Very cool. Wonder if any of his ideas are being incorporated into the current renovation.
Have no idea on the current renovation, but from memory, I was surprised how much like RTJ's eventual plan Ross's looked. It seemed the USGA was probably driving the bus even way back then.
Back on topic, while not of great value, I found a Bramble ball when they were digging up the Pioneer Park in Lincoln, NE, golf course for a renovation. That opened in 1916 (Tucker) and the bramble was last made in 1900, so it appears there were frugal golfers way back when.
When working for Killian and Nugent on my first project the renovation of the old Edgewater GC into a 9 hole executive for Chicago Park District, we brought Chick Evans out to grand opening and while on tour he mentioned he had put a Spalding Dot golf ball down a tree every year as a remembrance to his mother. We had rerouted the whole course, but found the tree and someone dug out several early 1900's golf balls. Again, not great shape, and probably no value, but at least the $14 and similar amounts others have described.
So, I guess you could say "memories." He who dies with the most stories wins, right?