death. The fantastic provenance is further assured by the gorgeous custom leather golf bag in which the clubs currently reside, stamped with the name "John Eisenhower," Ike's son. While we can't expect this lot to reach the same astounding level as the $770,000 realized in 1996 for clubs used by President John F. Kennedy, this well-loved and perfectly provenanced set from his Oval Office predecessor could properly be considered within the same elite league.